Former Indianapolis Colts CB Stephon Gilmore (5) – Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Many fans expected Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard to sit on his hands and not make a big splash in the early window of free agency. Boy, were they wrong. Ballard has thrown it back to the 2018 offseason regarding his free agency strategies. The strings have been loosened on Ballard’s pocketbook, but only after making some big moves to free up cap space.

Indianapolis Colts Clear Cap Space for Massive Deal

Indianapolis Colts release QB Matt Ryan

Former Indianapolis Colts QB Matt Ryan – AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

The Indianapolis Colts made two quick moves that freed up roughly $25 million in cap space. The first move came as no surprise. The Indianapolis Colts released future Hall of Fame QB, Matt Ryan. Ryan came to Indianapolis in hopes of ending his career with success and a long shot at winning the Super Bowl.

He neither found success nor a shot at the Super Bowl. He found an overpaid offensive line that failed to form a cohesive unit. He also found himself amongst a team that was lost in their own vision. Ryan’s lack of production, thanks to the hole-ridden offensive line, forced the Colts’ front office to go into full chaos.

By the end of the regular season, the Indianapolis Colts were on their second head coach, third OC, and third play caller, all while shuffling between three different starting quarterbacks. The team had wholly lost its direction and was in need of a full reevaluation.

As much as I am bothered by this season, I hold no ill will toward Ryan, and I wish his time with the Colts would have been more enjoyable for everyone. Ryan may not find a new home by the start of the season, but this should not take away from the fact that he is a generational talent that deserves to be enshrined in Canton.

Another Vet Disappointed by his Time with the Colts

Cowboys to acquire five-time Pro Bowl CB Stephon Gilmore from Indianapolis Colts

Dallas Cowboys new CB Stephon Gilmore – Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports

Veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore also came to Indianapolis with hopes of competing for the Lombardi Trophy. Obviously, Gilmore was also disappointed with how the way things went here in Indianapolis. The 32, almost 33-year-old cornerback still has what it takes to contribute to a championship-caliber team, but not for much longer.

In a move morally praised by people around the NFL, the Indianapolis Colts traded Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys for a 5th-round comp pick. Gilmore had one year left on his contract, and considering his age, he no longer fit into the Colts’ long-term plan.

Sending Gilmore to the Cowboys places him in a position where he can excel. In 2021, the Cowboys ran some type of man coverage at the third highest rate of any defense in the NFL; that rate dropped this past year, primarily due to the challenges of playing younger defenders once Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis went down with injuries.

Now with a solid CB to pair with the ever-impressive Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys have the option to draft a cornerback with the idea to let him sit behind Gilmore and learn the correct way to play the position.

Having a former DPOY on the Colts’ roster was awesome. Gilmore earned his contract with game-sealing interceptions, big-time pass-breakups, and overall excellent veteran leadership. The Colts showed some real class in getting Gilmore to a contender, and there isn’t much else anyone can ask for.

Colts Sign a FA that isn’t a Kicker

Former 49ers DE Samson Ebukam signs with the Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts newest DE Samson Ebukam – Michael Owens/Getty Images

Releasing Ryan and trading Gilmore seemingly lead up to what I consider the most exciting signing of this Colts offseason. Chris Ballard has taken a shot at finding a defensive end to start alongside Kwity Paye. The Colts plan to add former 49ers defensive end Samson Ebukam on a deal worth up to $27 million.

Ebukam is a technically sound pass rusher. He hits his landmarks and plays with insane effort. That’s the type of edge rusher you want alongside DeForest Buckner. Ebukam may not rack up a bunch of sacks, but he’s constantly collapsing the pocket, making life much easier for his fellow pass-rushers.

As I mentioned in my article, “5 Free Agent Defensive Linemen who Should be on the Indianapolis Colts’ Radar”, Ebukam thrives when going one-on-one with an offensive lineman.

“During the 2022 season, Ebukam spent 175 snaps in these true pass sets pressuring the opposing quarterback.

Ebukam totaled 30 pressures on these specific snaps and did this with a win rate of 23.5%. Ebukam featured behind the likes of Nick Bosa and Charles Omenihu but was still able to find a way to make a difference in the ferocious 49ers’ defense. Ebukam is vicious when he rushes the QB and could be a perfect fit in the Gus Bradley-led Colts defense.” – Noah Ashley

The potential signing of Ebukam all but guarantees that the Colts will not re-sign DE Yannick Ngakoue. Fear not Colts fans. Ngakoue, on paper, was a productive end, but he only ever disrupted the pocket on 1-3 snaps per game. Ebukam is a guy who will constantly make things messy for an offense. The video above from Zach Hicks provides an example of this.

Ebukam will also provide more run defense than Ngakoue, and this could help our linebackers adjust to the loss of Bobby Okereke and the new role for E.J. Speed.

The Indianapolis Actually did Something in Free Agency

While many fans are content to sit online and complain at every move made by Chris Ballard and the rest of the front office, I am happy to see the team making impactful moves. Many more moves must be made, but this is a good start. The next position on my radar is the slot receiver position. Parris Campbell is my choice. He knows the system and is yet to play at his full potential. Campbell should be an affordable option unless other teams want to get into a bidding war for him. If this is the case, expect Ballard to bow out and let the Ohio State product move on.