Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - NEEDS MET?: Did Indianapolis Colts Fix Their Holes in the NFL Draft?

Starting point is 00:00:00 The 26 NFL draft is officially behind us, so let's reassess the needs of this Colts roster. 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, and that is Jake Arthur on today's show. We're going to be diving into the needs of this Indianapolis Colts roster, talk about if they were addressed in the NFL draft or if they still prevail following the draft.

Starting point is 00:00:40 We're going to close it out with some new needs like interior defensive line and a couple others, but we're going to mostly talk about edge linebacker and the big ones here to start off today's show. So Jake, let's talk about edge rusher because I'm a little concerned still about edge rusher. We all talked about it as being a massive need going into the draft. The Colts really only had like four maybe five playable guys on the roster. and outside of Laotu Latu and not really a starter caliber guy out on the team. And after adding Caden Curry and George Gumbs Jr., I think we can still say the same thing about Edge Room.

Starting point is 00:01:16 But what are your thoughts on the Edge Rush or need and if it was addressed in this draft? Yeah, you know, you double up at Edge and you still kind of have a prominent need there, which is a little disappointing. But I do like the depth that they built. like George Gumbs was a guy who if they were going to have to wait until the third day to take an edge, he was one of my favorite options there. So I like that. Curry, I think, is a fine player as well.

Starting point is 00:01:46 Again, a good depth piece who could probably maybe go toe to toe with Clemens for a spot. I mean, in theory, there's some financial ties to Clemens. But, you know, as far as player for player who is better, I think that's a valid. discourse there. But yeah, you still need someone to start up top because they can, they could sell us the Jalen to him, a low-ow stuff all they want. But the fact of the matter is they tried to have Trey Hendrickson be their starter in that spot. So to go from Trey Hendrickson, a very well-established player being your starter to a guy who played 200 snaps for you as a rookie, that's a hard sell. So there's a couple schools of thought here. Like, do they go ahead and

Starting point is 00:02:30 get a veteran free agent who we know can start on the strong side for them or are there simply too many bodies now like is it just a matter of how do you fit all these guys into one rotation? Yeah, that's kind of my concern there. And I guess overall when it comes to this draft, you know, I don't want to call it like a failure when it comes to edge rusher because there was always going to be at least one position that they failed to address in this draft, right? Because they didn't have enough high value picks to address all those spots. but you know when you look at edge coming into the draft it was okay we like the depth but we don't

Starting point is 00:03:03 have another starter and now we're coming out of the draft saying okay we like the depth but we don't have another starter i don't think they did enough in this draft and again it was bound to happen but i don't know and honestly like you said what the schools of thought there jake where it's like the second one now there might be too many cooks in the kitchen right to to bring in a veteran or to make a trade for a veteran uh to where like because you know you just drafted curry you just drafted gums. I'm not saying they're locks to make the team, but you want to give them a shot, at least, to show out in training camp. And if you bring in one of these veterans, are they really going to get that shot to make the team? So it's tough, man. I don't love the double dip of Edge.

Starting point is 00:03:43 That's probably my biggest complaint with the entire draft class, the double dip. And I'm not even saying, like, you know, instead of Farmer take Deni Dennis Sutton, who, I mean, I had, I mean, Sutton was more of a fourth round guy for me anyway. So I don't think it makes a huge difference anyway. You're probably still looking for another edge rusher, but I don't know. I just think it's tough right now with edge. It's very tough. Edrrusher is one where you kind of just want that proven production, and I don't know if there's many avenues to really get it at this point. I do think their depth this year is better than last year, but when you throw in Quitty Pay's departure on top of that, is this defensive end room better than last year's? Probably not, because I don't

Starting point is 00:04:25 know if anyone like and this is going to be something crazy for colts fans i don't know if any guy that they currently have is better than what quitty pay was last year aside from layout too lot too which that's a tough pill to swallow i think yeah it is um yeah i mean that's that's just that's tough any way you look at it um oh i just think so but no i mean let's go ahead and we'll discuss the linebacker portion of it now because i mean At edge, it just kind of, it is what it is at this point, you know, by the time they were drafting in the second round, the strong side guys who could have potentially started for them were already off the board. You know, T.J. Parker and Zion Young, if you look at it that way, they were already gone. So what, what could you do?

