Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - KEENAN ALLEN: Indianapolis Colts FINALLY Sign Veteran, What It Means for Receiver Corps

Episode Date: August 18, 2026

The Indianapolis Colts are signing free-agent WR Keenan Allen to a one-year deal worth up to $8.32 million. What should be expected from the veteran in his role with the team? What does signing Allen ...mean for the rest of the receiver corps, and who might be on the way out now? What are the Colts' biggest remaining needs now that receiver is filled, and will they actually be addressed?   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 and Zach's written work on roundtable.io/colts, and give them a follow on Twitter: @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, and @LockedOnColts!   Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.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) KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code [LOCKEDON] to get $10 when you trade $10. Square Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/lockedonnfl! #squarepod Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by 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)
Starting point is 00:00:00 The Indianapolis Colts have finally agreed to a deal with free agent wide receiver, Keenan Allen. 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. Welcome to Locked-on Colts. I'm Zach Hicks. That's Jake Arthur, and today's episode is brought to you by Fanduel. Join all the action at Fandul.com to play daily dingers and make your free pick. on who's hitting a home run this MLB season. On today's show, we are talking all about the latest news with the Indianapolis Colts.
Starting point is 00:00:43 They've agreed to a one-year deal with free agent wide receiver, Keenan Allen. Keenan Allen is 34 years old, but is still coming off a 700-yard season with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he played a major role for them. He played for seven years with Shane Steichen back with the Chargers. They overlap for quite a long time. This was something that we were anticipating for most of the offseason, and it finally gets done. as training camp is wrapping up.
Starting point is 00:01:07 So you can kind of tell this is like a veteran receiver because he clearly did not want to do the whole training camp gambit here this offseason. So today we're going to react to the overall news, what this means for the Colts offense. We're going to break down the wide receiver room in general and where this could leave a couple of players on the fringe, if they can still make the team or not. And then finally, we're going to close it out with the Colts biggest remaining needs and just overall talking about this team going forward.
Starting point is 00:01:33 But Jake, this has been something that I think, Every single beatwriter who has been at practice at all 12 training camp practices has been clamoring for every single day. Like, please go sign Keenan Allen. He's got, he knows the offense. He has that relationship with Shane Steichen. And we just can't see Laquan Treadwell starting games this year. So go get Keenan Allen. They finally did it.
Starting point is 00:01:54 What's your reaction to that? Reaction to that. Yeah, it's one of those like worst kept secret type of things. I just, we got to find out why it's taken so long to get to this point. because it's been very obvious since the offseason in like May and June when we first started seeing them in OTAs and Manny Camp. Like Ashton Doolin is a nice thought. Like maybe you can increase his role a little bit. But if this is an all-in season like you guys are indicating, then you're really hedging your bets on the potential of Doolin, Lequan Treadwell, Nick Westbrook Aquina.
Starting point is 00:02:29 These guys potentially playing like 50 snap per game roles for you, depending on if an injury happens. And let's be real here, like Alec Pierce has a history of getting a little banged up, still hasn't practiced yet this year. Josh Downs, I mean, he plays from the slot, but he's supposed to be playing a little more outside. He has a history of injuries. You're just, like, it was such a weird bet to go into the year like this at receiver.
Starting point is 00:02:56 So this was an absolutely necessary move. You weren't going to get anyone with real star power, I don't think. at receiver at this stage, you're not going to go get a real younger guy. I think this fit with Kenan Allen is very appropriate. You're not really looking for a star. This doesn't push Alec Pierce out of his role as the top guy. It doesn't even really threaten Josh Downs or Tyler Warren. What it does is it gives you a hooper on money downs essentially. You need to go get a bucket when it's third or fourth down. You need a guy to sit down in the soft spot of the zone or hit a good slant and find the open spot. Keenan Allen will do that for you.
Starting point is 00:03:39 To me, this is very reminiscent of like you look at guys like Reggie Wayne, Robert Woods, DeAndre Hopkins, as they got a lot older, they were good route runners and they knew how to get open a little bit. They weren't ultra athletes anymore, but they were still able to be productive beyond 30 years old. I don't think he's going to go get you six, seven hundred yards, but I think he's going to be a very effective role player. And again, this was a very necessary move for them. And I'm glad the storyline is done.
