Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Will Daniel Jones Be Ready? | Passing Game Hierarchy | Untangling D-Line Depth
Episode Date: May 21, 2026We ask the Indianapolis Colts our remaining burning questions ahead of Week 1. Will Daniel Jones be ready? Anthony Richardson Sr. vs. Riley Leonard for QB2? What is the pass-catching hierarchy? Which ...linebacker plays the most besides CJ Allen? EVERYDAYER CLUB If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub TEXT WITH JAKE AND ZACH Join the Locked On Colts insider program to text with Jake and Zach, ask any questions you have, and get updates on news and rumors from the Colts' facility, locker rooms, stadium, and practice field! https://joinsubtext.com/c/lockedoncolts Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-colts/ 📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQ Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nfl/ Follow Jake's written work on roundtable.io/sports/nfl/colts/ and Zach's on si.com/nfl/colts/, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, and @LockedOnColts! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Square If you’re starting a business or running one that deserves better tools, Square helps you sell, manage, and grow without slowing down. Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at https://square.com/go/LockedOnNFL. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can bet just five dollars and get one hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if their first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcript
Discussion (0)
With OTA is underway, we've got some burning questions for the Indianapolis Colts ahead of week one of the regular season.
Let's get to it.
You are Locked on Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast.
Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.
All right, welcome to Locked on Colts, part of the Locked on podcast network.
I am your host, Jake Arthur, the Indianapolis Colts beat writer for Roundtable Sports.
And on today's show, we are kind of asking some burning questions still of the Colts.
You know, the draft is done.
The bulk of free agency is done.
And this team is now, you know, entering OTAs.
They're in their off-season program.
They're laying the foundation for what they want to be in this season.
And I think there's still some valid questions remaining.
We're also going to finish off the questions that you guys sent in for us on social media earlier in the week.
we already did a couple questions based on or a couple episodes based on the questions you guys asked us
and somehow we still have some left over because you guys showed up as always.
So we'll tackle that in our final segment.
But first let's look at the offense.
What are the biggest questions that still remain ahead of the regular season?
Obviously quarterback.
That was kind of the focal point of the Colts offseason, you know, retaining Daniel Jones,
retaining Alec Pierce, recapture.
the magic that you had in the first half of last season and hopefully moving forward with it
throughout 2026. So the first question here is what does the Colts quarterback room look like by week
one? Everyone wants to know, is Daniel Jones going to be ready? Is he going to be under center week one?
And I think so. I think the Colts are optimistic about it as well. I just don't think that they
want to commit to saying it because if something happens, if there's a setback, what have you,
then, you know, that's, that's, they're going to have egg on their face about it. But if you just
look, read between the lines, look at all the context clues. He's already with the team on the field
doing some stuff during the offseason program. Is he 100% and does he look like Daniel Jones
before the injury? I'm probably not. Like, that's, that's not the trajectory. That's not
where guys are supposed to be at this point.
But he's beyond the, like, danger line that they say.
After an Achilles surgery, I believe it's like the three-month mark.
Once you're beyond that, the risk for re-injury, basically it's no different than it would be
before you were to have injured it.
So he's beyond that danger line.
He's with the team doing stuff on the field.
Now, I don't think he's like when they start doing 11 on 11 and stuff, I don't think he's
really going to be out there full board.
doing that. But he has some sort of activity level. You know, he's throwing, he's dropping back,
he's doing stuff like that. So, you know, given the next few months, you know, shoot, it's,
it's May right now. We still have several months until we're into September and the season starts.
So the guy's only going to continue getting healthier, getting stronger in that leg. So again,
as long as there is no setbacks and he doesn't look like so much worse than he did last year or he's not
himself uncomfortable or in any pain. As long as those things aren't the case, I think he'll
be fine for week one. Now beyond him on the depth chart, Anthony Richardson senior is there.
Riley Leonard is there. How do we untangle that a little bit? So obviously, if you're under,
if you've been under a rock, Anthony Richardson requested a trade back in February,
and he was granted permission to go ahead and seek that out. So the Colts were open to trading
him. Here a few months later, nothing has transpired of that.
So he is back with the team.
And you've got to think if you're on the team, if you're on the roster, you've got to be given an opportunity to help the team win.
So I think the expectation should be Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard battling it out to be QB2.
Otherwise, what are you wasting this roster spot or even allowing Anthony to be around for?
