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Indianapolis Colts News & Rumors

Latest On Colts’ WR Search

April 18th, 2022 at 2:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Colts have made a number of significant additions this offseason, but wide receiver remains a weak spot on their roster. The team has acknowledged the lack of established options at the position, but remains optimistic, as noted by ESPN’s Mike Wells. 

[RELATED: Colts To Sign Gilmore]

At the moment, Michael Pittman Jr. is the only starting wideout set to return from the 2021 team. Zach Pascal signed with the Eagles earlier this offseason, and veteran T.Y. Hilton is still a free agent. Of the remaining options, Parris Campbell has shown the most potential, but injuries have been an issue in each of his three seasons. Still, Wells notes, the Colts “aren’t panicking over their current receiving situation”.

Owner Jim Irsay said last month, “Do we need to add [receivers]? Yes. I’m not going to sit here and say we don’t. But we have some young players that we like.” Head coach Frank Reich has echoed that sentiment, saying “I happen to have a lot of belief in the young guys”.

While more targets are likely for Campbell and pass-catching back Nyheim Hines, the team could still add at the position. The free agent market still includes the likes of Hilton, but also Julio Jones, Jarvis Landry and Will Fuller. However, Irsay recently said, “You’re looking for a real specific talent at this point, and it doesn’t appear to be out there”.

As for the draft, Indianapolis doesn’t own a first-round pick as a result of last year’s Carson Wentz trade. Their top selection is presently No. 42, which should still put them within range of some of the second- and third-tier receiver prospects in what is generally viewed as a deep class at the position. In one form or another, at least one significant addition is expected between now and the beginning of the 2022 season.

NFL Coaching Notes: Rams Complete Staff, Colts Hire QC

April 17th, 2022 at 7:31pm CST by Ely Allen

The Rams put the finishing touches on their 2022 coaching staff, announcing the completion earlier this month. Along with many other promotions and hires that we’ve already reported on this site, the following staff changes were unveiled:

  • Thad Bogardus, who served last season as the assistant linebackers coach, was promoted to outside linebackers coach. He previously spent the 2020 season as assistant defensive line coach, a promotion after serving previously as assistant defensive line/defensive quality control coach.
  • Lance Schulters, who spent last season as a coaching fellow, earned a promotion to defensive assistant for the upcoming season. Schulters is a former NFL safety with 19 career interceptions to his name. He started his coaching career as a defensive assistant for the Falcons in 2020.
  • Chris Shula, who oversaw linebackers last year, will now serve as pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach for Los Angeles. Shula has worked with the Rams’ linebackers in some capacity since 2017, debuting in the NFL as a defensive quality control coach in San Diego after bouncing around a few college jobs.
  • Chris Beake was hired as the Rams’ new inside linebackers coach after nine seasons in Denver. After holding a variety of roles on the Broncos staff, he spent his final season there as the defensive pass game specialist.
  • Kenneth Black was brought on as a coaching fellow for the Rams this season. Black spent the last two years as co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for Florida A&M.
  • Skyler Jones was hired as assistant defensive line coach. Jones spent seven seasons coaching at the college level, most recently in the role of defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Norfolk State.
  • Jeremy Springer was brought on in the role of special teams assistant. Springer has been a special teams coordinator at the college football level for the last four years, spending last year at Marshall and the previous three seasons with Arizona.

The Colts also announced a hire at the end of the month from the college level:

Eagles, 3 Other Playoff Teams Made Run At Gilmore

April 16th, 2022 at 7:01pm CST by Ely Allen

After discussing deals and meeting with several teams that made the playoffs in the 2021 NFL season, cornerback Stephon Gilmore ended up signing with a team that just missed the playoffs in Week 18 last season joining the Colts. Well, according to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, the teams that pushed the hardest for the two-time All-Pro were playoff teams from last season: the Eagles, Raiders, Rams, and Bills. 

