According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Indianapolis Colts have fallen short in their attempts to sign prized free agent Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe, who has chosen to sign with the Atlanta Falcons instead:
So after visiting Colts, Jaguars, Dolphins, former Chiefs DT Dontari Poe winds up with the Atlanta Falcons.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2017
The highly coveted nose tackle made a round of free agent visits this past week and took his time before making a final decision to join the reigning NFC Champions.
Obviously, it’s a big blow for the Colts, as Indianapolis was Poe’s first official visit and there was hope that new general manager Chris Ballard (and former Kansas City Chiefs Director of Player Personnel 2013-15) could successfully lure the big nose tackle to the franchise.
Instead, Poe opted to join Falcons assistant general manager Scott Pioli, the man who drafted Poe in the first round of 2012 as the former Kansas City Chiefs general manager, and ended up slightly closer to his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.
It sheds more light as to why the Colts signed Tennessee Titans free agent defensive lineman Al Woods earlier today, as well as to why former New Orleans Saint John Jenkins reportedly has a visit with the Colts tomorrow–both of whom can play nose tackle.
Next: Report: Colts Sign Titans Defensive Lineman Al Woods to a 2-Year Deal
It’s worth noting that the New York Giants Johnathan Hankins also is still available on the free agent market, as the best remaining nose tackle–although he reportedly is seeking at least $8 million annually on a new deal.
The Colts have competition now for incumbent starting nose tackle David Parry with Woods entering the fold, but at the same time, it doesn’t appear as though the franchise has significantly improved the position in a way that a Poe signing realistically would’ve.
(Update: 6:26 PM EST):
Apparently, the Colts discussed a deal with Dontari Poe that was for 5-years, up to $60 million–although it’s unclear the guaranteed dollars in such a contract or how far talks on the parameters of that particular contract materialized:
There were talks including something in neighborhood of 5-yr deal worth up to $60M. Not only option. 1-year was discussed too, per source. https://t.co/ZjyllnvrJZ
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 16, 2017