So if all three guys are there, then Leonard and Anthony Richardson should basically be letting it be, made the best of
best man win. Now, with Leonard, you like what you saw when his limited action last year,
he played a couple extended games in Jacksonville, which I think if not for very questionable
officiating in which the Colts were robbed of a couple things. He would have had even more buzz
going into that Houston game, which again, he looked really good. So Riley Leonard, you like what
you saw in limited action. Anthony Richardson, former top five pick at worst should be allowed to be
compete to be QB2.
So those are a couple things we're waiting to see.
If you're Richardson, though,
and there's still any semblance of trade value,
I think other teams just want to see him healthy first.
You know, what does feedback from the Colts from practices look like?
What does he look like in the preseason?
Does he look like there's actually peripheral vision there?
Does he look like he has grown in his comfort level as a quarterback?
So those are some of the things you're still kind of looking for.
So will Daniel Jones be ready?
What's QB2 look like?
Will Anthony Richardson be traded?
I think those are all some big things that we're still waiting to see at the quarterback
position.
After that, what does the passing game pecking order look like?
So Alec Pierce, you gave him an enormous new deal to be your new wide receiver one.
Obviously, he's top dog on the food chain.
But then I think Tyler Warren, I mean, you spent a top pick in the first round
in the first half of the first round last year on him,
that's another guy who on a lot of other teams would be your leading target.
So Alec Pierce, Tyler Warren, I think those guys are going to be kind of neck and neck
when it comes to the past targets.
Those are unquestionably your top guys in the offense and the passing game.
Josh Downs, I think clearly will be next.
I think him and Warren are going to clean up all of the short stuff.
Anything when it comes to moving the chains and things like that,
Pierce will be somewhat involved, obviously.
His route tree is going to expand from what it was before the diversity of when they'll get him.
The ball is going to expand.
But Warren and Downs, we know that's your possession guys, your quick winners.
But who comes next?
We know, Ashton Doolin is going to compete to be that third receiver, Dionne Burks, Nick Westbrook-Akekekeke.
I just think it's going to be very, very situational.
I think it's going to be heavy on the Pierce, Warren, and Downs.
and then whatever Shane Steichen and the offensive coaches cook up for each specific game playing each week,
that's going to be kind of what we see.
You know, Dionne Burks, that could be a guy that wins with a lot of yards after catch.
He's going to beat guys in man coverage immediately.
He's fast enough to get into soft spots in the zone.
Nick Westbrook Aquina and Ashton are both more bigger-bodied guys who can stretch the field vertically.
They're not going to be as big a threats with yards after catch as Burks is.
but they can use their frame and their downfield speed to kind of make big plays as well.
So I think that is, that's what we'll see.
Still, I think Ashton Doolin probably gets the most snaps and probably perhaps gets the
most targets after those top three.
But I think it's, it's certainly something that's going to be figured out in training camp.
I don't think anyone should be discounted at any point.
I think the culture is waiting to see how things transpire this summer.
And then my last big point on the offense is how does the backup offensive line spots get settled?
I still think the top, the starting five is what we think it's going to be.
Obviously, there's no question with Ryman and Nelson and Bordalini.
But I think Matt Gonzalez is going to stay the right guard.
I don't think the Colts have any intention, even though they drafted Jalen Farmer.
I think that's not necessarily to be their starting right guard right now unless he just knocks everybody socks off this summer.
and then Jalen Travis, I think certainly he would have to lose that right tackle spot.
So at offensive tackle three, the swing tackle, I think,
Luke Tanuda is a guy who I think probably has the leg up.
Blake Freeland played a lot of snaps in his first two years,
mostly as a rookie, not so much in his second year because, you know,
he took a big step back to Gonzalez when Gonzalez was a rookie.
And then last year, in a big prove-it year, he suffered a big-time leg.
lower leg break. So Freeland, he has a lot to prove. Number one, that he's going to look like he's
capable coming back from a big injury. But Luke Teneut is a guy, I think, kind of has the leg up there at
swing tackle. Jalen Farmer, I think, is going to be the third guard. If he's not going to start,
I think they still want to try and get him, you know, reps to get on the field somehow, which will
kick Dalton Tucker over to be the backup center. I believe he would have been.
been next up in line last year.