Starting point is 00:05:13 Gabe Accus was really the one of the lone maybe startable guys left, but he's not really a run defender. So I think we'd have a bigger problem with it if they didn't ace their four two picks otherwise. You know, like it's tolerable because of what they did elsewhere. Yeah, because if they didn't take C.J. Allen and they took Gabe Accus there, we'd say, okay, edge looks a little bit better. But then our next position we're about to talk about here, linebacker, we'd say, okay, linebacker's still a big issue. Like Bryce back is going to start at Mike for you this year.

Starting point is 00:05:43 So there were going to be complaints regardless with this. But I guess let's get over to linebacker now because this is a position. that they threw a lot of assets at it. And I feel pretty good about linebacker now going into the year. Going into the draft, their top three guys were team Davis Gathear, Austin and G. G.gay and Jalen Carlis, who we don't even know if Jailen Carlyse would have been a lock to make the roster. But now you're adding CJ Allen.

Starting point is 00:06:07 And now you're adding Bryce Betcher. Even an undrafted franchise, a guy like West Weeks can come in and compete for special team snaps. So they threw some assets at that position. And I mean, I think Alan and Betcher are going to be in that. top three of their linebacker snaps this year on defense. I mean, Allen should be the most snap getter at linebacker this year for the team. So they threw some valuable assets of this position and hopefully it leads to some good things in 2026. Yeah, I think at least it leads your

Starting point is 00:06:36 linebacker core a little more, number one, it's easily deeper, but it's also more diverse. And you don't just get stuck having, you don't, you don't, it. they got they kind of screwed themselves almost with zire franklin being the top guy and then relying so much on jalen carly's who was hurt like most of the calendar year you wound up having to fill that void on the weak side with germane pratt which basically gave you two run defenders and then hunter roller being hurt really messed things up because he couldn't come be your dime linebacker and the like injuries and just how they decided to address linebacker kind of scumers and kind of screwed the whole operation there.

Starting point is 00:07:21 I don't see that being an issue now. Akeem Davis Gather, I think, is at least better in some respects in coverage than those other guys. Not totally. You've pointed out how he's a better run defender at this point of his career now. But like C.J. Allen, I think certainly better in coverage than Franklin and Pratt, to some degree. I mean, he's a younger guy, so he hasn't seen as much.

Starting point is 00:07:46 but Bryce Betcher, he's already better in coverage than he is against the run. So I think you improved in coverage there for sure. And then the whole big thing of getting younger and faster, you certainly did that. So the special teams portion of it too, like people forget, like a lot of your special teams are built with linebackers. So you lose a Luby. But you got these guys that you got at the very end of the year. Like John Bullock has, you know, had a pretty solid year as a special teamer and his rookie. year. But then you mentioned weeks. You've got guys now,

Starting point is 00:08:21 Akeem Davis Gaither, Austin, Njke, those guys can be solid contributors for you on special teams. So I think the depth of it now looks a whole lot better. And I think you've actually got two or three players that can give you a valid competition for two starters at the top. Yeah, unlike last year or even what it looked like coming in the training camp, or it's like, do we even have anybody for a competition? We knew it was bad from the jump last year. Right. Now you feel pretty good.

Starting point is 00:08:53 Alan's going to be your Mike. Akeem Davis-Gaitha versus Bryce Betcher is going to be for your will linebacker spot. And then whoever loses that is going to be a pretty valuable third linebacker for your team. So yeah. And then even like the past coverage aspect of this, right? Like I would argue that Betcher and then whatever you get out of Hunter Woler as that dime linebacker is going to be better in coverage than what they got last year out of whoever they were putting out on the. field, whether it be Joe Bachi, Austin, Njke, Franklin, Pratt, like, I trust Betcher's eyes better. I trust Woller's eyes a lot better than I trust those guys' eyes in coverage.

