Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - LOCKED ON COLTS 3/23/20: Colts Cut Pierre Desir, Brian Hoyer + Best Round 2 Draft Options

Episode Date: March 23, 2020

On today's episode, Zach Hicks of Stampede Blue is back to help go over a lot of Colts news on your Monday.First up, why did the Colts release Pierre Desir? The veteran corner underachieved thanks to injury, but surprising nonetheless he was waived and immediately picked up by the Jets. What happens next at CB? Don't be surprised if they draft another corner in Round 2.Brian Hoyer was cut, which means Jacoby Brissett is still around at QB. What's going to happen with Brissett and that situation after Hoyer lands in New England again? Also, how will the Colts address losing Joe Haeg and Josh Andrews as valuable depth pieces as well on the offensive line?We close with some Mock Draft Monday talk on best options in Round 2. What could the plan possibly be for Ballard and Co. this time next month? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, everybody. Welcome back into your latest episode of Locked On Colts Party, the Locked On Podcast Network. Today's always your host, Evan Sider, and joined by our weekly guest on the show here all throughout the season, Zach Hickestampi. How are you doing today, Zach? Pretty good, man. You know, we got information that my state's about to lock down here due to coronavirus. But, you know, outside of that, we're doing pretty good here. I know Indiana, I believe, is doing the same on Wednesday or so. I imagine it's definitely a different time in the U.S. So I appreciate everyone listening in and taking your time out with us here on Locked on Colts.

We're going to talk a lot about today's show, Zach. We're going to obviously do some draft stuff at the end of the show, Mock Draft Monday. But I'll also talk through some really surprising Colts news. We'll kick it off through a period of this year being cut. He had no dead cap on his contract. That's the one thing I noticed when he first signed the contract last year, Zach, was really it was just a one-year contract for the Colts.

They wanted to get out with no dead money involved. They did that before the guarantee on Sunday. Surprising move, though, because they now do not have a cornerback won unless they believe in Rakia, Senn, and Marvell Tell on the outside. What do you think is next in that position? What's your thoughts on Desir on his way out to the Jets? back one unless they believe in Rakia Sen and Marvell Tell on the outside. What do you think is next to that position? What's your thoughts on Desir on his way out to the Jets? Yeah, so starting with Desir, you know,

I don't think his play really warranted him getting cut. Obviously, it wasn't at the level that it was the year before, but I still think he was a good corner. I mean, we had flashes last year of him playing well, and honestly, I think a lot of it was due to the injury that he suffered early in the season, the hamstring injury. I just don't think he was right throughout the whole year. So it does kind of suck to see him go, but I do kind of get it from the Colts perspective. You know, like the play did drop off. They had a chance to cut him with no dead money and he probably wasn't worth, you know, that seven, $8 million contract, even though, again, I don't think that was too bad

of a deal. He probably wasn't worth that with the way he was playing. So, you know, I don't really completely agree with the move, but I understand it from a money perspective. But, you know, they weren't really that tight on cap. So I guess that's kind of the counterpoint to that. But, you know, I do think this kind of shows that they have a lot of belief in Rocky Sin and maybe even Marvell Tell. You know, they might have another free agent in mind that they're going to target or maybe they like a guy like at pick 34 or 44 to kind of step in and replace this year. So I don't really know how much this really says about Marvell Tell, but I definitely think that they saw enough in Rocky Sin last year. And honestly, outside of that Denver game and kind of the way that he was playing down the stretch, yeah, I think it's absolutely easy to say that you know Rockison has good potential and

and maybe not the cornerback one but a cornerback two maybe uh yeah so I don't completely disagree uh I don't completely agree with with the cutting of this year but you know Rockison I think outplayed him last year and there's some good options in the draft so I don't think it's kind of as dire a situation of what a lot of people are saying you know I don't think he was their best corner by any means you know obviously Kenny Moore was their best corner by any means. You know, obviously Kenny Moore was their best corner on the team last year and one of the best overall defenders. And then I think Rocky Sin was better than him last year as well.

So I don't think it's as dire as a cut as people are kind of freaking out about. But, yeah, it's definitely a questionable call unless they have some kind of plan here, which I'm sure they do. Yeah, and you look at Kenny Moore too. Chris Bowers is all about leadership in that locker room. We saw last year Kenny Moore take more of that leadership role in the locker room, and I think he's going to take even more of it now in 2020 for a fully healthy season.