Starting point is 00:04:11 We can quit talking about receiver being a huge need. And specifically, Alan being that need. Because remember last week, it was like, Treyquan Smith is someone they worked out, Equanimia St. Brown. They were almost teasing us with these guys. who were just almost glorified camp bodies that they were working out. And so the trade is now over Keenan Allen as a cold. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:04:33 And I think, you know, when people look at like Keenan Allen's age, they think this is a guy who, like where DeAndre Hopkins is currently, right? Where Hopkins is unsigned and he hasn't been productive in years, where Allen was a big part of an offense last year. You know, you can argue if he should have been a big part of an offense, right? But he had 122 targets last season for 777 yards. and four touchdowns with the Los Angeles Chargers, those would have ranked pretty high on the Colts,
Starting point is 00:04:59 including like with similar numbers to what Michael Pittman Jr. did for the Colts last year. So in terms of like can he replace Pittman's role like one to one, I think he could. I just don't want him to have that big of a role with the Colts offense. And I don't think it's going to be like that massive of a role. But I do think he's fully capable of running the entire route tree that Michael Pittman Jr. ran with the Colts last year. I did a video, I think it was.
Starting point is 00:05:23 was a solo episode I did on here about two to three months ago. It was back in like April or May. And I talked about replacing Michael Pittman Jr. And basically through my charting, I found that Pittman ran 70% of his like targeted routes were under 10 yards. 90% of his targeted routes were under 20 yards last season. And Keenan Allen basically did that for the Chargers last year. He was their short to intermediate guy.
Starting point is 00:05:49 He was a guy who found the space against zone coverage. If they ran high, low concepts, he was the low man and they were able to move the sticks with that. So I think getting him out there on third downs, getting him out there on some of the early downs, like I do expect Doolin's role to still be bigger on offense this year just to add that speed element. And especially when you want, you know, Alec Pierce to play some Z snaps. You can get Doolin out there as the X just to runoff corners on the other side and get Pierce more targets that way.
Starting point is 00:06:16 So I do think Doolin's going to have a big role in offense still. But this is really when it comes down to like third and five. we need to get a first down. Let's get Keenan Allen on the field instead of Ashton Doolin because he is your bucket getter. He's a guy who, despite his age, can still get open and can still find space and move the sticks for us like he showed last year. So I like this signing.
Starting point is 00:06:36 Even as someone who was not as down on the Colts wide receiver room, I was still a really big proponent of going out and getting Keenan Allen because he did make things a lot easier for the offense. So as long as he is like the fourth or fifth most targeted guy in the offense, I am perfectly fine with this signing. Now, if he somehow becomes the most targeted guy in the offense, then I'm a little bit concerned. But if his targets hover around, like, you know, what, 60 targets this season? He gets like four to 500 yards receiving.
Starting point is 00:07:05 I would call that a really productive and good season for the Colts and Keenan Allen. Yeah, I was just looking at just Twitter before we hopped on here. And Ryan Paganetti put out like a four-minute long video of Allen's best catches from last year, mind you. So this was you know going into last year. I think a lot of people expected Alan to be kind of washed. He went out and had just like a kind of a so-so year with Chicago came back to the chargers. And I think everyone was like, all right, this is kind of like a farewell tour type of year.
Starting point is 00:07:38 And really it wasn't. He was productive. Like when I saw those, when I saw those plays, he's never been a fast guy. Even coming out of Cal, he was always a technician, a route runner with amazing hands, basically. That was always Keenan Allen's game. And I see a guy who still can definitely get open. He understands how to set up routes and like how to get defenders caught up amongst themselves so he can get open, how to play off of his own man's and with these, you know, route concepts. He definitely understands how to still get open. But after the catch, despite not being a fast guy, he still has this
Starting point is 00:08:15 artsy agility to him. His very, very subtle ability to pick up extra. extra yards and make some guys miss. It just seems like a very natural feel type of thing. Almost how Josh Downs creates yards after catch. Not a burner, but he knows how to set guys up to, you know, get themselves out of the way just to give him a few extra yards, you know?