Starting point is 00:09:27 Even Allen, like you said, I think can be a fine zone coverage defender. So, yeah, I think they got a lot better in the linebacker room. I'm not going to fully say it's better than last year's yet because there's still, we still, there's a lot of unknown with these young guys, but they did address the need at linebacker in a big away and these guys are going to be ready to play for this 2026 season. So edge rusher, kind of a flop in the 2026 draft, but linebacker, I do think that they addressed it. And I do think that they got a lot better at that position going into next season.

Starting point is 00:09:59 But coming up, we're going to talk about some offensive positions. Wide receiver and O line depth, did the Colts do enough to make us feel better about those needs coming into the draft or coming out of the draft, I should say. The NFL draft is done, but we're still talking about it. It's where preparation meets opportunity and every decision matters. It's all about being ready when your moment arrives. And that same mindset applies off the field, too. That's where Rougiette comes in.

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Starting point is 00:10:49 That's r u-g-I-E-T dot com slash locked on NFL for 15% off. Ruggiette, performance medicine for men. All right, welcome back, everybody. Before we move on, don't forget to check out the everydayer club for our audio ad free and access to a group chat with Zach me and other listeners of the show. Just tap the link in our show notes or go to locked on coldstatsup, supercast.com. to join in on the fun. All right. So we just spoke about some of the Colts biggest defensive needs and how they kind of transpired throughout the draft. They did have some needs on offense,

Starting point is 00:11:26 though, mainly wide receiver and offensive line depth. Obviously, a wide receiver, you trade away Michael Pittman Jr. this offseason, 80 Mitchell back in November. So you kind of had some voids and some skill sets to replace there. And then offensive line, you lost your longtime backup center, Danny Pinter. He went to the Ravens this offseason. And then with Braden Smith leaving in free agency as well, Jalen Travis left his swing tackle post to go be the new starting right tackle, which now means you needed a new starting swing tackle. So the Colts with a couple prominent depth needs there on the offensive line, but we'll discuss receiver first. So Zach, you go into it with the draft as Alec Pierce and Josh Downs as your starters. With us hearing all about Josh Downs,

Starting point is 00:12:11 taken on a heavier role. And then you're going to get a rotation of Ashton Doolin, Nick Westbrook, Akina, and Laquan Treadwell. So we'd heard a lot about the Colts potentially making a move at receiver on day two. Specifically, there were guys in that, like, you know, third round range that they really showed interest in. Brazel, Chris Bell, Ted Hurst, you know, guys like that, we had heard there was some interest there.

Starting point is 00:12:37 They did not wind up making any moves at receiver until the very end, though, So they grabbed Dionne Burks out of Oklahoma, formerly by way of Purdue, available in the seventh round, but he was a pretty common third, fourth round guy as well. A lot of people kind of scratching their heads as to how he was even available there and how he might be one of the steals of the draft now. Yeah, dare I say I'm kind of bullish on his fit with. I am. Like you and I both went from being like, eh, to okay, I like it.

Starting point is 00:13:07 Because we didn't want him to go that high. But at seventh round, hell, yeah. Yeah, I would have taken him round four or five, like not three, like people were talking, but round four or five, I would have been fine with that selection. To get him in round seven, I'm kind of into it. And like, here's my thing. I, going into the draft, I didn't view wide receiver as that massive of a need. Like, yes, it was still a need, but I didn't put it up there with like edge rusher or

Starting point is 00:13:33 linebacker. And honestly, maybe neck and neck was safety, where it was like you could survive with what you currently have, but it'd be nice to have something else. So I'm fine with wide receiver not being fully addressed here because we're not talking about your second leading target getter on the team, right? Because your leading target guys are going to be Pierce, Downs, and Warren. We're talking about the fourth leading target guy. So this Z receiver spot just can be filled in the aggregate a little bit where like Doolin can do some of the big body work along with some of the vertical work. Nick Westbrookina can do some of the big body work and the red zone work.