Philadelphia “made a hard play” for the ten-year veteran in their efforts to replace departing starter Steven Nelson. Nelson started alongside Darius Slay in the Eagles’ secondary last season before signing with Houston this offseason. Without Nelson, the Eagles will likely count on Avonte Maddox to take another step in his development after being a strong rotational player for the past four seasons. They may turn to the 2022 NFL Draft to address the position, but, currently sitting at 15th, they would likely miss out on the Draft’s two most exciting cornerback prospects: Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner and LSU’s Derek Stingley. Those two are even less likely to fall to Philadelphia with Baltimore sitting one spot in front of them wanting to add some depth to the position after spending most of last year without starters Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey.

Las Vegas had an impressive showing from their cornerback group last year despite losing Damon Arnette due to multiple lawsuits and behavioral issues and only seeing Trayvon Mullen play five games. The Raiders saw Casey Hayward, Nate Hobbs, and Brandon Facyson step up and contribute to a strong defense. With Hayward going to Atlanta and Facyson joining Gilmore in Indianapolis, the Raiders made addressing the cornerback position a priority. Luckily, despite missing out on Gilmore, the Raiders made strong additions acquiring Rock Ya-Sin from the Colts in exchange for Yannick Ngakoue and signing Anthony Averett, who started much of last year for the Ravens with Peters and Humphrey injured. Ya-Sin and Averett will join a hopefully full-health Mullen and Hobbs to round out a solid cornerback room.

The Rams pursued Gilmore in an attempt to replace departing starter Darious Williams after he signed with the Jaguars this offseason. Los Angeles returns star Jalen Ramsey and role players David Long and Dont’e Deayon, but they likely would’ve preferred to add another bona fide starter opposite Gilmore. Unlike the Eagles, the Rams probably won’t turn to the Draft to fill this role. They’ve made an example in the league trading draft capital for experienced veterans and won a Super Bowl doing so. Not only is it more on brand for them to seek a replacement through the trade and free agent markets, but, even if they wanted to use the Draft, they don’t have a selection in the Draft until the 104th pick.

The Bills would’ve liked to bring Gilmore back home to Buffalo after losing starter Levi Wallace to free agency. Buffalo brings back plenty of contributors from last year in Tre’Davious White, Taron Johnson, Dane Jackson, and Siran Neal, but bringing back Gilmore would’ve allowed them to slip him into the void left by Wallace without asking too much of Jackson or Neal to step up. The Bills could try to slot in another veteran free agent cornerback like Joe Haden, Kyle Fuller, or Chris Harris, or, with a later first-round pick, they could try to take a flyer on one of the Draft’s less elite corners like Washington’s Trent McDuffie or Florida’s Kaiir Elam.

The targeting of Gilmore by these playoff teams speaks to his current value in the NFL. It shows something that teams contending to win it all believe he can add value to their defense. There’s also something to be said that these teams usually have a nearly complete roster, seeking Gilmore to fill in one of their last positions of need. While Gilmore may not be able to anchor a defense by himself on a fledgling defense, he can make strong contributions when surrounded by talented teammates. In Indianapolis, he’ll team up with Kenny Moore and Facyson to lead an otherwise inexperienced group of corners.

Colts Meet With QB Desmond Ridder

April 16th, 2022 at 3:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts acquired Matt Ryan and have said they plan to use him as their starter for at least the next two seasons, the duration of Ryan’s contract, but they continue to meet with top draft-eligible quarterbacks.

In addition to the Colts’ Malik Willis visit, they traveled to Cincinnati to meet with Desmond Ridder, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. Ridder and various Bearcats receivers worked out for Colts brass Friday.

Indianapolis does not have a first-round pick this year, but the team does hold second- and third-round selections. The Colts’ second-round pick sits 42nd, five spots up thanks to the pick swap included in the Carson Wentz trade with the Commanders. That would put the Colts in play for a passer. Although the team has other needs and would make sense to be in play for a quarterback in 2023 or beyond, given the Ryan trade, Chris Ballard‘s staff is looking into this year’s QB group.

Mirroring the other quarterbacks in this much-maligned class, Ridder’s draft range varies. ESPN slots him as its No. 36 overall prospect; NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah does not rank the 6-foot-3 signal-caller inside his top 50. Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft has Ridder going 40th overall to the Seahawks. The Steelers, Seahawks and Panthers have met with Ridder.

