The opening of OTAs would seem like a great logical step to keep the momentum going after what has widely been called a successful draft. Unfortunately, OTAs move fans into that phase where we are 100% reliant on others to tell us how we are developing. We’ll get pressers and recaps from the occasional beat writers who are allowed to get a glimpse, but for the most part, fans fly blind.
This is the time of year when we have been told that Jones and Richardson are deadlocked in their camp battle, Walley is the newest star in the defensive backfield and that Wohlers will be seeing the field a lot. The injury reports will not be detailed enough to truly know if a player will be ready to go for the season. All the veterans will be “putting in the work” and all of the rookies will be “making strides”.
There will be the occasional lower level signings and cuts, neither of much consequence when final roster construction is considered. We will mostly be hoping that the players who might go down with injury for the year, are not the perceived starters. It is callous on our part, but we will brush off a serious injury if it is to a player that we do not deem instrumental in the pursuit of a deep playoff run. We all get to brush up on what PUP represents.
I think our only holdout situation was averted when Kenny Moore was released. I really do not see a player who looks at their current contract and says “I’m not playing for that amount.” If AR is disgruntled and let’s face it, he has to be, I don’t expect it show. He will say the right things and project the ability to be a good teammate for anyone who might suddenly find themselves in the market for a QB. I think that in an honest moment, both AR and the staff are waiting/hoping to hear some bad news of a QB going down in another camp. Be careful of that. You know what they say about karma.
With that said, content becomes a little tougher to produce. It is a good time of year for speculation, so here is a little more. I do not believe that a post June 1st cut candidate will become a good fit for the Colts. This would be a player that a team was letting go, simply because they prefer to have the money. There will be some candidates and some familiar names at familiar positions, but I think the early rounds of OTAs will be all about giving the in-house players every opportunity to prove their worth. I think we are in the market, but not trying to create one.
It is pretty hard for the Colts not to be included in some of those acquisition speculations. When you have the seventh most cap space, according to Spotrac, dots get connected. Add to that that your competition for the third WR may or may not produce a viable option. Muddying further, is that we do not know how much Jones will throw in camp? Can you get your best assessment of your WR candidates with AR and Leonard doing the bulk of the tosses? Jones is participating in individual throwing (per reports), but they certainly wont be rushing him.
We will also get mentioned whenever an Edge player becomes available. He doesn’t even have to become available, he only has to appear available. Any number of conditions could give that appearance. Wanting a new contract, unhappy that competition was brought in, or even being homesick has seen players looking to change teams. I do believe that we will be in the market, but not before getting a look at who has taken steps, or seeing what the drafted players might provide. It may not be until we practice against the Patriots and Falcons that we know if we are buyers as we head into the regular season.
I think that you can throw out using draft capital on a player as well. Without a first round pick next year, I believe that I can safely say that Ballard would not hamstring himself that severely, should he still be the one drafting for the Colts. I also do not think that Carlie and Co. would allow him to put the next GM that far behind the curve by jettisoning picks . The only way that you can trade draft capital away, is if you firmly believe that you are one player away from a deep run. That assessment can’t be established without seeing Daniel Jones go against NFL defenses in regular season games.
So, my speculation for this boring time of the season, is that we will have to continue to be bored. I know that a deal could happen tomorrow that makes this piece obsolete or one that I wish I could retract, but I think we are likely ready to settle into an induced coma. Dust off the golf clubs, or do whatever your summertime go-to activity is, as the season will be along before we know it.