I've had anything happened to both Bordellini and Danny Pinter, but with Danny Pinter
going to the Baltimore Ravens this off season, I think Tucker kicks in to be that backup
center.
Obviously, he's got the flexibility between Guard and Center as well, but I think Jaylen
Farmer is probably the guy they want to see next up at Guard.
All right, guys, coming up here in a moment, we are going to look at the defensive side
of the ball and see what the burning questions are there.
Support for today's episode comes from Square.
the system that helps fix one of the biggest headaches in running a business.
Starting a business is exciting, but actually running it, that's where things can get complicated
fast. Payments, inventory, staff, scheduling, online orders. It's a lot to manage.
But that's why Square brings everything together into one connected system.
Square helps you take payments, track sales, manage inventory, and it keeps your business running
smoothly without juggling a bunch of disconnected tools. For me, I'm on the other side of the
point when it comes to Square as a consumer. I have seen more and more businesses switching to
Square lately for their payment options. You know, it used to just be like at farmers markets and
stuff. A lot of the vendors would take Square as the payment options. But now you see in like
coffee shops and your favorite like mom and pop restaurants as well. I think it's incredibly easy.
You know, sometimes you'll even get the added bonus of you add your phone number in there. You
start getting rewards back. So I love what Square offers its consumers as well.
If you're starting a business or running one that deserves better tools,
Square helps you sell, manage, grow without slowing down.
Right now, you can get up to 200 bucks off Square hardware at square.com
slash go slash locked on NFL.
That's SQUA-R-E dot com slash G-O-Slaughton NFL.
Run your business smarter with Square.
Get started today.
All right, welcome back, everybody.
We are asking some of our burning questions to the Indianapolis Colts.
but before we get to the defensive side of the ball,
don't forget to check out the Everydayer Club
for ad-free audio episodes and access to a group chat
with other listeners at this show as well as Zach myself.
Tap the link in the show notes.
We're going to lockdown colts.
supercast.com to join in on the fun.
All right.
So I think everyone's biggest question when you look at defense
is who is going to be the other starting defensive end,
opposite of Laiatu Latu.
I think you have two big options here.
Do you look for the better skills?
schematic fit with a guy like Jalen Tua Moloow? Or do you look for the guy who's the better
pass rusher in Arden Key? Now, the big X factor here is what does Tua Molo
look like developing from year one to year two? Now, last year he played just over 200 defensive
snaps. He was a healthy scratch in multiple games. Lou Anerumo just trusted the veterans in the
room more than this rookie who just wasn't quite ready yet to play a huge role in the defense,
you know, 500 plus snaps.
But now Samson Ebukam is gone.
Tyquan Lewis is gone.
Quitty Pay is gone.
Those three guys vacating left an enormous opportunity for a guy like Tuam a low-ow to have this
big turnaround where if he makes the necessary jumps that the Colts want to see from him going
into year two, then there are no like.
obvious guys that have to start opposite of Latu.
And especially Arden Kee,
Arden Kee is a guy who you don't really want him to be the starter.
You would love him to be your third edge rusher.
The second guy coming in right, right besides Laiatu Latu.
On passing downs, you got Latu and Kyi on the outside.
Maybe you kick Tuomolo inside because he can do that as well with the Forst Buckner.
You just, as long as Tuma Luao develops as he should,
I think the Colts would be more than willing to allow him to fill that void.
Now, we did talk to him a while for the first time this offseason yesterday.
He said he slimmed down a little bit.
He wanted to get twitchier, faster, and stronger this offseason,
and he thinks he did all those things.
But then he just talked about also the transition between year one and year two as an actual NFL player.
The pre-combide process is very disruptive.
for these guys because it's it's not football related it's workout related you're getting ready
to run a 40 to to bench press as much as possible you know this quickness that like it's not
getting ready for football it's getting ready for showing off athleticism uh so to a molo out has
spent all this off season getting better as a football player and taking the feedback that
he received from his coaches last year and putting it into his game and moving forward and
hopefully showing them, you know, the difference and grabbing this potential start and roll for
himself. But if you're key, you know, the Colts may just decide I'm going to throw the two
best pass rushers out there and let's just get after it. Now, Lou Anerumo and Chris Ballard have
both acknowledged that whoever starts opposite a lot to needs to be a capable run defender as
well, they don't want to have to take guys off because they can't do something.