Starting point is 00:08:37 So I'm not expecting this to be a move that like, it's going to create a bunch of yak or anything like that. But like, I don't expect him to just sit down five yards down field and boom the play's over. You know, I think Gina Allen has a little bit. but a creativity left of his game. Yeah, and I think you could easily make the case, too,
Starting point is 00:08:55 that this is an upgrade over what Michael Pittman Jr. gave them last season, which maybe is bordering on hot take territory. But if you look at the numbers last season, I think two metrics really stand out. And I got these numbers from Sumer Sports, the best analytics site out there because you can just filter down exactly how you want to look through certain players. But they had Keenan Allen with the seventh most routes run
Starting point is 00:09:16 against man coverage last year in the 20th best total EPA in the league against man coverage where Michael Pittman Jr. led the Colts with the 19th most route run, routes run against man coverage, but he was 57th in total EPA. So he just wasn't very productive against man, where Keenan Allen did keep that productivity up. And then you go to late downs, the third and fourth downs. This is where Keenan Allen really shined last year. He ran the eighth most routes on third and fourth down for the charge, or in the league last year, but on the chargers. And he had the fifth best EPA on third and fourth down among all wide receivers. So that includes those top dogs who were battling for offensive player the year all year,
Starting point is 00:09:55 where Michael Pittman Jr. led 151 routes run on late downs, which was 24th best in the league, but he was 56 in EPA, which was the third ranking receiver on the cold scene. So even though, like, Downs and Pierce had fewer routes run than Pittman on those late downs, they were still better in total EPA where Keenan Allen was among the best in all of football. So I'm not saying that Keenan Allen's going to repeat that this year because I don't want his role. to be as massive with the Colts, but it shows that he was a little bit more efficient in late-down situations and against-man coverage.
Starting point is 00:10:28 And I think that's where the Colts really wanted to go when they moved on from Michael Pittman Jr. So I think this move makes the Colts better. Honestly, in some ways, I think this is an upgrade over Michael Pittman, Jr. And I think that their wide receiver room is going to be better off for it. But coming up, we're going to look at the rest of the wide receiver room.
Starting point is 00:10:45 As long as everyone's healthy, how does it work out? How does the players fall into place? and who is battling for those final couple roster spots. What's going on, everybody? My name is Ross Jackson, host of the Lockdown at Saints podcast. And today's Lockdown episode is brought to you by our friends at Basque and Lather. I've been using Bask and Lather's all natural, 100% organic hair care products for my beard for a couple of years now. And it's been a lifesaver because I used to have some bad beard care habits.
Starting point is 00:11:12 I'm talking over-the-counter shampoo and the beard type stuff that created this brittle, scratchy and uncomfortable beard that I just had to wear around all the time. but now the game done change. Thanks to Basque and Lather. I got their beard care starter kit, which gave me shampoo, conditioner, oil balm, and their hair growth stimulator formula as well.
Starting point is 00:11:31 And now my beard is full. It's soft but strong. And the confidence is on 10. And it's all thanks to Basque and Lather. Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair of all types from Baskin Lather. Go to Baskin LatherCode.com and use the promo code locked on for 20% off. That's 20% off at baskinlather.co.com code locked on.
Starting point is 00:11:57 All right, everybody, welcome back. We are talking about the cold signing of Keenan Allen. Of course, the move we've been waiting on for weeks and months has finally occurred. If you were still awake late last night when Jordan Schultz broke the news, then congratulations. You've been basking in this for a while now. But for those of you who woke up to the news, it is a one-year deal worth up to $8.32 million. loaded with incentives because, of course, Alan is a 34-year-old wide receiver. But we expect him to have at least some sort of reasonable role, not like a huge role,
Starting point is 00:12:34 but he spent seven years out in Los Angeles and San Diego with the Chargers with Shane Steichen. Out there, the last couple, they were directly offensive coordinator and top receiver together. So should be able to hit the ground running. You know, when Alan returned to the Chargers last year, it was in August also. So this is a guy that keeps himself in shape. And since he knows the playbook, I imagine he should be able to, again, hit the ground running. The Colts do have two training camp practices left against the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday and Thursday. So I'm pretty eager to see if he's going to be out there.
Starting point is 00:13:10 I don't think so. I think he waited this long because he doesn't want to do all that kind of stuff. I've got to imagine. Maybe he'll report to the team, but not practicing. I think that's what it was. Or maybe he does some of like the one-on-one stuff and the team stuff. He's like, nah. I want to talk to him before like next week and all that.
Starting point is 00:13:27 Like I want to talk to the guy coming up as soon as possible. But you know, we'll have all that for you guys here. But let's talk about the rest of the receiving room now. So if we're just breaking it down from XZ and slot, Zach. So we got X just by base, Alec Pierce, LeQuan Treadwell, Eli Pankle, EJ Horton, and Samir Higgins. We know who is in the mix and who's not. not there. At Z, Keenan Allen is going to be the new starter there, presumably, with Ashton Doolin, providing some support now, especially when it comes to blocking and things like that.
