2026 Off-Season Thread

[Oldcolt]

It is early but I cannot see how we have improved at all. We are now weaker at linebacker (hard to believe), wide receiver, have no swing tackle and still don't have a pass rusher. That a lot of stuff to address. Been here before many times with this particular group that runs us now, thought they had a plan and turned out there was none. I hope there is one now but I believe that there probably isn't (not trying to be negative but I have believed so many times before and was always disappointed).

[ChoppedWood]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

It is early but I cannot see how we have improved at all. We are now weaker at linebacker (hard to believe), wide receiver, have no swing tackle and still don't have a pass rusher. That a lot of stuff to address. Been here before many times with this particular group that runs us now, thought they had a plan and turned out there was none. I hope there is one now but I believe that there probably isn't (not trying to be negative but I have believed so many times before and was always disappointed).

The linebacker group- oh my God that is poverty shit.

Ballard eats balls!

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

It is early but I cannot see how we have improved at all. We are now weaker at linebacker (hard to believe), wide receiver, have no swing tackle and still don't have a pass rusher. That a lot of stuff to address. Been here before many times with this particular group that runs us now, thought they had a plan and turned out there was none. I hope there is one now but I believe that there probably isn't (not trying to be negative but I have believed so many times before and was always disappointed).

Hard to disagree with this. The only place we are objectively better is defensive tackle. Everything else is the same or worse.

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

Hard to disagree with this. The only place we are objectively better is defensive tackle. Everything else is the same or worse.

How you frame it in your mind matters. A lot of people will say, as they have in years past, that Ballard sat on his hands and didn't get any difference makers. Because for some reason, Free Agents don't count if they were on your team last year.

The more accurate framing is that you likely got the #1 QB and the #1 WR available in the '26 FA class. Just pretend one came from Cincinnati and one came from Tampa Bay if it helps. And to do stuff like that, you don't get to keep your other $20m+ WR.

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Anyway, to the substance of the point... I fucking hate losing Cross. As excited as I was for Wohler, that one will probably sting. Hopefully he's the rare type to be reliable right away.

LB is funny... Because it's simultaneously the biggest unknown and also one of the least worrisome positions to me personally. I guess it's the combination of ease of transition from college to pro, Lou's emphasis on DBs, and Ballard's track record at LB.

I think DL will be hammered in the draft. May luck into Grover's replacement, otherwise depth behind him and Buckner.

[Mr. Session]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

It is early but I cannot see how we have improved at all. We are now weaker at linebacker (hard to believe), wide receiver, have no swing tackle and still don't have a pass rusher. That a lot of stuff to address. Been here before many times with this particular group that runs us now, thought they had a plan and turned out there was none. I hope there is one now but I believe that there probably isn't (not trying to be negative but I have believed so many times before and was always disappointed).

I see the same

I guess it makes the draft interesting. I don't know how they fill the holes either.

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory

How you frame it in your mind matters. A lot of people will say, as they have in years past, that Ballard sat on his hands and didn't get any difference makers. Because for some reason, Free Agents don't count if they were on your team last year.

The more accurate framing is that you likely got the #1 QB and the #1 WR available in the '26 FA class. Just pretend one came from Cincinnati and one came from Tampa Bay if it helps. And to do stuff like that, you don't get to keep your other $20m+ WR.

---

Anyway, to the substance of the point... I fucking hate losing Cross. As excited as I was for Wohler, that one will probably sting. Hopefully he's the rare type to be reliable right away.

LB is funny... Because it's simultaneously the biggest unknown and also one of the least worrisome positions to me personally. I guess it's the combination of ease of transition from college to pro, Lou's emphasis on DBs, and Ballard's track record at LB.

I think DL will be hammered in the draft. May luck into Grover's replacement, otherwise depth behind him and Buckner.

Or, you could frame it as we resigned two of the guys who helped lead us to an 8-9 record and no playoffs while letting their supporting cast get significantly worse.

That’s a more accurate representation.

[Oldcolt]

I thought the idea of free agency was to improve your team. I am not sure how assuring you bring back the exact same players improve your team. I am glad (sort of , not thrilled about Jones but it is the best we can do) we signed who we wanted to but doing that isn't improving your team, it is making sure it doest get worse.

[Puck]

Spotrac
@spotrac
·
1h
6 Indianapolis #Colts players had contract triggers vest this weekend:

CB Charvarius Ward’s $12.9M 2026 salary now guaranteed

DL DeForest Buckner earned a $10M roster bonus

S Cam Bynum’s $10M 2026 salary now guaranteed

$8.3M of OL Bernhard Raimann’s 2027 salary now guaranteed

OL Quenton Nelson earned a $2M roster bonus

WR/KR Ashton Dulin earned a $340,000 roster bonus

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

Or, you could frame it as we resigned two of the guys who helped lead us to an 8-9 record and no playoffs while letting their supporting cast get significantly worse.

That’s a more accurate representation.

The entire Colts universe just shit their pants for a month at the thought of Alec Pierce being lost to free agency. Are we going to act like he's a mediocre cog now?

And Daniel Jones did not lead us to 8-9. We were 8-2 before the leg break and just about every advanced metric had him at least top-5, if not leading.

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As far as the supporting cast - I agree, we lost some guys that I hated to see go. Particularly Pittman, Cross, Smith, and even Paye (run D will be missed).

But saying "let" implies something that isn't there. Keep in mind, this is the GM and FO that constantly gets mocked for the "we like our guys" mantra. Not like don't try to keep them. It's a zero-sum game and QB/WR are two of the big-3 paid positions.

Not directed at you, but I do find it amusing to read a lot of guys who like to mock the "we like our guys", but are now complaining when we have to let our guys go.

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

I thought the idea of free agency was to improve your team. I am not sure how assuring you bring back the exact same players improve your team. I am glad (sort of , not thrilled about Jones but it is the best we can do) we signed who we wanted to but doing that isn't improving your team, it is making sure it doest get worse.

I think the natural thinking makes it feel counterintuitive to consider them "additions"... but neither Jones nor Pierce were on the team after the season ended. That's your starting point.

Without that starting point, all of the subtractions and comparatively smaller signings are out of context. Then it looks like you just let a bunch of starters walk out the door for no reason other than to sign a bunch of smaller contract guys. That's not the case.

[Oldcolt]

Chaos, I was comparing the team we put on the field last year with the team we will put on the field next year, not a hypothetical team that has 'lost' every free agent. Keeping the best players on your team is now what we cheer for? For me the question is, and it is the ONLY one that counts in my opinion, is have you actually improved the team you put on the field last year? These moves (Pierce, DJ) didn't move the needle an inch, they just kept it from nosediving. I am glad we got it done, it would have been a disaster otherwise. I am rooting for you to be correct. There is still time and I am just venting on how I think it is going so far, which is not so great.