Now, that doesn't mean they're not going to frequently substitute guys in and out,
but they don't want to have to do it because this guy can't do it.
And so we have to put this guy in.
Everybody who's out there, they want to be multifaceted.
So to me, that leans to him a low hour as long as he shows, again, that he's gotten stronger
and that he's got a little more burst, a little more juice coming off the edge.
I'm optimistic. I'm hopeful that we see that from him, but I am a little skeptical, again,
just because he played so little last year as a second round pick that to me it's hard to go
from a guy who played 200 snaps to being a guy who's going to play 600 snaps and be a starter
every week. It's a big change, but it would be really beneficial for the Colts if he is the
guy that kind of answers the call there. Now, the defensive line, it's not without
it's mystery throughout the whole thing.
Because just like we talked about what's the passing game hierarchy, what's the
defensive tackle hierarchy?
You know, even up at the top, it's kind of a mystery.
DeForest Buckner is back from his neck injury that put him on IR twice last year.
So normally in his time with the Colts, he plays about 70% of the snaps.
When he got here in 2020, he was up in the high 70s of defensive snaps played percentage
wise as of last year, last year more around 70%. So it has ratcheted down as he's gotten older,
but I think instead of 70% now, I think it's going to need to take a decent hit down to 60%,
55%, 50% in order to conserve him and make sure that the snaps you are getting out of him are more
quality. Not that any rep on the field with Buckner is wasted, but you have some other
guys now you've spent a lot of time investing in the three tech position this off
season you have a lot of guys now that can help so you know you take buckner off the field
you've got colby wooden who you traded zair franklin for that's not an insignificant trade and then
this this guy colby wooden he's entering the final year of his contract you're going to want to
play him a lot to see if you want to resign him or not and does he factor into your future
and then same thing with at a time in a while adibwari he has gotten
steadily better each of his first three years for you. It feels like he makes at least one
wow play every week where he is just in the backfield jumping off the snap immediately
before anyone else has even moved in the trenches. So you've got a couple guys in Wooden and
at a time in Waugh who are exciting, contractier guys who have every reason in the world to be
playing their best football right now. Where it gets tricky for me is who backs up Grover Stewart.
Grubber Stuart, there's no reason he shouldn't pretty much have the same role as always.
But you got Derek Nottie and Jerry Tillerie, who can factor in at nose tackle.
Those guys' best days are probably behind them.
They were both with the Chiefs last year, and neither of them really moved the needle much as players.
But then you've got a couple young guys.
Tim Smith was a sixth round pick last year.
He spent pretty much the whole year on the practice squad.
And then you've got an undrafted rookie this year in Cam Ball.
who is very much a draftable player,
and he might be the,
he might have the best potential of that whole group of guys
behind Grover Stewart, specifically for One Tech.
He's big, he's quick, he has good hands.
So he's very, very intriguing.
And I think the Colts are going to let these young guys
have every opportunity in the world to be the next guy up behind Grover.
I just think they see Nottie and Tiller as maybe insurance.
if Smith and Ball don't take those necessary steps.
Now, ball, again, rookie undrafted free agent,
you're just looking to see what he's got.
But Smith, I think they legitimately hope to see another step forward
because they spent a draft pick on him last year.
They kept him around on the practice squad.
So they're going to want to see a little bit of growth there.
And then to wrap things up on defense,
what linebacker plays the most besides C.J. Allen is the guy
I feel most comfortable in whatever his role is.
I think Akeem Davis Gather is probably going to be that other starter beside him,
just to have that veteran in the room next to him,
helping him process things that he may need help with, you know,
in between, you know, play to play.
But Bryce Betcher might factor in.
Hunter Wooler is going to come in at least as a dime linebacker occasionally.
And Jalen Carlis, even though I'm super skeptical about if he can even make the roster,
they keep bringing him up as a guy who, if he's healthy, they really want to see what he's got.
He was someone in his rookie year, we thought was going to factor in for multiple years to come.
But two straight injured years, that kind of has you thinking just, yeah, what can you do?
So you almost get a bonus when it comes to Carlos because they don't need him by any stretch of the imagination.
But he's an extra player with some talent where if he's healthy, he might show you a little something.
