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Report: Colts Fall Short in Dontari Poe Sweepstakes as Chooses Falcons Instead

By Luke Schultheis

Sep 13, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe (92) in action during a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe (92) in action during a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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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:

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.

Dec 25, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe (92) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 33-10. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 25, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe (92) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 33-10. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

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:

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