Official 2024 Colts FA Signings

[IndyNorm]

Since FA starts this week I thought I'd kick off a thread w/ the annual Chris Ballard inspiration pic.

https://bestteestore.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Chris-Ballard-fuck-those-free-agents-shirt.png

[Discflinger]

These kind of agents are anything but free.

[Dewey 5]

Bargain bin Ballard won't do much. He is just taking it slow in his 10 year rebuilding plan.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Colts are bringing back Tyquan Lewis per Rapoport.

He is a nice depth option - so I am good with that as long as the contract terms aren't too bad.


https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1767268488027005428

Another re-signing for the Colts:

Source says they are bringing back DL Tyquan Lewis.

https://twitter.com/JoelAErickson/status/1767269431711764603

Tyquan Lewis is back with the Colts, source says, who had to fend off other suitors for his services.

https://twitter.com/RomeovilleKid/status/1767270774446948739

I can confirm that the Colts are retaining DE Tyquan Lewis in free agency, per a league source.

It’s a two-year deal.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Tyquan Lewis contract info: 2 years, $12M with $7.7M guaranteed.


https://twitter.com/Schultz_Report/status/1767292308649545989

Free agent pass rusher Tyquan Lewis is re-signing with the Colts for 2 years, $12M, with $7.7M guaranteed, source tells Bleacher Report

[IndyNorm]

Happy with re-signing MPJ, Grover, and the Franklin extension. Bringing Lewis back is good too, but I think we overpaid there.

[Dam8610]

Happy with re-signing MPJ, Grover, and the Franklin extension. Bringing Lewis back is good too, but I think we overpaid there.

Just need Kenny and Blackmon now, then hopefully they'll pursue one of two of the higher end external FAs. But likely they'll just look in the middle tier and draft.

[YDFL Commish]

What about Rigo? Isn't he a FA too?

[bigalbert]

Wonder why we wouldn’t have signed Van Ginkle for 20 mil instead. Top 10 edge rusher last season. That was 2 years 14 guaranteed


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[apballin]

Just need Kenny and Blackmon now, then hopefully they'll pursue one of two of the higher end external FAs. But likely they'll just look in the middle tier and draft.

U thinking Sneed? Or Hunter?

[Hoopsdoc]

Stampede Blue speculating that Justin Fields could end up in Indy as AR’s backup.

I gotta say, that’s a good idea provided they don’t give up a lot to get him. Fields would be the ideal backup for AR.

[Dam8610]

U thinking Sneed? Or Hunter?

I want Hunter, don't think they'll do it.

[IndyNorm]

I want Hunter, don't think they'll do it.

It'd be nice, but I doubt we do it. Certainly not going to hold my breath.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Tyquan Lewis contract info: 2 years, $12M with $7.7M guaranteed.



More contract details:

https://twitter.com/JoelAErickson/status/1767377236066242642

Tyquan Lewis contract

$5m signing bonus

2024
Base: $1.7m (guaranteed)
Roster bonus: $30K per game

2025
Base: $3.28m
Roster bonus: $1m if on roster 5th day of league year
Roster bonus: $30K per game

Up to $1.15m available in playing time, playoffs, sacks incentives


https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/indianapolis-colts/tyquan-lewis-25163/

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

What about Rigo? Isn't he a FA too?


Colts are finalizing a new deal with Rigo per Garafolo:


https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/1767575232292982914

The Colts are finalizing a deal with P Rigoberto Sanchez to return to Indy, sources say.

Should be officially agreed to shortly for Sanchez to return for season No. 7 and beyond in Indy.

https://twitter.com/JoelAErickson/status/1767576305795481748

It's a three-year deal for Sanchez.

https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1767615894304231792

The Colts are re-signing P Rigoberto Sanchez to a 3-year, $7.5M deal, per source.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

I want Hunter, don't think they'll do it.


Holder reports that the Colts are among the teams who have touched base with Hunter.

https://twitter.com/HolderStephen/status/1767649050499657769

Among the outside free agents the Colts have had talks with: Vikings DE Danielle Hunter, a 4-time Pro Bowl selection with 87.5 career sacks.