Starting point is 00:14:07 And even like now Dionne Burks can come in here and do some of the speedy work, right? because I do fully believe Berks is a Z wide receiver. I don't view him as a slot guy in the NFL. I know the Colts have talked about him being like a slot guy and being a guy on returns. I think that works for him. But I think he's more outside receiver than slot. You know, he's a strong player, like a big physical player.

Starting point is 00:14:28 I know he's only 180 pounds, but like this guy is like rocks piled on top of each other. This is how this guy is built. I think he can be a Z where, you know, at the Z position, he doesn't really have to face press coverage very often. often. You can really get him into like bunch looks and have him on like mesh concepts, for instance, just run away from guys. I think he can do that at a very high level. So yeah, I view him as a Z wide receiver. I think he's going to be a fine player in that role. And as long as he can stay healthy because look, he fell this late because of a lack of production

Starting point is 00:14:58 and he couldn't stay healthy in college. He had injuries every single year at the college level. And he just didn't get the ball thrown his way enough in college either. And you tack that on to being a smaller player. And that's why teams let you fall that late. but I think there can be some utility in him. And, you know, I already, I already see Doolin as a very, like, high utility type player. I think Akina can at least be marginal coming in there as well. So, yeah, you give me three different guys like that, three different blends of players. I think they can be fine at Z wide receiver.

Starting point is 00:15:28 So I don't want to say they fully address the need because ideally you go get somebody else and it'd be awesome and you don't have to rotate. But if they went into week one with these three guys rotating out there, all right. I think it would be fun. Maybe that's a hot take. I think it would be perfectly fine. And I know I'm a little bit higher on dueling than most, but I think it would be perfectly fine for this team. Yeah. And I think you first got to see the path for a seventh round pick to make the roster. And I think he would threaten Anthony Gould. Because all this time that we've talked about receiver this year with, you know, Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard, I don't think I've heard Anthony Gould's name mentioned one time. I've heard. you know, obviously Doolin, but like Nick Westbrook, Akina and even Laquan Treadwell, but I've not heard about Anthony Gould. Plus, they talked about potentially getting Barks more involved in the return game, which he did a little bit at Purdue.

Starting point is 00:16:24 And, you know, who else does that, Anthony Gould? And, you know, Josh Downs will be probably taking a little bit of a step back from his return duties, just, you know, because he'll need to be counted on even more on offense. Doolin as well, too, because Doolin was a great returner for them. might have to take a step back because he's going to be a potential starting receiver at Z. Yeah, but at a certain point, there's just too many guys out there. And I just don't think you can have both Berks and Gould. I think that's redundant.

Starting point is 00:16:54 Berks is pretty intriguing. You mentioned his play strength. I thought it was a typo, 26 reps on the bench at 5-9-180. I was like, that can't be right. But it was legit. Like, there are like linebackers and tight ends that don't put that up. You know what I mean? Like that was pretty impressive, I think.

Starting point is 00:17:11 So for a guy who's small in stature to have that kind of play strength and balance as well, like that could be something that separates him from just being the John Ross, Corey Coleman type of I'm fast and can do one thing. I know the Colts are a little more bullish on him. They've talked about the ability to move inside and out. Again, the return game, like I think they're confident in his ability to actually bring real use to the, the Colts receiver core. I think they're very surprised that he was there in the seventh,

Starting point is 00:17:45 and they probably would have been more willing to go earlier for him. But yeah, I think he really factors in well. He might have been the best value pick for the Colts in the whole draft. Yeah, I see a similar player as like Olamide, Zekees, who's been bouncing around the league a little bit out of Virginia a couple years back. I think he can play that kind of role and be a really good, like, backup player for the team. So I'm excited for him, excited for what this wider seeer room can look like. I'm, again, excited for dueling to get a shot, too.