So I'm very curious to see what the Colts do outside of C.J. Allen, I think it's going to be very situational. You know, nickel defense, dime defense, obvious passing downs on short or long, you know, goal line run defense. I think a lot of these guys are going to factor in somehow. It just, I want to see who is going to play the most. So coming up, guys, you had a few questions left over that you asked us from we sent out the bat signal earlier in the week on social media. We want to be.
want to finish up answering those last few questions.
The NBA playoffs are here and every single possession matters.
If you're looking to get even closer to the action, Fandul has a great offer to get you
started.
Right now, new customers can bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets if your first bet wins.
That's right.
Turn five bucks into $150 in bonus bets just for getting started.
I like using Fandle during the playoffs because everything I need is right there in one spot.
You can check stats, trends, and matchups before making your picks, which makes the whole experience feel a lot more informed.
Plus, the app is really easy to use.
It's easy to navigate, very user-friendly, and it makes playoff basketball even more engaging from start to finish.
We are full on in the age of Wemby.
We are seeing a guy just become an ultra superstar before our eyes.
So whether you want to make bets based on him or the spurs or you're making hate bets directed at SGA and the Thunder,
you can do it to your heart's desire.
Just head to fandle.com to get started.
Fandul, play your game.
All right, guys, we are going to finish this thing off
by answering some of the last questions you sent us
earlier in the week from our Q&A episodes
that we had to move along to, gosh,
this is now the third episode where we're going to be answering
your guys' questions.
You sent us a bunch of them.
We always absolutely appreciate that,
and we don't want to leave any of them unanswered.
So let's get to these ones.
This one is from Ethan,
Cali Ann on Facebook. He's always asking really intriguing questions, I think. So he proposes
Anthony Richardson and a draft pick for Michael Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals. He said because the
Colts have zero plan for a potential Alec Pierce regression or injury, which is a really good point.
We've put a lot of eggs in that Alec Pierce is the obvious wide receiver one basket, which that's
the plan, but injuries happen. If anything happens to him or he just,
for whatever reason doesn't look the part, well, what's the plan? You have Josh Dan,
you have Tyler Warren, but then we've already gone through this whole thing where it's Ashton Doolan,
Nick Westbrook-Akeena, Dionne Burks, is that enough? Or should the Colts go out and get someone
who they can be more confident in, at least at that wider Siever 3 spot, which could soften
the blow if something does happen with Pierce, either by performance or, God forbid, an injury.
Now, Michael Wilson with the Cardinals, that's an intriguing guy, a guy with, I think he's kind of comparable to Nick Westbrook-a-Kina, honestly.
Some size, some downfield playmaking ability.
You know, if you're the Cardinals, I don't know if you really want to give him up.
I mean, Marvin Harrison, Jr. hasn't been the guy yet that you drafted him to be.
You've got, who's that guy used to play for the 49ers and the Patriots?
You have that receiver.
He's fine, but, you know, he's a third guy.
So if you're the Cardinals, you give up Michael Wilson,
I don't really know that you have enough to replace him.
And then with the Anthony Richardson of it all,
the Cardinals are one of the teams that kind of crossed off my list
once they drafted Carson Beck because, you know,
they have Jacoby Reset who they want to start.
They have Gardner Minchu is QB2.
They have Carson Beck that they drafted.
I don't think there's enough room now at this point for Anthony
Richardson on a team like the Cardinals. So intriguing option, but I don't see the Cardinal specifically
as when at least not involving Anthony Richardson. This next one is from Joe on Twitter.
How come we don't keep Shane Stike and accountable? We say that some players don't fit his scheme,
but if you're this amazing coach and play caller, shouldn't your scheme be based off of what your
personnel does well? With Shane, it feels like it's my way or the highway. Please give your thoughts.
I mean, that's, that's true.
I mean, I think every coaching staff, especially on offense, has their specific roles.
Like, there's things they want to accomplish within each position group and within each concept.
And they want a certain type of player to fit that.
But the best coaches, of course, are chameleons and can kind of get something out of just about everyone.
I think that's, that's fair criticism.
I'm of the belief that just go acquire good players and figure out the rest from there.
That's why it gets a little frustrating for me when, you know, let's look at the defensive side of the
ball, for instance.
There's a player I was in love with with Kyle Lewis.
Did he fit the Colts perfectly?
No, but it's like, just go get good players and figure it out.
You know, whether you have to split reps with players, what have you.
So I get that.
You know, with Shane Steak and I do think he has shown an ability.
to have different types of players.