Barring an offseason injury, Ryan will be the Colts’ sixth Week 1 QB starter in six years. Ryan’s post-trade cap number checks in at just $18.7MM, though his 2023 figure spikes to $35.2MM. Ballard said he will inform Ryan when the team plans to draft a quarterback highly. While the Colts diving into the first-round QB market in a later draft would be the more conventional path, is not out of the question that Ballard-Ryan conversation occurs this year.

Colts Host S Darian Thompson

April 15th, 2022 at 2:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

Before their reported signing of cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the Colts held a visit with another free agent defensive back. Indianapolis met with safety Darian Thompson yesterday, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (Twitter link). 

[RELATED: Colts To Sign Gilmore]

Thompson was a third-round pick of the Giants in 2016. He lost most of his rookie season due to injury, but played (and started) all 16 games the following year. His level of play in 2017, coupled with another offseason injury, though, cut his tenure in New York short.

That led him to the Cowboys in 2018 after a brief stint on the Cardinals’ practice squad. While his time in Dallas was marked by an increased usage on special teams, he did see significant defensive playing time in 2019 and 2020. Those seasons continued his poor ratings in terms of PFF grades, meaning it didn’t come as a surprise that Dallas declined to re-sign him.

In Indianapolis, the Boise St. alum would add depth to a secondary which has seen a fair amount of change this offseason. More specifically, he would join a safety room already featuring Julian Blackmon and recent signee Rodney McLeod; the team could also re-sign Andrew Sendejo. While the Gilmore signing will eat into the Colts’ remaining cap space, they should comfortably be able to afford Thompson, should they choose to add him.

Colts To Sign Stephon Gilmore

April 15th, 2022 at 9:02am CST by Adam La Rose

Just days after meeting with the Colts, cornerback Stephon Gilmore has decided to sign there. He is joining Indianapolis, as reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). 

ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds (on Twitter) that the deal is two years in length, and is worth $23MM, with $14MM guaranteed. It brings an end to a surprisingly lengthy free agent wait for the 31-year-old, given his pedigree. While he likely won’t reach the heights seen from the earlier parts of his All-Pro career, he demonstrated an ability to remain productive this past season.

Gilmore spent the first five seasons of his career with the Bills, but is most well-known for his time in New England. It was there that he earned four of his five Pro Bowls, his lone Super Bowl title and the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019. However, his Patriots tenure came to an end in October when he was traded to the Panthers.

While his time as a Panther was still productive – he compiled two interceptions and a pair of pass deflections in eight games – the team turned its attention to re-signing fellow corner Donte Jackson this offseason. He, along with 2021 first-rounder Jaycee Horn and midseason acquisition C.J. Henderson will head their depth chart moving forward.

Gilmore met with a number of teams as the offseason progressed. The list of interested clubs included the Raiders, Chiefs, Rams and, most significantly, Colts. This signing represents another notable defensive addition, something general manager Chris Ballard recently signalled could be coming. Now, Gilmore will help replace Rock Ya-Sin, whom the team traded away to add Yannick Ngakoue. Those two, coupled with incumbents Darius Leonard and DeForest Buckner, should give the Colts an improved defense in 2022, as the look to contend in a highly-competitive AFC.

Draft Rumors: Williams, Colts, Cardinals, Texans, Broncos

April 14th, 2022 at 5:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

After breaking out in his lone Alabama season, Jameson Williams encountered a significant hurdle to close his junior year. The ACL tear Williams suffered in the national championship game damaged his pre-draft stock, but it appears to be rebounding. Williams is now expected to be taken in the top 10, Chris Mortensen of ESPN said recently (h/t Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com; Twitter link). ESPN ranks Williams as its No. 4 wideout prospect, at No. 19 overall, behind ex-Ohio State teammates Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave and USC’s Drake London. When available in 2021, the slender Crimson Tide wideout showed game-breaking speed in a monster statistical season. The 6-foot-1 transfer get totaled 1,572 yards (19.9 per catch) and 15 touchdowns. That total surpasses other first-round Tide wideout draftees like Julio Jones, Jerry Jeudy and Jaylen Waddle‘s final-season production at the SEC powerhouse. ACL tears are obviously not the deterrents they once were, and teams eyeing Williams through a long-range lens would make sense.