Starting point is 00:18:11 That would be fun. But we'll see there. Offensive line depth real quick before we get out of this segment here, Jake. Going into the draft, it was bleak. Morrissey was their backup center. If you guys don't know who that is, that's fine. He was out of Pittsburgh a couple years ago. I think he's Jimmy Morrissey.

Starting point is 00:18:27 He hasn't played in a few years either, I don't think. Yeah, athletic, small guy, but more of a fringe NFL player at this point. And then backup guard was Dalton Tucker, and the battle for swing tackle was Luke Tenuda and Blake Freeland. So it looked a little dire there on the offensive line behind the five starters with the addition of Jalen Farmer. It gives you six guys that you feel comfortable with. And then even Nolan Rucci is an undrafted free agent.

Starting point is 00:18:51 I had a fifth round grade on. I think you can compete with the Tannuta as a swing tackle. I'm not 100% convinced that the backup offensive line situation is perfect. Like I still want to see something done at center besides Morrissey here. But Farmer I feel good about. Even Rucci and Tenuta, I feel fine about it. as well. So it's looking better as the depth offensive line. You know, it's never going to look perfect in the NFL with backup offensive linemen, but it's looking a lot better than it did

Starting point is 00:19:18 pre-draft. Yeah, I think Farmer is so interesting because of like the trickle-down effect for every other like position on the offensive line, you know, and I think it was Ballard, you know, kind of planting the seed. He said, you know, when they get them in there for rookie camp and OTAs and all the offseason stuff, they'll work him inside. But when training camp gets here, they'll figure out if he's got some utility at like swing tackle as well. So that could be really, that could change a lot of stuff. You know, like if they think he is a starting level right guard, then does Matt

Starting point is 00:19:55 Gonzalez become the swing tackle again? Like, does he become the right tackle and Jalen Travis become sweet? Like, it could have a lot of moving parts to that. I think the most straightforward thing is that he. probably is just the back of the third guard. Maybe that seems like the easiest spot to put him now. But he is super interesting. And then I was really pleased to see them get some of the caliber of Nolan Rucci as a UDFA

Starting point is 00:20:24 because that's someone you and I, again, would have had in the draft coming in to compete at swing tackle. And you get him as a bonus player essentially. So I think that was a really sneaky move. I think when it comes to offensive linemen, camp bodies almost aren't a thing when you got someone like Tony Sprano, junior vouching for you. Now there are guys that they've picked up, have picked up like through the season. And so like Byron Matos and Morrissey and Jack Wilson, some of these like almost, I don't want to say leftovers. It seems rude to say.

Starting point is 00:20:54 But like some of those guys, their jobs are being threatened now at this point by guys who are being handpicked in the offseason for these new. role. So I think the depth got a little better. I think you're right. I still would like to see something more specific happen at center because I don't think that farmer, I don't think that's the plan for him. Now, maybe you make a farmer the primary backup guard and you see what Dalton Tucker can be as the backup center. I think that makes sense. But it seems like there are just one modest move short so far. That is a good shout with Tucker. We'll probably have to talk about that in a future episode because I do think Tucker got some snaps at center in preseason last year. Yeah. And honestly, I know I've always been a Dalton Tucker fan, so maybe this is just me,

Starting point is 00:21:44 but I thought it looked pretty good at center. So maybe that is the plan. It solves a problem. Yeah. Next time you talk to Chris or Shane or someone, so we need someone to ask that question. It'll get one view on YouTube, but I think it'll be, it'll be valuable. It'll just be me watching it on YouTube. Coming up, though, we're going to talk about some lesser known needs to close out today's show, talking about the backup, one tech position and cornerback as well. Workplace chaos. Deadlines are stacking up. The inbox is overflowing. And the one position that you have to fill is still sitting wide open. When the pressure's on and you need the right hire, this is a job for sponsored jobs. Indeed, sponsor jobs helps you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for,

