Is GM – Ryan Grigson Making the Right Decisions for the Indianapolis Colts?
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Should the clock be ticking on GM – Ryan Grigson?
The 2014 season will be big for every team in the NFL, but the Indianapolis Colts are expected to make the next step forward this year. Although this team exceeded expectations over the past two seasons, the next move is now winning in the postseason, and taking a real shot at winning at least an AFC title. Some of the moves Grigson has made for the Colts also exceeded expectations. Other decisions that the third-year general manager has made tended to fizzle out.
Grigson may get credit with one of his first additions, but taking QB – Andrew Luck with the top overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft was pretty much a no-brainer. Selecting WR – T.Y. Hilton in the third round of that same draft has seemed to work out very well, while other choices in 2012 didn’t pan out quite as well. Grigson and the Colts went with two tight ends in the rounds after the Luck selection, and that result is still pending. Having TE – Coby Fleener and TE – Dwayne Allen as targets and blockers for Luck has worked at times, but both have struggled with production and injuries. Grigson also used a round five pick in 2012 on DT – Josh Chapman, who was injured at the time, and didn’t even debut with the team until last season.
In 2013, Grigson and the Colts used the 24th overall draft pick on OLB – Bjorn Werner. Werner underperformed last season, and is expected to improve in his second year as a pro. Grigson also brought in C – Samson Satele with one of his first moves with the Colts. Satele was in and out of the starting lineup for various reasons, then eventually was released a few months ago.
Grigson has been busy in NFL free agency during his time with the Colts, and even signed nearly 20 undrafted free agents last month. The biggest signing Grigson has made, was bringing in high-profile/high-priced S – LaRon Landry, which has really paid off too much yet either. Grigson’s trades have also been fairly questionable, as Indianapolis had to give up big future draft selections in order to acquire RB – Trent Richardson and CB – Vontae Davis.
With all the heat focused on owner Jim Irsay, it would be easy to look over some of the flat additions that Grigson has had a hand in. Even though the Colts have improved during his tenure as general manager, the heat on Grigson could get turned up, if this team doesn’t take that next step this season.