Too early to predict where he winds up as of this moment, but with MIN signing multiple edge rushers, he looks to be headed elsewhere.

[Dam8610]

Holder reports that the Colts are among the teams who have touched base with Hunter.

https://twitter.com/HolderStephen/status/1767649050499657769

Not getting my hopes up too high yet, but this is a good sign.

[apballin]

Signed with Texans …. Fuck that guy

[IndyNorm]

Signed with Texans …. Fuck that guy

Well that sucks :mad:

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Hunter lived just outside of Houston for most of his childhood - that is where he played high school ball.

The Texans had an opening for a pass rusher since the Vikings poached Greenard away from them.


https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1767679353465249846

Danielle Hunter has agreed to terms with the Houston Texans, to return home!

2-years, 49m with 48m fully guaranteed.

Contract could be 51m with incentives.

[Dewey 5]

Texans sure have been aggressive making moves. I guess they are interested in winning. Ballard on the other hand is not very aggressive & okay with status quo. That's fine. Some people are like that.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Texans sure have been aggressive making moves. I guess they are interested in winning. Ballard on the other hand is not very aggressive & okay with status quo. That's fine. Some people are like that.


I wouldn't call the Texans that aggressive. They are mostly being reactive - trying to fill holes after their own free agents such as Greenard and Singletary signed elsewhere.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

The Colts re-signed Ronnie Harrison for another year.


https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1767937156847137240

Indy keeping another of its own: LB/S Ronnie Harrison is returning to the Colts on a one-year deal, per source.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1767969565986754923


Pass rusher Genard Avery is returning to the Indianapolis Colts on a one-year deal.

[Colts And Orioles]

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1767969565986754923





o


Good info ...... he hasn't played since 2022, though.

He did have 4.5 sacks and 40 combined tackles in 16 games in his rookie season of 2018.

o

[Dewey 5]

Maybe something cooking?
https://twitter.com/FloridaHoosier5/status/1768071965745545626

Captain Colt
@FloridaHoosier5
Take it for what it’s worth and bookmark this post and roast me if it doesn’t happen but I’ve been told Sneed will be a Colt. Trade compensation has been agreed to but Colts working on contract extension to make everything final.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

https://twitter.com/NateAtkins_/status/1768357052605190604

Colts announce they have re-signed RB Trey Sermon.

He'll factor into the depth with a recovering Evan Hull.

Sermon hit his stride late in the year, averaging 5 yards per carry on his final 27 touches.

He told me it was the first time he'd felt like Ohio State Sermon again.

[bigalbert]

Looks like we’re trying to land this guy
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240314/66b49f9833942d46cc806d430e39249f.jpg


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[Discflinger]

I was hoping to bring Blackman back but Diggs and a fourth rounder might work.

[Dam8610]

Looks like we’re trying to land this guy
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240314/66b49f9833942d46cc806d430e39249f.jpg


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Why? He's 31, Blackmon is 25 and more productive. Don't overthink it, bring back Blackmon.

[Dewey 5]

Why? He's 31, Blackmon is 25 and more productive. Don't overthink it, bring back Blackmon.

Because 30+ guys are in the bargain bin & Ballard is a dumpster diver.

[apballin]

Why? He's 31, Blackmon is 25 and more productive. Don't overthink it, bring back Blackmon.

Gotta be a reason they seem to be out on Blackmon

[Discflinger]

I get the feeling that JB wants to play for another team. No reason; just a gut feeling.

[Dewey 5]

Dolphins get Kendall Fuller two years at $16.5 million.

Two rich for Bargain bin Ballard.

[Dam8610]

Dolphins get Kevin Fuller two years at $16.5 million.

Two rich for Bargain bin Ballard.

Kendall Fuller?

[Dewey 5]

Kendall Fuller?

Yes. Sorry.

[nate505]

So serious question. I feel like I've been a fan of the NFL for ages but the salary cap eludes me.

The last number I looked said the Colts have like $29 million of cap space, but perhaps it's not accurate given Rigo is showing as no cap hit and they just re did his contract.