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Starting point is 00:23:08 this podcast. Indeed.com slash podcast terms and conditions apply. Need to hire. This is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. All right. Welcome back to the show, everyone. We are talking about what the Colts biggest needs are after the draft. What were they going into the draft? Did they get addressed? what are the biggest needs now. So we talked about how edge and linebacker turned out on defense, receiver and the offensive line depth on offense. And now there's a couple smaller needs that I think are still hanging out there a little bit. So Zach, let's talk about corner because with Kenny Moore being put on the trade block,

Starting point is 00:23:47 it moved Justin Wally from being boundary depth into being the new starting nickel. So now you have no backup nickel, really. and you're missing a spot on the outside because now you got Mooney Ward and Sauce Gardner on the outside, which looks good, but Mooney Ward is always, I think we're all going to be just sitting here waiting for the other shoe to drop if he gets another concussion. Cam Taylor Britt is a name that they re-signed in,

Starting point is 00:24:16 or that they signed in the off-season, but I think the theory, the idea of him is a little more intriguing than what reality might be. he almost got like run out of town in Cincinnati this offseason. So the depth there may be a little shakier than what we actually think, just based on guys' health and where they're at in their careers for real. So where are you at on this one? Do they need to add something else like before camp starts?

Starting point is 00:24:45 Yeah, I think there's two parts of this. Like one, I think I would have liked another edition at Corner in the draft at some point, maybe over a second edge. Again, I know I keep going back to that, but like maybe over a second edge would have been. better. But it's like as long as Mooney and Sauce are healthy, it's good cornerback depth, right? Because you got Taylor Britt as a name like you said, who can, if he can get back on the right track, you know, he can be that corner. But Kai Blackman, who they still like, who had an

Starting point is 00:25:13 okay year last year. Like, I don't think it was horrible, but it wasn't like something to write home about, but it's fine for your third or fourth outside corner on your team. And then they like they like Mitchell and they like Jonathan Edwards as well. well at depth. So I think if we felt better about Mooney Ward's health, you know, we wouldn't be that concerned about the outside cornerback room. But because that is going to be looming over this team all year, that's the big concern. Like we are one hit away from Cam Taylor Britt being a starter. And if he doesn't get back on track, then that's very concerning. So I don't know if there's an answer out there in free agency because most of the corners out there are going to be 30 plus

Starting point is 00:25:51 years old. Is that really going to fix anything for you? Like it's probably, going to be just as good as what Edwards or Mitchell or Blackman would look like. So I think it's kind of just like, all right, we'll see. You know, we'll see kind of what it looks like. Hopefully Mooney and Sauce can stay healthy. That's going to be the big things for these guys because if they stay healthy alongside Wally and Halsey and Bynum in the secondary, it's a great secondary on paper. It just hopefully can translate to the field as well.

Starting point is 00:26:20 So yeah, I would have liked a fifth or six round corner just to add more competition, but realistically, I don't know if you were going to really ever add more depth to that room because they are already paying their top two guys, you know, and they've been brought in Taylor Britt. They have young guys they like. It's kind of like, again, like a too many mouse defeat at this point type of thing. So they're kind of rolling with it and we'll see if these guys can stay healthy. Yeah, like you said, I think they just need to kind of be just prepared for something to happen and just you don't be proactive in adding people, but,

Starting point is 00:26:56 be proactive in being prepared for your injuries to come, if that makes sense. I think there is a, there's a lot of guys in the room right now. So I think you just got to let it ride and then wait and see what happens. Exactly like you said. Like if someone goes down, have a quality name that you're ready to call on. But for now,

Starting point is 00:27:13 I just think there's so many guys in there that you have to let, you just have to see how it plays out. Yeah. Um, this next spot though, back up one tech behind Grover Stewart because it's your best friend Derek naughty and second year sixth rounder tim smith competing for that backup spot and if it's not them then you're having to put other guys kind of out of position you're having to use colby wood and jerry tillery

Starting point is 00:27:35 if tillery even makes the route like you're having to move guys around who probably need to be a three tech playing at one tech and we've seen how that works before i mean they got away with it with neville gallimore last year a little bit he was capable um but i don't i i would i would like to see more here that that was always a spot I had, like every mock draft I did on a simulator or anything, I always found a way to take a defensive tackle by like the fifth or six round, you know? Yeah, it's the position that Chris Ballard has invested the least amount in in the draft in his time as the Colts general match. Now, part of that is because they traded for Buckner and they got Grover Stewart early on.