I think they probably knew that he grew into that leadership role while Pierre Desir was there, and obviously we know Kenny Moore and Pierre Desir are very close. But I think I'd be surprised, honestly, Zach, if they went went the free agent route Xavier Rhodes is over the hill at this point he's not it doesn't make any sense to me honestly I think more the draft route we've heard already they know what prospects like Trayvon Diggs of Alabama a guy's going to go in that 34-44 range maybe even earlier maybe a late first round pick what's your thoughts on them going once I know maybe some quotes have been confused again why we're just being our first pick again on a cornerback

like where I could send last year? Maybe they do the same this year with a guy like Trayvon Diggs or they go with a guy – you know, I know you've met with Zach, Michael Ujamudia of Iowa, the Colts really like, and he's a round two, round three type guy. Bryce Hall of Virginia. Chris Bauer's at the Virginia-Narodin game there, so there could be interest.

I think those three guys make an awful lot of sense for this team. Yeah, you know, I think there's a lot of guys in this draft that make sense. You know, I mean, on top of that, Jalen Johnson out of Utah makes a lot of sense. Damon Arnett, you know, obviously the off-field stuff is kind of cleared up through, you know, Skype interview or whatever the heck they're doing now with this COVID stuff. So, yeah, I think there's a lot of guys in this class that Ballard has a lot of interest in.

There's a lot of types that fit his, you know, big pressed corner that can also drop in his own and come downfield and hit people. I think there's a lot of guys that really fit that mold. And honestly, you know, going to what you were saying, spending his top pick on a corner again, you know, in Ballard's time as a GM or also as director of scouting with, you know, where he was with the Chiefs. So since 2013, I think in those seven drafts, he's taken like 12 corners or like 10, 11

corners, something like that. He's taken a lot of corners and he obviously sees that as a position that you can't just kind of be settled with. You know, you need to keep taking corners and keep developing guys and keep that kind of pipeline clean and constant. So yeah, I mean, if he took another corner with his top pick, it wouldn't shock me at all. It wouldn't even shock me if they still had Desir on the roster

that he would take another one with one of those picks. You know, it's just obviously a position that he really values. And, you know, there are a lot of guys in this class. So, yeah, I think there's a couple free agents that he might have interest in. But, yeah, the draft route's probably the way that he's going to go. The next free agent cut, which wasn't surprising, Zach, but we also heard reports about this. We're obviously going to cover here from Jeremy Fowler,

who was the first one to break the news about the report interest of the Colts and Jacobus set back around New Year's. And he said that according to a source that they're going to keep Jacobus set around. That's their intent right now. I don't know if that's bluffing in the Colts part, but they cut Brian Hoyer. So that means there's no quarterback two competition for a guy like Brian Hoyer. He's now already signed to Patriots back in a one-year due to backup Jared Stidham

there if he wants to. I really believe, Zach, it seems like there's a stronger chance by the day Jacobus sets the backup quarterback and Chris Bauer eats the money, but what's your thoughts on Brian Hoyer getting released? Well, yeah, just to start with Hoyer being released, I don't think that really should shock anyone I mean he was supposed to come in and and be that kind of steady backup he could win a game if he had to and he had his one chance to or I guess his two chances the

Steelers and Dolphins games to to kind of come in and win a game when he had to and he just couldn't get it done uh so yeah I don't really think that should shock anyone uh he's an older quarterback that couldn't get it done in his spot starts last year. And if you're not doing that, you're not really a good backup quarterback. So, yeah, it doesn't shock me at all. It was definitely a move that had to be made, even though it didn't really save the Colts that much money. And then if this leads, what do you think is next now at the quarterback position, Zach?

Because now, let's not even include Shaq Kelly here, because he's probably a pride squad guy at this point. Do you believe maybe the quarterback room heading into the draft, excuse me, like the Josh Rosen situation we saw at the Cardinals last year when they took Kyler Murray? After they took Kyler Murray, they immediately shot Josh Rosen and got whatever they could for him.

Maybe that's what's next to this Colts team. Maybe they draft quarterback in round two at 34-44, even trade up into round one for, say, a guy like Jordan Love. If he starts slipping, maybe they go the route of what the Cardinals did last year. But what do you think happens now at the crowd position? There's an increasing chance of Jacoby staying? There's a pretty good chance of him. I don't know.

As of right now, there's kind of everything on the table. You know, the Colts obviously could eat that money and stick with Brissette for this whole next year where, you know, he is still a decent backup in this league. So it wouldn't be the worst decision. Obviously, it's a lot of money to the quarterback position. It kind of limits you a little bit in what you can do this year.

But who knows how much Ballard was even planning to do again in free agency this year. So that is one option. Another option is trading him at the draft or maybe even holding onto him until training camp when those injuries kind of pile up to other teams and maybe a team loses a quarterback and you can get a good price for trading Jacoby Brissett.

