Remaining available free agent OTs
 

Colts have $24m in free cap space.

However, $4m is reserved for rookies, $2m for the practice squad, $2m for spots 52 and 53 on the roster and around $3m for in season churn space leaving around $13m available to sign a free agent left OT.

Still available:

Russell Okung, 33 years old, started 131 games, last 3 years PFF grades: 73.0/62.4/78.4, previous contract averaged $13.250m annually

Eric Fisher, 30 years old, started 113 games, last 3 years PFF grades: 80.0/64.5/73.4, previous contract averaged $12.000m annually

Alejandro Villanueva, 33 years old, started 90 games, last 3 years PFF grades: 74.6/74.0/81.2, previous contract averaged $6.000m annually

For comparison, Anthony Castonzo's last 3 years PFF grades: 73.4/81.3/77.7

Whomever we would sign, I would try to sign a two year deal because without a 1st round pick next year (assuming Wentz works out), then our ability to get a "ready to start from day one" OT goes down a lot. We would need a bridge year for the pick to be able to learn and grow before taking over in 2023.

As an alternative scenario, at right OT we could sign Ricky Wagner and slide Smith to left side but I would prefer to keep Smith where he is playing well at.

Come on Ballard, sign one soon! Don't put Wentz's health on the line!

From Zac Keefer

My bet is on Fischer because of the KC connection.

Yep posted the video of him saying it so this is true. And I 100% agree with that

As long as Fischer's healed up and ready to go to start the season then that will work.

I’m gonna be royally pissed if Ballard doesn’t have one of these guys signed quick. You bet your ass that other teams will be courting their services now.

Don’t you have faith in Sam Tevi?

Fisher is the only guy I would take a flyer on.

Fuckin bullshit it came to this I’m still fuckin pissed

All those free agents were washed which is why they’re sitting there in the first place now we’re forced to resort to some unwanted leftovers to protect the blindside of a qb with confidence issues sounds fucking fantastic

No, they are sitting there because of the reduced salary cap. That could actually play into our favor.

Just something to ponder, we gotta be better off than we were in 2013 :eek:


Colts O-Line starters in 2013
Anthony Castonzo
Hugh Thornton
Samson Satele
Mike McGlynn
Gosder Cherilus

IF he can be ready to play for the season

I just puked into my cocktail... thank you!!!

Sign Fisher long term. They can get by a couple weeks with Davenport at LT if absolutely necessary.

I agree, we will need him for at least 2 years if not 3. No 1st rounder next year makes finding a long-term LT much harder in the draft. The OL didn't totally implode when AC went down at the end of the season, so they can weather a few games of a scrub filling in. I don't see a much better solution, short of running with Tevi as the Colts have hinted at (smoke I pray)

Thw Colts have plenty of TEs, they can put 2 of them on the left side and run unbalanced

Yeesh.

Thats why Andrew Luck is sitting on his couch scratching his balls.

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1389251546861473798

https://twitter.com/FieldYates/statu...54768204394498

https://twitter.com/ZachHicks2/statu...56274219573248

This is a no brainer.

Of course they're starting Jenkins on the left side. He's good enough to handle it. That's why he should've been picked at 21 and not 39.

Anyway, thanks Bears for giving Ballard another bailout option.

Well ya screwed that up the minute you typed it. Its a no brainer that you NEVER say, “ well that’s a no brainer“ because fate will hit you between the eyes and it wont happen.

:eek:

Charles Leno Jr, 7th round pick by CHI in 2014 (246 overall)

Only credited with 29 snaps his rookie year but jumped to 919 in 2015 and was a full time starter since.

PFF grades:

2020 - 74.9
2019 - 58.6
2018 - 75.7
2017 - 78.7
2016 - 70.1
2015 - 68.5

Except for a down year in 2019, really solid/good performance every year.

Had a new contract starting in 2017 that averaged $9.250m per year.

Would be a great guy to sign for 3-years (age 30, 31 and 32 seasons) in order to let Ballard find the long-term replacement.

A 4th quality option....go get one of them, Ballard! :)

Someone likes Leno would be fine

I am all for signing Leno, with the other pieces on our OL he could be fine. Do it Chris!

Villanueva to Ravens.

Not surprising. He visited with them before the draft. Ravens wanted to hold off on the signing until it no longer affected comp picks.

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1389583893125341189

He looked completely washed up whenever I saw him play last year. I'm tempted to say "good luck with that", but I don't wish any luck to the Ravens. He's still better than Tevi though.

Fisher is scheduled to come in for a free agent visit


https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/sta...11475682385925

Excellent.

Next question, when would fischer be ready?

Per Stephen Holder the Colts have been in contact with free agent LT Charles Leno

Well imagine that. Ballard does have a plan

He must have a link to this site. I bet he reads it every day.

I have heard reports of mid-august, but it would not be surprising if he missed the start of the season. Not ideal, but probably better than running with what we have all year.

Backup plan?

Also some team just lost their LT to an Achilles tear in off season workouts. So we better move if we want a selection.

Why has Ballard not signed a veteran free agent LT to start and protect Wentz's blindside?

I understood waiting until after 4pm on Tuesday so the signing did not count against comp picks but I was sort of expecting a deal signed by 5pm that day.

Why is he waiting?

I just looked at all the bottom salary cap teams in the league that will still need to cut folks and none of them are cutting their starting LT to put new guys into the mix.

Of the 11 lowest cap space teams, one already cut their starting LT (Da Bears), 9 have cap situations with their left tackle that it would cost them more in cap space to cut them than keep them and the last is SEA with 35 year old Duane Brown whom I cannot imagine Ballard is "waiting on."

Sign Leno if you are worried about Fisher not being ready for the season.

Sign Fisher if you think he has higher upside and will be ready early in the season.

Sign Okung if you don't like either of the above guys.

It is not rocket science.

Tevi, Davenport nor Holder can start the season at left OT. Dot. Period. The. End. There is nothing in their backstories that gives even an inkling that any of them are a potential quality solution.

Why is Ballard waiting?

Damn good question. I have to believe he is waiting on the medicals to come back on Fisher. But he does need to sign Leno or Fisher. He has got to know that the hacks he has now are not going to cut it. He has the money and he needs to spend it on a quality LT.

Ballard seems to rush nothing. He isn’t nearly as freaked out as this board is. Relax. We are watching a championship defense being put together for the first time I can remember since the 1970’s. If this works it will be the best ride the Indy Colts have ever seen.

While I agree with you to an extent, he needs to be freaked out with our LT position. It is one of the most important positions on a football team. You don't trade for Wentz and then have shit players at the LT position. Protecting Wentz HAS to be a priority. There is still time to sign a FA at the position, so I am withholding judgement. Ballard is 1000 times better than that sweaty POS Griggs, but he is not above critizism if we go into the season with the FA hacks he signed. Tevi????? Give me a damn break please! And who the hell is Davenport? Wasn't he a 3rd baseman for the SF Giants 40 years ago?

https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2021/...deal-contract/

Well shit. Whether it's Fisher or Leno, Ballard needs to figure it out. We can't afford to get Wentz killed.

I don't think we have heard the last on Fisher coming here.