Colts Free Agency Grades
Oct 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) during warm ups before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi
Frank Gore, 3 years $12M
The Colts were in desperate need of a starting caliber running back, and they found one of the most productive and consistent ones over the past decade in San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore. The 10-year veteran rushed for 1,106 rushing yards on 255 carries (4.3 ypc average), as well as 4 touchdowns last season.
One of the NFL’s all-time great running backs, Gore’s only missed 1 start for the 49ers in the past 4 seasons and has rushed for over 1,000 rushing yards in 8 of his 10 seasons in the NFL. However, set to turn 32 years old, Gore may have lost a bit of a step and has a lot of mileage on his tires. Still, as long as he can give the Colts a dependable presence in between the tackles paired with his always exceptional blocking and receiving game, and the team’s backfield has been seemingly bolstered.
Gore figures to have at least one to two productive years left, and that’s enough time for the Colts to make a final push for a Super Bowl appearance before the contracts of their young core start becoming an issue. The longtime 49ers running back doesn’t provide a long-term solution at the position, but he is an immediate upgrade for the team. The Colts needed a solidifying presence in the ground game and Gore provides just that.