Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard called his 2024 roster construction a “mistake.” So will this lead to a more aggressive free agency approach in 2025?
The biggest “mistake” Ballard referred to regarding the 2024 Colts was the lack of competition on the roster.
“I screwed that up,” Ballard said of the last free agency period.
After the team narrowly missed the playoffs at 9-8 in 2023, Ballard opted for a run-it-back, prioritizing re-signing its own players rather than bringing in more outside players.
At the time, Ballard believed the team was more like a playoff team than it actually was. He also acknowledged that “ego” and “complacency” in the squad, which DeForest Buckner denounced, were part of the problem.
“Instead of really creating competition throughout and throwing new blood into the locker room, new players into the locker room, I said, 'You know what, we're going to play it back'.” Ballard said. “That was a mistake.”
All of his statements indicate that the Colts will take a very different approach to free agency this year.
As I have described in detail HereAccording to Over the Cap, which is around the middle of the pack, the Colts currently have around $36 million in salary cap space available this offseason. There are of course ways to increase this amount.
Some of the positions Ballard mentioned or was asked about when it came to bolstering depth and increasing competition were in the secondary, at both the cornerback and safety positions, as well at the quarterback and offensive line positions.
Some other positions that should be on the Colts' radar are tight end, linebacker and running back depth.
“We need to do a better job of identifying the right free agents that can help get this team where it needs to go,” Ballard said.
Since it's only January 10th, Ballard declined to comment on how this free agency period should be handled.
“We haven’t formulated a plan (yet),” Ballard said. “But what I will tell you is that we will be open to making sure we do the best we can to build a competitive squad in the future.”