Starting point is 00:13:58 You want Dooland more involved there. Nick Westbrook Akeena, who I now think is in danger, Dionne Burks, DJ Montgomery, and Ben Nicol in this slot, you've got Josh Downs, Anthony Gould, Coleman Owen, and Raylan Sharp. So, Zach, I do think this changes some things. Nick Westbrook Aquina's been having a pretty good camp coming into here. And now I look at this and I'm like either he or both he and Lequan Trouble are not making this roster. Right, right. No, I completely agree with you. I think the four absolute locks are not going anywhere whatsoever are going to be Pierce, Downs, Allen, and Ashton Doolin.
Starting point is 00:14:33 Those are going to be your guys who are 100% going to be on the team. The only question with Doolin is if we see him get back on special teams a little bit now or if he's going to continue just working exclusively on offense. So that'll be interesting to see in the next time we see practice. But those guys will be on the team. I do lean Westbrook Aquina because of how well he's performed this offseason. But Laquan Treadwell has been with the first team earlier than Westbrookina was this off season. Treadwell has taken every first team rep that he can. I don't think I've seen him with the second group.
Starting point is 00:15:04 Yeah. So I do think that's going to be more 50-50. And those guys will be battling for that fifth wide receiver spot. So whoever can provide more on special teams, who can provide more as a blocker because that's probably the one area where they really lose with going from Pittman to Keenan Allen is the blocking aspect on the offense. So I do think that that is going to be part of the equation here. So that fifth spot will go to one of those guys. And then the way I break it down for the sixth spot, Jake, is it's going to be whoever our punt and kick returner is going to be.
Starting point is 00:15:33 So either Coleman Owen, Anthony Gould or Dionne Burks. And I've seen some Colts fans say like, okay, we think Berks can get that. if it were off of what I've seen this offseason, I know you can even clarify that more, Jake. I think it's a two-man race between Owen and Gould unless Berks does something crazy here the next few days. Like, he just hasn't gotten enough run on special teams.
Starting point is 00:15:56 And when he has, it hasn't been more noteworthy than Gould or Owen. And as of right now, I would say Owen is really in the driver's seat because Gould has hurt and he didn't play in the first preseason game. So we'll see if that solidifies itself because sometimes teams, it doesn't matter like that like they just have their hierarchy already and gould getting hurt doesn't matter but i mean i would lean i guess towards owen right now but i'm biased i know i'm biased when it comes to that jake where do you kind of fall with that six wide receiver spot yeah it's funny because today's original plan was to be a 53 man roster projection before the keenan allen
Starting point is 00:16:29 news broke i think i probably have owen too i think there's good reason for all of them like with gould he's the incumbent he's been doing it for a couple years for you now But again, he's got a groin injury, missed the last couple practices, missed the last game. Owen is probably the most effective all-around player. I think he's the most responsible on special teams. And other than the ball coming out, you know, slipping out of his hands on the interception last Thursday, which you can assign blame in multiple spots. He's pretty effective receiver in practice. Burks is the most dangerous receiver of the three.
Starting point is 00:17:06 Like the highest upside is easily, Burke. So I do think Owen is the one where they have to rack their brain the least. Like the one they'd have to talk themselves into the least, I think would be Owen. Because he's like, Gould has hardly touched the field at all on offense. It's really all been in the return game. I think they'd be much more willing to let Owen see the field as a backup slot receiver. So all those things included, I think Owen is probably in the driver seat there. When it comes to Birx, I just, it's like all projection.
Starting point is 00:17:43 I think he would have to be, have to have an awesome next couple weeks. Otherwise, I just have not seen quite enough yet to say that he's making the roster over these guys who give you some instant gratification in Owen and Gould. So here's the routes that I see them possibly going with this. And you can, you can chime in afterwards. With Anthony Gould, that's your best kick returner of the bunch. I do think he's probably a better kick returner than Coleman Owen. he's got more speed, more explosiveness. He's done it at a higher level.
Starting point is 00:18:11 Like last season was his best year as a kick returner. So if they go Gould, they want that high-end kick-returner. Pump return has been a little bit iffy with him over the years, but I do think if they go with Gould, it's more kick return. If they go with Owen, it's because they wanted the best punt returner. Every time we've seen him returning punts, whether it's preseason, off-season, whatever, he's easily been the best guy of the bunch. And he's very similar to like a Josh Downs where he catches everything.