So, you know, I don't really know what's going to happen. All I really know with Brissett is, you know, he's not going to be on this team after this year. Obviously, they made that very clear when they gave Phillip Rivers a $25 million contract to come in and be the starter. So, yeah, I mean, at most this year for the Colts, year obviously they made that very clear when they gave philip rivers a 25 million dollar contract to come in and be the starter uh so yeah i mean at most this year for the colts he's going to be the backup at a really high salary or he's going to be shipped you know in training camp or the draft i

don't really know which option it's going to be uh we're going to have to kind of just wait and see with that but um as of right now you know with all the reports and kind of like what we were saying with philip rivers you know when there's smoke there's fire so with all the reports and kind of like what we were saying with Phillip Rivers, when there's smoke, there's fire. So with all the reports that we're seeing, all the smoke with it, the Colts have every intention of holding on to them and keeping them as the backup, which for a one-year thing, you could definitely do worse at your backup position. So

I don't completely disagree with that move. Yeah, the Colts still, after cutting Desir and Hoyer, interestingly enough, Zach, if they do keep Jacoby Brissett, they still are very flexible cap-wise. Around $30 million to $32 million in cast space right now, rough projections for the Colts. More than enough money to still go after a big fish name if they want to

or even still fill in the roster with depth guys. What do you think is next for this Colts team? Do you think they still attack free and see? Because all of a sudden they free up $11 million in one day by cutting Desir. Yeah, you know, I don't think they're completely done. I think there are still a couple of moves that are out there to be made. I mean, we saw what,

what Ballard has done in years past with guys like Danico Autry and signing these guys, he kind of bargained deals later on in free agency and getting, you know, some pretty good value here on the, in the later days of free agency and then like the second wave of it. So yeah, we could definitely see him make a couple more moves. But I do think all his big splash moves are done. I think Buckner was his big splash, and Rivers was his big splash.

I don't really see, like, you know, like a Jadavian-Clowney deal coming or anything like that. I know a lot of people are getting excited about that. But I see mostly being a lot more of, like, the smaller deals and such and kind of getting good value and good depth players, maybe getting some more experience onto their defense. But I don't really see many more major moves coming for this team.

Yeah, I expected it to be a lot more through the draft, and Chris Bowers is going to definitely capitalize on his still too high draft picks here, Zach. But before we get into our mock draft Monday, I wanted to go on. I think two interesting losses here is going to lead us into our draft conversation. Joe Haag to Tampa Bay on a one-year deal,

presumably to compete for a starting job to protect Tom Brady on a Super Bowl run at Tampa Bay. And also, we saw Josh Andrews go to the Jets. Once again, the Colts-Jets pipeline with Rex Hogan

is really showing up now as he signs there, I believe, on a one- or two-year deal with the Jets. So that's their number six, number seven offensive lineman, though, Zach. Those are two huge losses for this Colts team. I think Colts fans would be maybe a little frustrated if they did this,

but I would not be shocked at all at this point, especially after losing Hagan Andrews, if the Colts had dressed offensive line at 34-44. Yeah, you know, I think that was always kind of in the cards with Anthony Costanzo considering retirement and that whole fiasco that was going on. I definitely think they could go tackle at 34-44. And, you know, Ballard has made it very clear that he always values

offensive line play and values the trenches, and getting another offensive line would not be against his character at all. You know, when it comes to losing Haig and Andrews, though, I think that was kind of expected coming into this offseason, especially Haig. Haig was going to, you know, get a chance kind of expected coming into this offseason, especially Haig. Haig was going to get a chance to start somewhere else, and that was something the Colts just couldn't match with whatever team they were going to go to.

So I think a lot of this was kind of expected. They were going to have to rebuild that part of their offensive line with some youth, and I think that's why they kept a guy like Jake Eldrenkamp all last year because I think they anticipated this kind of going on this offseason. So I think they like Eldreden-Kamp. I think they have a decent amount of trust when it comes to LaRaven Clark and such, but obviously a little bit more than that.

So, yeah, I definitely think maybe day three they could address into your offensive line, and maybe even early on day two with 34-44 they could address that tackle problem here. Let's dive in now, Zach, to some possible options here at 34-44. Let's take the trade off the table here, because if they do trade, it's probably for a quarterback that slides like a Jordan Loves, and we all know that's maybe a scenario that could happen with how the drafts plan, how the quarterback dominoes are currently playing. Zach, when you look at a player, let's look at the

offense tackles for a second. We just talked about guys like Joe Hay again. Guys in that 34-44 range. Ezra Cleveland, he really – Bauer loves his athletic line. We already know that. It really seems to me like Cleveland is a guy that makes a lot of sense at 34-44. Anyone else make sense in that range? Yeah, yeah, there's a couple other guys. I think Matthew Pert out of UConn makes a lot of sense.