Here is the latest from the draft:

  • In what would seemingly be a meet-and-greet, as opposed to something indicating a potential draft choice, the Colts scheduled a Malik Willis visit, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). Indianapolis traded its 2022 first-round pick to Philadelphia for Carson Wentz last year and acquired Matt Ryan to be its starter for at least the next two seasons. Willis would profile as a developmental prospect behind Ryan, but the Colts not having a pick until No. 42 makes a partnership unrealistic. The Liberty prospect has visited the Falcons and Panthers, and the Steelers have been linked to the Group of 5 passing prospect as well. The Colts could acquire another potential Ryan heir apparent in Round 2, but they make more sense as a QB suitor in 2023.
  • The Texans have another veteran stable of running backs, having added Marlon Mack to a group that includes Rex Burkhead and Royce Freeman, but the rebuilding team could use younger talent here. Iowa State’s Breece Hall is viewed by some as this draft’s top back, and he visited the Texans on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. After its two first-round picks, Houston holds the No. 37 overall selection. That would be the most logical window for Hall to become a Texan, barring a trade. The Bills, Commanders and Giants have also met with Hall.
  • Losing Chandler Jones in free agency after seeing J.J. Watt battle more major injury trouble, the Cardinals could use pass-rushing help. They met with a first-round talent recently, hosting Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis, Pelissero tweets. The 266-pound rusher did not post eye-popping stats (14 sacks in three seasons) but is viewed as a solid all-around prospect, whom NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah compares to fellow ex-Boilermaker Ryan Kerrigan.
  • Russell Wilson‘s Denver arrival ensured the Broncos do not hold a draft choice until No. 64, but they are meeting with a higher-end tackle prospect. Tulsa’s Tyler Smith visited the Broncos recently, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. The Broncos signed Billy Turner and Tom Compton; one is likely to become Denver’s 10th Week 1 right tackle in 10 years. But the team has long needed a young answer at this position. Smith rates as Jeremiah’s No. 41 overall prospect but sits 58th on ESPN’s big board.

Colts Meet With CB Stephon Gilmore

April 13th, 2022 at 3:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

Holding the second-most cap space in the NFL, the Colts are interested in one of the top free agents. They brought Stephon Gilmore in for a visit Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The Colts have a need at cornerback, having sent starter Rock Ya-Sin to the Raiders for Yannick Ngakoue at the start of free agency, and Gilmore is one of the more accomplished cover men over the past several years. According to Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star (on Twitter), today’s visit was more than the organization kicking the tires…the Colts have legitimate interest in Gilmore.

[RELATED: Rams Reach Out To Gilmore]

Gilmore, 31, has been connected to multiple contending teams. The Rams, Chiefs and Raiders have pursued the former Defensive Player of the Year. The Colts’ $21MM in cap space surpasses this trio, though the Chiefs are not far behind ($18MM-plus). The 10-year veteran has been patient, but his market did not take off early in free agency. Gilmore joins a few high-profile defenders in being unattached in mid-April.

Indianapolis still rosters standout slot defender Kenny Moore, but its 2021 outside starters (Ya-Sin and Xavier Rhodes) are not in the picture. This will be an area the Colts address in the draft, but Jim Irsay recently said the team was pursuing a big-name free agent. The 2019 Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time All-Pro while with New England, Gilmore has that pedigree.

The former first-round pick played just nine games last season, beginning the year late after a holdout and injury hiatus — stemming from his 2020 quadriceps injury and subsequent surgery — preceded a trade to the Panthers. Gilmore intercepted two passes with Carolina and went to the Pro Bowl as an alternate, but he allowed 68% of the passes thrown his way to be completed — well north of his two All-Pro Pats seasons. Still, the five-time Pro Bowler would be a starter-caliber addition to just about every secondary and potentially provide an impact on a short-term deal.

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