Starting point is 00:18:35 He gets the positive yards. he gets down. It's kind of what he's at his best with. If they go Dionne Burks, I think you have to have dueling as your kick returner and downs as your punt returner because Berks just hasn't really shown enough yet at those two spots. So if they go Burks over those two, it's purely saying, hey, we don't want to lose Berks on the waiver wire.
Starting point is 00:18:58 We want to just stash him and see what he can be down the line. So I do think there's an avenue for all three of these guys. I just think for me, I think you can easily put like Doolin and McGowan back at kick returner, right? If you don't like Owen back there, which Owen's been fine as a kick returner, but you can put Doolin and McGowan back there, right? You can put McGowan in Bentley or McGowan or, you know, whoever back there at kick returner. Pomp returner is the most valuable aspect of this six wide receiver spot. And for me, I'd rather have the consistency of Coleman Owen back there who last preseason and this preseason has shown that he can do that at a pretty solid level. So that's where I fall with it.
Starting point is 00:19:34 But I do think there's an avenue for all three of these guys, although I do think the Dionne Burke's Avenue is the most far-fetched one. Yeah, that's exactly what I was going to kind of project is I do think now that Doolin has to take a step back offensively, I think he's their best kickoff returner on the team. He's got very good speed, good sides, good strength. And we've seen him like it feels like the last couple years every time he's touched the ball on a kickoff, something good has happened. Right.
Starting point is 00:20:01 So I think the best case scenario is Doolin is the new kickoff returner. And like you said, Owen, like I think he could be an effective punt returner. He's not maybe going to give you the explosiveness of Gould or Birx, but he's the most responsible one probably. So I think you have Owen make the group among those three. And then you have Doolin as your kickoff returner with McGowan as the upman, the lead blocker on kickoff returns. I think that's probably your best case scenario the Colts can be looking at.
Starting point is 00:20:30 And then where do you fall on the Westbrook Aquina versus Treadwell, like 6040, Westbrook Akeena versus Treadwell? I would say Westbrook Akeena. Treadwell broke out as a special teamer last year and it was really good. But like Westbrook Akeena has played special teams basically his whole career. He could be a gunner. He got some work at personal protector in the rotation a couple days ago as well. So Westbrook Akeena is also very, very useful on special teams.
Starting point is 00:21:00 and has a higher upside as a receiver the Treadwell is. Like, I like Treadwell for what he is, but it's been 10 years, and he's never been a productive receiver in the NFL. Meanwhile, Westbrook-A-Kina has, and you're not asking him to do a lot. So I would fall on Westbrook-A-Kine on that. So I guess among those last two spots we're talking about, Westbrook-A-Kina makes it over Treadwell, and then Owen makes it over Gouldenbergs.
Starting point is 00:21:25 Yeah, I think I completely agree there. And one thing with Treadwell, too, much easier to get him to the practice squad. is Westbrook Cana. So I do think that they have an avenue there with that. But we'll see what's in store these next few days. We'll see what Keen Island looks like in training camp. It gets out there on the field.
Starting point is 00:21:41 But coming up, guys, we're going to talk about other needs and just where this roster stands going into the final week of training camp and into the last two preseason games. All right, baseball fans, if you think you know who's hitting a homer today, then Fandwell is going to give you a free chance to call your shot with daily dingers. It's super easy to play. you're just going to make your free pick for who you think is going to hit a homer in the game. If you're right, you're going to receive a profit boost to use on your next bet for a chance at extra winnings. Best of all, you can make a free pick every day throughout the MLB season. Daily Dingers is another fun way to stay engaged with every day's games, whether you're following your favorite team or you're just keeping an eye on matchups across the league.
Starting point is 00:22:23 Every game has someone capable of going deep, and now you get the chance to make your prediction before the first pitch. there's certain players where every at bat just feels like something big could happen. That's what makes daily dingers fun. You get to back the players that you think are going to go deep that day, and then you get to cash in if you're right. So are you ready to play your game today? Join all the action at fanduel.com. That's fandwell.com to play daily dingers and make your free pick on who's hitting a homer.
