The Colts don't need him to be a starting caliber RB. They need him to be a quality backup who can give 10-15 touches and 15-25 snaps per game of quality production. In that role, he could produce decent numbers.

So you want a guy who's half of what he was for only half the time?

Go get a college guy for less money who can go 100%

I saw a tweet somewhere that said he and the cowboys aren't close and it likely won't be happening. I wonder how much money he wants? We need him, but he has missed 22 games in the last 3 years so idk...

I don't believe I ever said I want Ajayi, but I understand the logic behind this move in that spending a small amount of the ridiculous amount of cap room the Colts have on getting a decent RB2 and giving the team more draft capital for defense makes sense.

I imagine it is probably a similar situation as with Desir. Ballard told him to go out and see what he could get on the open market and then hopefully give the Colts the opportunity to match or beat the offer if they want to.

When healthy, yes. Coming off an ACL? Highly unlikely

He averaged 5.8 ypc on 70 carries and 9.1 ypr on 10 receptions in 7 regular season games with the Eagles and 4.4 ypc on 42 carries and 11.7 ypr on 6 receptions in 3 playoff games. If he's a little worse than that, it will still be fine for a RB2.

Get a room you two.:eek:

Yes, we could all look up his pre-injury stats. Most backs aren't anywhere close to their normal pre-injury numbers just after an ACL, and if that is the case, he would be a waste of an active roster spot this season. Maybe he will defy the long odds against him, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Why? Are you wanting to join in if we do?

I'll take 80% of that performance level over 10-15 touches and 15-25 snaps per game from a RB2, which is about the diminishment to expect in performance.

Also, lest we forget, Ballard isn’t Grigson/Polian when it comes to stubbornness/arrogance.

If Ajayi comes to camp and clearly has nothing left, Ballard won’t hesiate to cut bait. He did it with Austin Howard (the free agent that was supposed to be the starting RT) and with Zach Banner (a 4th round rookie).

He would not be shy to fire with Ajayi. So let’s not like if the guy is damaged goods that the Colts are going to be forced to ride or die with Ajayi throughout the season.

Like I said, I currently like our guys. But I’m also fine with a move that doesn’t risk Mack/Hines/Wilkins that also has some upside and no risk.

The road show continues for Geathers - he is visiting Tampa Bay today.

https://twitter.com/FieldYates/statu...33060141301761

Raiders are going to do the Raiders thing.

In a move that should shock no one, the Oakland Raiders signed LB Vontaze Burfict to a 1 year deal. The contract could be worth up to $5MM if Burfict achieves all incentives.

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/sta...61772584878080


But hey, practices should be interesting with him and Antonio Brown on the same team.

What is with the Raiders? Seems like every guy with a checkered history ends up in the Raiders' orbit. And it's not like the strategy has worked for them. But they continue down this road despite numerous coaching, front office, and regime changes (and even ownership changes). The only rationale that I can think of is that they know the bad boy image plays well to their fan base and, since the NFL is after all just a business, it generates tremendous profits even if the on-the-field product isn't all that great.

AJ McCarron to the Texans

Clay Matthews to the Rams

Yep, when Burfict was cut my first thought was future Raider material.

He must be looking to get more pay than he's worth. The perpetually mediocre Bucs won't overpay, either.

Bears FA OLB Aaron Lynch will visit with the Colts tomorrow. He has already visited with Oakland and Seattle this week.

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1108185367126134784

He's 6'6 and 270 so he's a potential DE.

Philon seemed like a good fit on the interior DL and that's not a huge contract. It leads me to think two possibilities:

1) The front office likes the combination of Autry, Hunt, Lewis, Stewart, and Ward.
2) Interior DL could be a target high in the draft and Ballard doesn't want to overcrowd the above depth chart when he's anticipating adding another quality player.

Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
The #Colts may not be done adding edge help: Source said they hosted former #Broncos first-rounder Shane Ray. A day after they added pass-rusher Justin Houston.

Also to the point that Chris Ballard is not necessarily always drafting choir boys:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QV05mGQSVc

And the Oscar goes to...

Trip was probably planned before the signing. I'm not sure they have a guaranteed roster spot to make the $$ worth it, but maybe Ray's stock is low enough that they can get him on a cheaper deal than I expect.

Not a huge Ray fan. The production doesn't seem to be there for me.

One year prove it deal?

It's way down with all the injuries.

Injuries will do that. So will having 2 top 5 picks in front of you on the depth chart.

Ditto

I want to see more production if you are playing next to Von Miller. We might be kicking the tires on a lot of guys this off season.

He had 8 sacks in his second year pre injury. Got injured year 3 and lost his spot to Chubb year 4. I don't really see the fit with the Colts because of the investments Ballard has made at DE, but he may give some team surprising production.

Detroit signs CB Rashaan Melvin on a one-year, $3.5 million deal.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/sta...51904884871168

Yeah, he was a guy I considered before UFA started. Just not sure there’s a spot unless it’s really cheap/incentive laden and he wins a job in training camp. I bet there’s a better offer for him at some point.

Irsay had this to say at the owner meetings last week:

That has to be Landon Collins, right? Sure, the Smiths got overpaid to some degree, but wouldn't Collins be the guy he would go hard after?

That would be the best guess

If that’s the case, it may imply a target position high in the draft that you won’t like.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ind...amp/3345576002

Safety depth.

There’s no Landon Collins in this draft.

I feel like both Abram and Gardner-Johnson could potentially develop into similar players.

Rapp is right up Ballard’s alley. Better than Collins in coverage. Good hands. Good coming downhill, just not as great as Collins in that regard. Ballard loves turnovers and Rapp would help there.

Abram is another good option. This defense could use a bullet like him.

Another great low risk move. Keep churning it, Ballard.