36-inch arms, the longest in the draft. Great athlete. I think he was 90th percentile athlete as well. So not as high as Ezra Cleveland, but also a very good athlete. He's also just a mauler in the run game. You know, he just runs through guys and he's a people mover. So I think Matthew Pert's going to be someone, you know, in that 34-44 range that the Colts could definitely consider so yeah him I think Austin Jackson if he

falls out of the first round which you know there are kind of like reports of him going anywhere from the end to the third round he's very raw but he's super athletic has a lot of interesting nuances in his game he just kind of really really needs to develop that kind of base and kind of anchor when he's facing against these NFL-style rushers. But, you know, if he was to come in as a Colts sixth lineman, I think that would be a good spot for him. So I think those three, you know, Ezra Cleveland, like you mentioned, Matthew Pert and Austin Jackson, they're in that 34-44 range could definitely be options for the Colts. Wide receiver now, Zach, let's go into the 34-44 guys here.

I'm going to specifically talk about big body guys because that's especially what this Colts offense is missing. And with Phillip Rivers, he's always had success with that. Dobbin Peoples-Jones is a guy that makes sense. Michael Pittman Jr., Chase Claypool. Anyone else of those big bodies make sense to you

in that round two range? Yeah, Denzel Mims happens to be there because I think the thing with Mims, his tape was very inconsistent despite him having this outstanding offseason where he killed the senior bowl and killed the combine. He did have some inconsistent tape, and so you could really see a guy like that fall to maybe 34. So Mims would be another interesting guy. Of the guys that you mentioned, I really do

like Michael Pittman. Probably most of those guys think Michael Pittman, you know, for a guy his size moves very well. And he finds ways to get open, which is really a unique trait for a guy his size. So I really do like him there. But, you know, there are a couple of guys that, you know, maybe not my favorites, like Donovan Peoples-Jones. You know, T. Higgins, I think, could be an option. So there are a lot of big-body guys. I do think, though, the best way to attack this, if you really want to build that receiver depth in this class,

is you want to get more of a difference maker at 34-44. You know, a guy who falls out at first, like Jalen Rager or Brandon Ayoub or Denzel Mims. Those are the guys you want to target that early. And those big-body guys, there's so many of them late in this draft, from Anthony Gandy-Golden to Isaiah Hodgkins. There's a lot of those big guys kind of later in the draft. So I think if you really want to get that big body guy,

maybe later on in the draft would be smart. And early on, you know, you want to attack it with those difference makers, those speed guys, then you can just add more dynamic flow to your offense with a guy like Rager, Ayuk, or Mims. Let's rank those three guys real quick for those that are wondering fans out there. How would you rank Rager, Mims, and Ayuk right now at this moment, Zach? Personally, for me, I still would have Rager over Mims,

even though I know a lot of people would disagree with that right now after their combines. But I'd go Rager, Mims, and then maybe – but I'll throw my name really at what Ballard likes in receivers, and I think all three of them really fit the Colts' offense really well. So any of those three would be a really good fit for the Colts. And then also we're looking at maybe guys in that 34-44 range at wide receiver. What's the possibility thing of going tight end on round two?

Maybe that's more of a round three option, you think? Yeah, you know, I think the overall tight end group this year, unless you're kind of putting Chase Claypool at a tight end, which I know some NFL evaluators are because he is at like 240 pounds, even though he ran the 4-3, the combined. You know, they definitely could go tight end, but I just don't think it's that good a tight end class to really take one that high.

You know, outside of, again, like I said, Claypool being considered a tight end. Are you going to take a guy like Trotman, who's kind of a, you know, really small school guy, kind of average athlete, or Bryson Hopkins, who had some pretty good film, but he's more of a one-dimensional tight end. He's not a dynamic athlete. I just don't think there's really any tight ends in this class that really warrant going that high. So I think it's more of a third or fourth round,

you know, need that they will address. Yeah, I definitely agree with you there. Maybe guys like Thaddeus Moss, Al Barreau, I'm not going to even pronounce his last name because it's so difficult. I think it's Ope Benham or something like that. I think those two guys make a lot of sense in the fourth round there. I could slip there for the Colts. But how would you rank right now, Zach, what would you address right now with the Colts' need to just cut period this year? Of course, you don't know what's going to happen to quarterback, but say that trades aren't involved here, what would you rank the tiers or possibilities for the Colts at 34?