Starting point is 00:22:52 Play ball and swing for the fences on Fandul, an official partner of the MLB. All right, welcome back. everybody. We are breaking down the cult's signing of Keenan Allen. And now I guess we move beyond the point where we're talking about Keenan Allen and the receivers. We're looking now at the biggest remaining needs on the roster because you definitely could have made an argument for receiver being the biggest need on the roster before now. And now I think you're all good. You kind of have everybody in their spot serving their purpose and you have legitimate battles there. So I think we feel better about it now. But when you look beyond that, Zach, you know, I, I had four. areas that I looked at and was like, this could use some help. And even so, you kind of have to just let things play out as they are. I don't know that they make any more significant moves at this point. You know, I look at edge. But again, that is what it is. We've talked about that. There's a lot of bodies there. And I just don't know that you can add any more to it without it being a trade where you take somebody else out. Backup One Tech. O-Line.
Starting point is 00:24:01 depth, especially right now with the injuries they're dealing with. And then cornerback depth, if you don't like what you've seen from Jonathan Edwards, Mackay-Blackman, you could certainly bring somebody else in. Yeah, I think the big one will be offensive tackle depth. That's going to be the one to watch just because we don't know the severity right now of Luke Tanuta's injury. And if that's going to be like a long-lasting injury, then the Colts, I mean, I still think that Gonzalves is their swing tackle, but I think they want another reliable tackle on there. And Even if they say they like Blake Freeland, there's no way they actually do. I mean, are you watching anything?
Starting point is 00:24:38 I mean, Jalen Tuameloah was going to have 30 sacks this year just off of training camp stuff when he was going against Freeland. And then he goes against the Patriots fistering offensive tackle and can't get any kind of push. So that just tells you everything you need to know about Blake Freeland. But yeah, like I could see them going out and getting like a veteran offensive tackle if Tanuda is not good to go. But aside from that, like I think at edge rusher, for better or for worse they have their six guys. I just don't think that there's room unless they are shipping out one of these guys in a
Starting point is 00:25:09 trade for someone else. I just don't think there's room to have another player in that spot. Again, for better or for worse, we can argue all we want about what that looks like. Backup one tech, I agree with you that it is a need and it's a concern for this team, but they have guys they like for better or for worse. That's going to be the quote of the day on here. I still think the best avenue with that is having multiple guys on the practice squad and just calling them up and going from there. But we'll see if they end up keeping 11 guys on the D line and keeping a backup one tech along with the three, three texts they have.
Starting point is 00:25:45 In cornerback depth, I think that Lou Anerumo has a lot more faith in those bottom two guys than a lot of Colts fans do right now. So I don't expect any kind of move there. And if they did make a move there, I think it would just be Jalen Jones jumping over one of those two guys, and going out and getting someone else. Because, like, Jalen Jones is probably better than any free agent corner that you can find out there right now. So I don't think we're going to see any more, like, big moves from the Colts or, like, big change. Like, this was really the last big move that they're going to make before the season starts unless a major injury happens. But I would keep an eye certainly on, like, offensive tackle signings in the next few days,
Starting point is 00:26:22 maybe even in like a name that we actually recognize just because they're down to guys. We don't know the severity of Teno's injury. and if Tanuta's going to be out for a couple weeks, then they certainly need, like, another playable offensive tackle to be that fourth offensive tackle in the rotation. Yeah, I don't know if you guys saw, I tweeted this out earlier, but the Colts worked out yesterday, so Monday. They did work out three offensive linemen.
Starting point is 00:26:48 Interior guy, Will Hernandez. I don't know if they'll make that move or not. That's a veteran who I think came into the league at the same time as Quentin Nelson. And then offensive tackles, Deontay Smith, and Trey Weddick. Weddick is actually from IU, so I know some people are kind of intrigued by that one. So they are kicking the tires on tackle death
Starting point is 00:27:08 because it's not just Tanuda down right now. It's Rucci. And it's kind of causing some issues in the way they practice because they're having to put Josh Sills at tackle, even though he is a guard, and they're having to kick Matt Gonzalez down to third team right tackle. It's just affecting the way they're having to do things. So I don't think we're going to see anybody,
Starting point is 00:27:29 brought in the side like camp bodies like random camp bodies that hardly any of us have heard of until roster cut down time or maybe they make two or three waiver pickups to replace some of their own guys uh but zach'm with you when it comes to like one tech for example i think that is just going to be a churn from the practice squad like maybe you bring on tillery and camball on the practice squad and you kind of rotate those guys throughout the season when you need them like if you think you're going to be facing a run-heavy attack that week, you bring in one of the extra noses. But, yeah, I don't really expect any more moves that move the needle beyond this one. Yeah, no, I agree with you.
