Originally Posted by Wyatt (Post 7813)

Per Pro Football Rumors

New Colts GM Chris Ballard may want to shake up the scouting core, but league sources tell JLC that he may have to wait a year since the evaluators that are already there have more time to go on their contracts. Still, Ballard badly wants to poach Seahawks executive Ed Dodds. If Indy can land him, he’ll probably get a promotion over his current title. Jets director of college scouting Rex Hogan is also a Ballard target, but JLC hears that he still has a good amount of time left on his contract and might be harder to pry away.

Bears exec Morocco Brown, who has history with Ballard, could be a possible candidate for the Colts and 49ers. JLC notes that Brown had a solid relationship with new SF coach Kyle Shanahan in D.C.

Originally Posted by VeveJones007 (Post 7817)

This is what people don't understand when they wanted Ballard to spend heavily in UFA this offseason. Ballard isn't going to have his people in place until next offseason (at the earliest), so going crazy in 2017 would be very risky. Couple that with a lame-duck coaching staff, and you have a lot of low-risk signings with nothing guaranteed on the books for 2018.

BTW, "low-risk" does NOT equal "limited upside." I think we can all agree that there are some players brought in who could play valuable roles on the team this season.

Originally Posted by omahacolt (Post 7846)

no. i would think most people understand ballard is using grigson's guys. that has nothing to do with who we bring in.

are we really going to blame this free agent class and the draft class on grigson as well?

come on now. this is his show.

Originally Posted by VeveJones007 (Post 7898)

Do you know for a fact that Ballard wants to run a 3-4 going forward? Does he even know, or will he adapt based on the coaching staff he brings in next offseason?

Why would you go crazy in free agency if questions like that are still up in the air? Better to sign decent stop-gap players and keep your powder dry for next offseason when you have your scouts and coaching staff in place.