Starting point is 00:28:12 So you were always looking for debt players. But yeah, I'm with you. Like I would have preferred a 320 plus pound guy drafted in here to be a rear reserve one tech guy. I'm a little nervous that every time Chris Ballard has a press conference, he talks about Noddy and Jerry Tillery. Like how much of these guys going to, they couldn't, they weren't good run defenders for the chiefs last year.

Starting point is 00:28:34 I don't know what we're hoping for out of these two guys. But yeah, we'll see how it is. Hopefully Tim Smith can take a leap. I'm really intrigued by Campbell, the undrafted free agent out of Arkansas. I don't think he was at the senior ball. I think he was down at Shrine this offseason, Jake. But he kind of,

Starting point is 00:28:52 he kind of fell undrafted. because of some injury issues in college, but he's a big player that's explosive. He's more of a gap shooting nose tackle, though, than like a hold at the point of attack player. He does kind of shoot off a bit high off the line of scrimmage, but he shoots gaps really well. He's disruptive.

Starting point is 00:29:09 So I'm curious to see what he can bring to that competition. But like you said, I'd probably prefer, like, this is a big name. This is just a name that's out there. But like Dalvin Tomlinson, I think is still technically a free agent right now. That works. He's probably waiting for a starting job. so he's probably not looking at the Colts, but like that kind of like just give me like a guy who knows what he's doing.

Starting point is 00:29:29 Especially with nose tackles, like their peak is usually in like the age 29 to 33 season. Like for them, like that range for them because they just take so long to build up that the calluses needed to play nose tackle in the NFL. Like we're seeing Grover have his best years as he's around 30 years old. We saw that with Al Woods back in the day with the Colts as well. Like he really started breaking out in his like early 30s. So I don't know. up nose tackle, I think is positioned for me where I'd prefer to get like an older guy there if you're not going to invest a draft pick in the guy. So I prefer a free agent there, but if not,

Starting point is 00:30:06 I'm hoping for Cam Ball or Tim Smith to meet out Derek Nottie. Hey, you know what? Crazier things have happened. But I think you're right with the veteran route just because defensive tackle kind of takes a while to hit on anything. But yeah, man, I think, you know, they've still got some needs here. I don't know how much more active they're going to be in free agency, maybe a couple more low to mid-level move, like guys who are capable of making the roster, but not necessarily stars or starters other than edge.

Starting point is 00:30:37 But we've kind of talked about, is there, there's there even room for that kind of move? But yeah, I mean, I feel better about the roster a little bit coming out of the draft, but like I'm still not sold in a couple areas. Yeah, I completely agree. One thing of note, though, we're recording this. It's almost 4 o'clock here on Monday by the time we're done recording this. At 4 o'clock is the deadline for the comp pick formula to officially come to an end.

Starting point is 00:31:00 So the Colts will essentially lock in that fourth and six round pick for next year's draft. And they can start signing free agents without any repercussions of losing those comp picks for next year. So there is a window now opening for them to go out and get more free agents. We'll just see if they are inclined to do that the next couple days here. But that is all we have for today. Thank you all for tuning in today to Lockdown Colts. We'll be back again tomorrow afternoon. So make sure you subscribe and follow Lockdown Colts,

Starting point is 00:31:26 wherever you get your latest episodes. And if you don't already, make sure you follow out Lockdown Colts at Jack Hicks 2 all on socials. And if you never miss an episode, the Everyday Air 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.

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