But let's say the cap was at $20 million. What exactly is the advantage of hording that cap money? Like does it keep rolling over to the point that Ballard will get a high quality FA? And if Ballard doesn't believe in high quality FAs, does it have a benefit in signing their own players? And if it has that benefit but there's money left over, does it have any benefit at all? Like does he get some sort of bonus from Irsay or does Irsay get richer or something?

I'm not trying to make this a Ballard bash fest, or say that they need to be out there spending or whatever, I'm just legitimately trying to know if that cap space is being maximized in any way.

[Dam8610]

So serious question. I feel like I've been a fan of the NFL for ages but the salary cap eludes me.

The last number I looked said the Colts have like $29 million of cap space, but perhaps it's not accurate given Rigo is showing as no cap hit and they just re did his contract.

But let's say the cap was at $20 million. What exactly is the advantage of hording that cap money? Like does it keep rolling over to the point that Ballard will get a high quality FA? And if Ballard doesn't believe in high quality FAs, does it have a benefit in signing their own players? And if it has that benefit but there's money left over, does it have any benefit at all? Like does he get some sort of bonus from Irsay or does Irsay get richer or something?

I'm not trying to make this a Ballard bash fest, or say that they need to be out there spending or whatever, I'm just legitimately trying to know if that cap space is being maximized in any way.

It does continue to roll over year over year. For example, the current NFL Salary Cap is $255,400,000, however the Colts' team salary cap is $259,832,808 because the Colts had $4,432,808 of cap space at the end of the 2023 league year. So, if the Colts end up with $20 million of cap space at the end of this season, using the current projected 2025 cap number of $260,000,000, the Colts team cap in 2025 would be $280,000,000.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

So serious question. I feel like I've been a fan of the NFL for ages but the salary cap eludes me.

The last number I looked said the Colts have like $29 million of cap space, but perhaps it's not accurate given Rigo is showing as no cap hit and they just re did his contract.

But let's say the cap was at $20 million. What exactly is the advantage of hording that cap money? Like does it keep rolling over to the point that Ballard will get a high quality FA? And if Ballard doesn't believe in high quality FAs, does it have a benefit in signing their own players? And if it has that benefit but there's money left over, does it have any benefit at all? Like does he get some sort of bonus from Irsay or does Irsay get richer or something?

I'm not trying to make this a Ballard bash fest, or say that they need to be out there spending or whatever, I'm just legitimately trying to know if that cap space is being maximized in any way.


First of all, Ballard is not "hoarding cap money." That is a myth. He is spending it. He has doled out about $200M in contracts just in the last few days.

But yes, if a team does not use cap money during a season, that money is rolled over to the next league year. The unused cap for the Colts last year was like $ 4 - 7M (different websites show slightly different estimates) and it has been added to this year's cap space. So only 2 or 3 percent of the cap last year went unused. And that is a fairly typical number - it is usually somewhere under $10M. Again, not hoarding.

I realize that fans want him to spend more on external free agents. It is obvious that he doesn't like doing that - and I can understand the philosophy to a certain degree. I think he is more comfortable using the cap space on the Colts own free agents and "betting on them" because he knows so much more about them. However, his philosophy hasn't always worked out for him because sometimes the re-signed Colts underperformed vs the second (or third) contract. In those cases, it was usually injury-related - Leonard is a good example.

So, the issue is not necessarily that Ballard is "cheap" or not spending the money - he is spending the money. The question should be is he spending the money wisely?

[ukcolt]

Each team also has to spend at least a certain percentage of the current years salary cap, no idea what this number is though. So you couldn't get away with only paying your players $150m, and roll over an enormous amount of money to the following year.

[Racehorse]

Each team also has to spend at least a certain percentage of the current years salary cap, no idea what this number is though. So you couldn't get away with only paying your players $150m, and roll over an enormous amount of money to the following year.

80%

[ChaosTheory]

I read we're about to trade a 3rd and another '25 pick for Sneed, they're just working out the contract? Is that a solid rumor?

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

I read we're about to trade a 3rd and another '25 pick for Sneed, they're just working out the contract? Is that a solid rumor?


Yeah, that has been the rumor for the last few days.

That the draft compensation to KC is not the stumbling block - I think multiple teams (including the Colts) are OK with the "trade" part of the deal...but the issue is the new contract parameters. And multiple teams are engaging with Sneed's agent trying to figure out that part of the deal.

