What a difference a year has made for Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard.
He went from having to find a new head coach and selecting a franchise quarterback to having to put together a roster that can go on a deep playoff run next season.
Ballard’s key decisions this offseason come mostly on players that were on the roster in 2023.
Here are the five toughest he has to decide on in the coming months:
1
Backup quarterbacks
The 2023 season was an example of why having a backup quarterback you can count on can make or break your season. 66 different quarterbacks started this past year, which includes the Colts when Anthony Richardson went down with his shoulder injury.
The Gardner Minshew experience was far from perfect but he was able to help keep Indianapolis in the playoff race heading into Week 18. The expectation is that Richardson plays all 17 games but if he were to miss time, this past season showed there better be a plan in place.
The logical decision for Ballard is to re-sign Minshew to bring back a quality backup and keep that veteran voice in the quarterback room for Richardson. At the end of the day, it takes two to tango.
Minshew may seek a chance to compete for a starting gig and could get more money from another team if Ballard has a limit so he can attack other areas of the roster. If Minshew isn’t retained then that leads Ballard to finding a new backup that can help the team compete if his number is called.
That likely means a veteran in free agency. I would keep an eye on Tyler Huntley if this situation plays out. Shane Steichen could keep his offense in the same scheme he will run with AR.
Whether it’s Minshew or a free agent signing for the backup spot, Ballard also has to decide if he wants to bring in a rookie to the room to potentially groom to a backup role. Sam Ehlinger is entering the final year of his contract and some competition in the room should be welcomed.
2
Re-signing key defensive free agents
With the Colts having a young roster there it makes sense to have some continuity with the veteran presence in the locker room. Especially on the defensive side of the ball. The glaring hole in the unit is in the secondary.
Kenny Moore II and Julian Blackmon will be free agents and if Ballard doesn’t bring them back then the current players on the roster haven’t played more than two seasons. Communication is crucial in the backend which both can provide to the youthful group.
Bringing back veterans for the secondary isn’t the only decision on this side of the roster for Ballard. It was clear that the defense missed Grover Stewart’s presence when he served his six-game suspension. His value to the defensive front can’t be understated.
One other name in the trenches is Tyquan Lewis. He’s coming off a career year and brings that veteran presence to the locker room. Ballard has to choose between bringing back Lewis or giving more opportunities to the younger defensive lineman.
3
Giving Michael Pittman Jr. an extension
Michael Pittman Jr. was Mr. Reliable for the Colts this past season. Having a wide receiver the offense can count on in Anthony Richardson’s second season is vital. This situation might end up being a drawn-out decision for Chris Ballard.
If both sides can’t come to a deal by March 5, then a decision with the franchise tag will have to be made, a tool the organization hasn’t used since 2013 on Pat McAfee.
If that is the route taken then that gives Ballard until midsummer to figure out a contract that MPJ will agree to. He will likely be seeking to be paid as a Top-10 wide receiver. The franchise tag does give Ballard security to keep his trusty veteran on the roster but should want to not have another contract extension saga like he did with Jonathan Taylor last year.
4
The future of the defensive line
This offseason isn’t entirely for the 2024 season. In the back of Ballard’s mind at all times is the future of the roster beyond this year. There are the short-term decisions I mentioned with Stewart and Lewis but there are a few players with future considerations that have to be made.
DeForest Buckner is entering the final year of his contract. With Anthony Richardson on a rookie contract, Ballard can take advantage of it and lock in the best player on his defense for a few more seasons.
Buckner isn’t the only defensive lineman who is up for an extension. Dayo Odeyingboy will be wrapping up his rookie contract. Ballard can attempt to get him at a rate that would be cheaper if Odeyingbo has a breakout out to stardom in 2024.
Ballard can wait until 2025 on those decisions but there is one on the defensive front that has to be made this offseason. He has to decide if he wants to exercise the fifth-year option on Kwity Paye.
He has until May 2 to make his choice. It would give Ballard more time to decide on offering Paye an extension but can get more costly if Paye can have a breakout year.
5
Being Aggressive
It is well known that Ballard doesn’t have an aggressive approach in free agency and the NFL draft. This has to be the offseason when he’s more active with Anthony Richardson on a rookie deal. He acknowledged that has this opportunity to take advantage of.
Ballard said in his postseason presser, “We’re not paying the QB big money anymore. And, so, we’re going to have some more flexibility and we’ll always be prudent, but we’ll be as aggressive as we need to be in free agency.”
Outside of bringing back the key free agents, an influx of talent from free agency will be crucial for the Colts to get into the playoffs in 2024. Ballard can’t just be only aggressive in this part of the offseason.
It never fails that he will trade back and collect picks in the draft. He should also consider a different approach. The depth of the back half of the draft might not be there this season according to Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy.
He told the media this week, “It was really unique. Rounds five through seven on our board got wiped out in the month of December. “We’ll see what it looks like in April. NIL is a great thing for the players, an awesome thing, but it does have an effect on the draft, whatever that may be.”
Ballard may just do Ballard things and trade back but if the opportunity is there to go up and get a Brock Bowers for his quarterback, then that is a decision he has to make.
