richard pallo

Diggs wouldn’t be my first choice but trading our 1st pick for a bonafide number 1 makes a lot of sense this year. A. J. Brown makes more sense for me since Steichen already knows him he’s 4 years younger and it appears he wants to leave the Eagles.

I wouldn’t say Dodds is highly sought after. Every year he seems to get a few interviews that has resulted in him not getting the jobs he’s interviewed for. I think if he was highly sought after he would have secured a position by now. I think he’s just another guy on the interview circuit that is having a hard time impressing a team when he does get an interview.

Knowing Ballard I can see him adding a TE in FA. I think he has done it in the past if I remember correctly. Ebron maybe. Anyway I could see him being interested in Noah Fant in FA. He’s only 26 and a former 1st rd pick of the Broncos who was dealt to Seattle in the Wilson trade. Hasn’t done much there but I think he could flourish with Steichen and AR. He’s 6’4” , 249 and extremely fast. Good blocker too. I think this year there is a very good chance we trade our 1st pick for a player and add a number of very good starters in FA.

Good. All coaching vacancies filled. Now Ballard can turn his attention to resigning our current FA.

There is 100% certainty when trading for elite talent. Who cares who if you have to sign him to a new contract. That’s not part of the argument. That happens all the time. We did it with Buckner. You trade for an elite player that’s what you’re getting. I don’t think those players were considered elite when they were traded. They were past their elite years and they were bringing other personal problems with them. They were considered good players who could still produce but that’s about it. Diggs and Buckner were considered elite at the time of their trade though. Now injuries could always affect the outcome of a trade but you can’t predict injuries. Rodgers is a good example of that circumstance. Sometimes teams are forced to move players because they are literately forced to because of cap restraints. That happens all the time too. That’s what the Colts should ideally be looking for.

Chances are just that chance. It can be 10 fold or 20 fold but there is not 100% certainty with any draft pick even the first pick. But there is 100% certainty when you trade for a proven elite player who has already proven his elite capabilities in the league. I don’t know why you’re bringing up trading down. That was never part of my comment.

I’m not worried about any cap restraints this year. We have plenty to start with and they’re multiple restructures we can do to get significantly more if need be. Ballard said in his presser that the market is what it is and if you want a guy then you have to pay it. I think he’s hunting for bigger game this year.

This certainly sounds like a great hire when you read his resume and accolades. Our OL coach hire last year turned out to be a great hire hopefully he is as well.

The only way in my opinion to get an elite playmaker guaranteed at pick 15 is to trade for that player. Just like Ballard did for Buckner. This could be the year he does it again. Most likely WR or ER if I were him. Three years of NFL tape beats three years of college tape every day for me.

I think Grover’s main responsibility is to stop the run and demand double teams which he does exceedingly well. We found that out the hard way when he was suspended. If 12m turned out to be the number that wouldn’t bother me at all. We have plenty of cap space and could easily create more space if need be. Hopefully Lewis returns as well.

I feel strongly that we are going to retain the players we want to retain. The only way Pittman counts 22m against the cap is if he plays under the tag. I think a deal gets done and after guaranteed money his cap hits will be lower so I think we have plenty of cap space. That holds for our other FA as well. I also don’t think Q will count 22m against the cap this year. I think he gets restructured maybe before FA. Buckner could be extended lowering his cap hit too. Ballard has the cap space and the wherewithal to get more. After listening to his press conference it certainly sounded like he was going to be more aggressive this year. For me it’s hard to find explosive players who could really help the team without spending in FA. I like the two you mentioned and I’m also thinking WR. Another player who I think we might be interested in is LB Patrick Queen of the Ravens. He would more than make up for the loss of Okeroke. To say the least I can’t wait for Chris to get cracking.

I like Mooney’s speed and separation. The Bears passing attack wasn’t really impressive last year and I think Fields had a lot to do with it. Also bringing in Moore was a big move for them with mixed results. He’s young too. So , for me, I think he would be a nice addition who would get that separation for AR especially on deep throws.

I could get behind the position to keep Pierce for another year but at the same time I think we need to bring in a FA receiver to compete with him. Someone like Darnell Moody from the Bears who should not be terribly expensive. I think with AR back then they would both have an opportunity to work with a better quarterback talent. Given that scenario I would then be supportive of using the 1st pick on Bowers. Get that TE who can do it all and a position that Shane likes to make a major part of his offense. I would be in favor of even trading up a few spots just to make sure we get him. But we need to get that veteran FA wide receiver first to compete with Pierce. That’s the key for me.

I would be surprised if Gilmore resigned. Given his age he still might view us as not being close enough to a Super Bowl. I would rather sign a safety.

I think it’s safe to say Burns and Allen won’t be making it to FA. McKinney , on the other hand, is a reasonable target worth going after.

New DL coach coming in too. That could affect whether Lewis decides to return. I would hope Ballard wants him back. But we really don’t know. I can see Lewis following the path of Hooker and Okeroke. I never liked the decision to let both of those players move on. I don’t want Lewis to leave either.

He already declined.

That’s possible I guess but these openings are for position coaches. A lateral move I would think for them. New HC are filling out their staffs now. I just hope he gets the coaches he wants.

I’m surprised Gus hasn’t filled those coaching vacancies by now. Since we didn’t renew their contracts I would have thought he had other coaches lined up. Apparently not.

This should guarantee he doesn’t return. lol. Too expensive now.

I think if it’s not Minshew it’s going to be Jacoby. The history is already there with Ballard. I think he would be an ideal mentor for AR.

One FA who I would think would be of interest to Ballard is S Jeremy Chinn of the Panthers. Reminds me of Malik Hookers situation. Started off looking very promising but has been hampered a little with injuries and is now entering FA. He’s 6’3” 200 Ibs with playmaking ability. I wouldn’t think he would be an expensive add and could be the experienced veteran to help the secondary. Hooker found a nice home in Dallas btw. Another player who could fit is WR Darnell Moody of the Bears. Very fast receiver who can get separation but is kind of stuck in an offense that is not pass oriented with Fields as his quarterback and Flus as his HC. I could see him as a nice addition to the WR room and possibly grabbing the WR1 spot as our speedy deep threat to complement Pittman and Downs. I don’t think he would be expensive either. Both of these players strike me as players Ballard would tend to look at who might not grab any headlines in FA but who would be nice potential veteran upgrades to the roster. Both young enough to be here for quite awhile if they work out.

Both certainly deserving.

From what I read it’s supposed to be a very good draft for DT’s so the idea of moving back into the 1st round entered my mind as well. Picking up an additional 20m in cap space really opens the possibility for adding another premium player in FA who would be younger than Buckner who is 30 I believe. Hard to see them doing the Buckner trade proposal but you never know until the phone call comes in.

Interesting article on PFF. They suggest the Colts should trade their 1st pick for A.J.Brown. They also suggest the Bengals should trade their 2nd rd pick and another pick this year for Buckner. Colts save over 20m in cap space and the Bengals plug a major hole on their defensive interior.