[Dam8610]

I read we're about to trade a 3rd and another '25 pick for Sneed, they're just working out the contract? Is that a solid rumor?

Yes, holdup is the contract extension.

[Dewey 5]

I read we're about to trade a 3rd and another '25 pick for Sneed, they're just working out the contract? Is that a solid rumor?

Stephen Holder
@HolderStephen
Once and for all: There is no trade in place between the Chiefs and Colts for L’Jarius Sneed. I was told this unequivocally from the highest levels of the Colts organization.

https://twitter.com/HolderStephen/status/1768992276510818779

[Discflinger]

Obviously...

[bigalbert]

Colts kept Pinter around
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240320/baed56b29c022f130059976ecd45d70a.jpg


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[sherck]

Colts kept Pinter around
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240320/baed56b29c022f130059976ecd45d70a.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That one actually suprises me a bit. He seems like Just Another Guy that could have been replaced with a lower round rookie.

All good! I am all for keeping the O-line intact and hopefully improving on a pretty good 2023 campaign from them. Much, much better than 2022 was....

[ukcolt]

I don't mind resigning him and if he gets beaten out by a draft pick or French, then so be it. Good depth battle in training camp. Pinter didn't really get the chance to develop with the new Oline coach, so it will be interesting to see any development he can produce from him with a full off season.

[IndyNorm]

That one actually suprises me a bit. He seems like Just Another Guy that could have been replaced with a lower round rookie.

All good! I am all for keeping the O-line intact and hopefully improving on a pretty good 2023 campaign from them. Much, much better than 2022 was....

A little surprised as well, but as long as he re-signed at or near the vet minimum with no guaranteed money then it doesn't hurt to bring him back (same w/ Bryan).

I don't mind resigning him and if he gets beaten out by a draft pick or French, then so be it. Good depth battle in training camp. Pinter didn't really get the chance to develop with the new Oline coach, so it will be interesting to see any development he can produce from him with a full off season.

This is a good point. Maybe he can get back to his level of play in '21 under Sparano.

[ChaosTheory]

This is a good point. Maybe he can get back to his level of play in '21 under Sparano.

Which would be fine for depth.

I would think, given the improvement shown by largely the same personnel on the OL, that Pinter would've looked much better in '23 than the last time we saw him play.

That said, while several guys had a down year in '22, Pinter was one of the egregiously bad performers. Hopefully that was an anomaly for him like it was for the other guys.

[IndyNorm]

Which would be fine for depth.

I would think, given the improvement shown by largely the same personnel on the OL, that Pinter would've looked much better in '23 than the last time we saw him play.

That said, while several guys had a down year in '22, Pinter was one of the egregiously bad performers. Hopefully that was an anomaly for him like it was for the other guys.

Pinter was god awful at OG in '22. Basically showed that he had no business playing the position. He was better after being moved back to OC, but he still wasn't good. Guessing they're bringing him back to compete w/ French as Kelly's backup.

As stated earlier, hopefully both he and Bryan signed for the vet minimum w/ no guarenteed money.

[YDFL Commish]

Hopefully neither of these guys becomes a modern day Josh Thomas.

[ChaosTheory]

I read Blackmon is coming back. That wraps it up, right? That everybody?

[IndyNorm]

Hopefully neither of these guys becomes a modern day Josh Thomas.

Hopefully not, but for some reason Ballard gave both of them some guaranteed money (Bryan - $1.1M, Pinter $.5M), so I wouldn't doubt that one of them does :confused:

[Racehorse]

I read Blackmon is coming back. That wraps it up, right? That everybody?

I think that is about all the cap we have left, once you consider the rookie draft class, and in-season churn.

[YDFL Commish]

I think that is about all the cap we have left, once you consider the rookie draft class, and in-season churn.

Ballard should extend Buckner for 2 more seasons to create some cap room and cut MOC.

[Racehorse]

Ballard should extend Buckner for 2 more seasons to create some cap room and cut MOC.

Yeah, I looked earlier today, and saw Buckner's contract expires this year. Extend him soon, because he has a few more productive years left.