Starting point is 00:28:08 I mean, again, like a backup tackle could move the needle a little bit. And, like, Deonti Smith, I think, has started some games back with the Bengals a couple of years ago. I remember him coming out of ECU. And you were correct about Hernandez. I think he did come out in that 2018 draft. I want to say he was either sandwiched between Braden Smith and Quentin Nelson Pipp. or he was right after Braden Smith. I know he was like an early second round pick in that draft.
Starting point is 00:28:32 I think from the Giants, yep. Yeah, big bruising player. I think he played a little bit last year, I remember. So he was with the Giants with Daniel Jones and then he went to the Cardinals for a while. Right. But I don't know what he did most recently. I wonder if he overlap with Sprano Jr. there in the Giants then because remember Sprono Jr. was there with the Giants for a bit.
Starting point is 00:28:52 So we'll have to look at that after the show. But yeah, that could make some sense as a depth signing. And maybe it could be a sign that they want to get farmer some of those tackle reps. I don't know. Like I'm just, I'm just speculating here because who knows exactly where they're going with that ninth offensive line spot. But yeah, I think an offensive line signing could be significant. Like if they made one the next couple of days,
Starting point is 00:29:13 it could be a guy who could make the roster. But any other signing they make between now and cut downs, I don't think would be like a roster guy. It would be like, oh, you know, Raylan Sharp got hurt. Let's get another 90th guy in here. You know, something like that, you know. but we'll see the big moves on roster cutdowns, maybe claim a tackle like they've done in the past.
Starting point is 00:29:32 I think they claimed like a Dolphins tackle a couple of years ago on waivers who didn't really last that long on the team, but was there for depth. So I think we could see a move there, but outside of that, I don't expect too many more moves from this Colts team. I think Keenan Allen was the one we were waiting on and the one that we kind of expected.
Starting point is 00:29:49 Honestly, you and I think expect this like a week or two ago. Like we didn't think it was going to be like this long into it, but we did kind of expect it to happen at some point. But I'm glad it's finally happened. And they have their veteran receiver out there to go alongside Downs and Pierce on the outside. Yeah, I think Keenan Allen is just doing the, I don't want to do training camp thing. Because last year, I think it was like August 3rd or 4th that he signed with the Chargers. This year, he's probably like, man, I don't, I don't need to be out in training camp in Westfield, Indiana.
Starting point is 00:30:21 I'll wait until they're back at the facility doing their thing. But with that, I think you only have to worry about. I don't worry about conditioning, but, you know, soft tissue injuries, I guess, and just not doing too much right off the bat. Yeah, luckily they still have, what, 26 days until the first game. So they still have plenty of time to get him involved in the offense, get him going. And look, you're going to run a lot of curls and drags. It's not the most complicated route tree in the book right now for him.
Starting point is 00:30:48 So I think he'll be able to figure out with how long he's been in this league. He has a chance to break into the top 10 in receptions in a career this season. actually has an outside shot of, I don't even want to say it's an outside shot. He just repeats the production he did last year, which I hope he doesn't, but he could, right? Then I think he passes like Marvin Harrison for like fifth all time in receptions. He's already got over a thousand. Yeah, so he's well on his way to historic career. I mean, he's already had a historic career, but he has a chance to even cement himself as, you know,
Starting point is 00:31:17 one of those guys who, like the longevity pushes him into those top ranks this year. So we'll see if he's able to hit those numbers. Really excited for Keenan Allen with this Colts team. And I think, again, like I said this a couple of times, I think in a ways he can be an upgrade over what Michael Pittman Jr. gave them last season. So thank you all for making Locked-on Colt your first listen today. Now, for your second listen, check out Locked-on NFL scouting as training camps near their end and moves are being made. Host Kyle Crabs and Joe Marino will make you the most informed NFL fan this off season.
Starting point is 00:31:45 Find Locked on NFL scouting on YouTube or wherever you list to your podcast. If you don't already, make sure you're following out Lockdown Colts at Jake Arthur and NFL and at Zach Kicks to all on socials. If you never miss an episode, the Everdeer Club is built for you. Get us ad-free plus members-only Discord access and much more. Head to LockdownColts.com to join the club. Thank you all for tuning in and we'll catch you guys back here tomorrow afternoon.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.