Yeah, so I think 34, considering kind of how ballarded it is philosophy-wise, even though I think 34, considering kind of how Ballard is philosophy-wise, even though I think, you know, quarterback is obviously neat. I don't know how good the quarterback is going to be at 34, you know, however he's there, or kind of how Ballard really has his board set when it comes to that position. But personally for me, looking at the positions that the Colts need and looking at how the board might be at 34, I think wide receiver and cornerback are going to be towards the top there.

I just think that the value is going to be really good. That's fought for corners or receivers. And I think they can get a really good one. And I think in the next year, you want to look at like tackles, maybe a quarterback that falls, or maybe there's just a guy that you really like that you could take kind of at that 34 with with quarterback. And then maybe even a defensive end, you know, there might be a good defensive end that slips that far to 34 so yeah maybe defense then you know they still need that guy that's going to replace Jabal Sheard on the other side unless they really like Al-Qaeda Mohammed to to finally start out there but yeah they could still use the guy on that side as well so there are definitely a lot

of options but I think I would go wide receiver and quarterback at the top, offense tackle, quarterback, and defensive end there in the middle. Yeah, I think that play makes a lot of sense for this team. When you look at a possibility for the Colts, how would you grade out a Denzel Mims, a Matthew Parrott, and then you'd go Michael Ogier-Moutier for your two-round mock, so to say, for your first three picks? I think those make a lot of sense. You're checking off a lot of senior bowl boxers. They were at the Ballards, Ballard-type guys, high-character guys, too,

and their positions in the – what do you think of a haul like that for the Colts if that's possible? Oh, yeah, that would be great. I mean, because with that, you know, you would get a guy like Mims who can immediately step in, be your wide receiver, too, outside of, you know, Hilton. And you can have him, Hilton, and Campbell on the field and have don't have you know three guys that run for three and you have really different abilities in all three of them I think that would be a really good pairing having all those guys then

guy with like Matthew Pert uh would be just excellent at 44 because like I said you know he has that potential to be a franchise left tackle but you know you kind of need that guy you can fill in and be that Joe Hageroll that six six-office lineman in those heavy sets. And with Pert's, you know, strength and ability and his, you know, ability to be like a road grader in the running game, I just think he'd be a great fit there. And then, you know, Michael Ogimudia. I mean, that's just a guy that I love.

I've talked to him on the phone a couple of times. I did a film session with him for Covered Woman. And, yeah, just a really, really smart guy. Really good athlete. Reads things really well. Talks really high about film and such. And really comes from a great program. I think, you know, one thing that he really reiterated to me when we were talking was, you know, his basketball is ahead of him.

He loves a couple plays out there in college that he really thinks can make it here in the next level. So, yeah, he thinks this fall is going to be a good time. And I completely agree. So, yeah, getting him in round three would just be a home run as well. So, yeah, that two-round mock there with the first three picks would be a really good haul for the Colts. Yeah, I think that's definitely on the table for this team

when you look at the possibilities, because I think that would be definitely a great mock draft for this team. And you have to look at those character traits, definitely for a guy like Chris Bauer. And that's on Colts Fincher if we watch out. That's a bit closer to April's draft but before I let you go Zach I have to let you know about this William Hill sportsbook the first sportsbook out there with the over-unders this year for the Colts and other NFL teams eight and a half I know we still haven't had a draft yet there's going to be a lot to happen between now and then but do you feel like eight and a half's

a little too low for this Colts team? No, I think that's about even. You know, obviously they made a couple moves by getting Rivers and Buckner in. And there's so many things that could really happen throughout the year. But, you know, they were a seven-win team last year, and that was with a couple things going their way, a couple things also going against them. But, you know, they were a seven-win team last year. They haven't made too many, like, different –

they haven't really improved a lot of their weaknesses in terms of wide receiver or corner yet. So those are still kind of to be seen. But I think eight and a half is pretty fair. You know, I would probably put this team right now at, like, an eight to 11 win team, maybe eight to 10 win team. So I wouldn't get too upset about eight and a half projection. You know, if it was, like, five games or six games,

then I'd probably get upset. But I think eight is – you know, it's a like five games or six games, then I'd probably get upset. But I think eight is, you know, it's a little bit on the low side, but I think it's pretty fair. You guys can follow Zach on Twitter at Zach Hicks too. Zach, appreciate your time, man. Yeah, thanks for having me on, man.