Like we saw Chris Ballard before and Frank Reich were very much height, weight speed,
you want the big receivers that can win jump balls type of thing.
And that came up empty for them quite a bit.
Shane Steichen is willing to sacrifice size in order to get separation in routes.
And I think that's a better, that's a better philosophy than what the Colts were doing before.
And then quarterback, I do think he is a little picky.
but I don't think there's any problem with him wanting quarterbacks that are like obsessive.
I don't really think much any quarterback that isn't obsessive about his craft is going to be very successful with with Stuyken as far as like being a franchise quarterback.
Stikin can get something out of backup quarterbacks.
Like we saw Gardner Minshew and Joe Flacco have some monicum of success.
But in order to be a franchise quarterback with Shane Stikin, you have to.
really be all about football. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. I think there's other things
to keep Shane accountable for, like in-game play calling and adjustments. And sometimes I think he gets
a little too conservative with the lead and it's bit them before. And then there's times where
inexplicably he will pull the rug on something that's working quite well late in a game.
Again, that kind of dives into the conservative part of it. But he can, I think,
he can outsmart himself sometimes.
I don't really have a big issue with the personnel he chooses to use.
It's more of endgame decision-making, I would think.
And then this last question we're going to get to today,
why didn't we trade two firsts for Trey Hendrickson or Max Crosby?
A top flight pass rusher to pressure the opponent's quarterback makes your secondary better.
And that's from the big guy, 8336 on YouTube.
I'll give you kind of a pass on the Trey Hendrickson thing, and we'll rewind it to 2025.
because Hendrickson was a free agent last year.
And I mean, there's no need to trade for a guy like that if the Bengals weren't going to franchise tag him.
But let's say it was last summer before they traded two firsts for sauce Gardner.
That number one, that's too much for a guy that age.
He's, he would have been 30 at that point needing a new $30 million contract.
I do understand, you know, the top flight pass rush is a critical.
component and I'm iffy on how it's going to look for the Colts this year.
Trey Hendrickson is not exactly a guy would have done it for last year.
Now, this year with Max Crosby, you couldn't have done that.
You already gave up two first round picks for sauce gardener.
But again, let's just play the game here and say it's last year.
I would have done two first for Max Crosby for sure.
I'd prefer Crosby over Hendrickson.
at the age, at the level of play that he's still at.
I don't think, again, the Ravens were probably just offering something that Colts
wouldn't be able to, you know, contract structure, the draft capital,
again, and the Colts just didn't have it after the Soss Gardner trade.
So that one's almost a moot point just because Trey Hendrickson and Max Crosby,
those those weren't those specific examples weren't white um realistic for the colts i guess
number one for what the colts would have even had to offer and then those players finding
india as a destination on their side i just i don't know but if the point is to just get top flight
pass rush absolutely they probably should have done more to address it this off season
you know you kind of strike out on the tray hendricksing thing just signing him as a free agent you don't
trade for him because he's a free agent but just signing him as a free agent you lost out to the ravens
on that i'm a little surprised there wasn't a contingency plan no sort of fallback option it's just
like oh it didn't work out with trey hendrickson so now we're going to take this huge leap of faith
with jayland to him aloow uh or arden key and maybe even at like in his late 20s and
when he takes some step forward. It's just, it's odd to me that there has been no follow-up after
losing out on Trey Hendrickson. They're kind of hanging their hat on the fact that they had
50 sacks in 2023 without having a dominant guy. There's nothing to say that that's going to happen.
Again, that's a rarity. Again, that was a single, that was a single season Indianapolis era
franchise record. That doesn't just happen all the time. That was just a rare instance of having a
handful of guys that could get after the passer, I don't think you have that much as that much depth
now as you did before. So I don't know. We'll see. Certainly we've all been surprised before.
But thank you guys for joining us today on Locked on Colts. We'll be back with you tonight for
the Locked on Colts squad show. Make sure you subscribe and follow Locked on Colts so that you get
every latest episode. If you don't already, follow at Locked on Colts at Jake Arthur, NFL,
and at Zach Hicks, too, on social media.
If you never miss an episode, then the Everydayer Club is built just for you.
Get our audio ad-free plus members-only Discord access and more.
Just head to lock down colts.com to join the club today.
And with that, thanks again for joining us.
We will see it tonight.
And then again tomorrow for the Daily Show.
