Colts: What to make of Jim Irsay’s latest comments about draft and free agency
By Jerry Trotta
The Indianapolis Colts have been one of the most difficult teams in the league to figure out through the initial stages of the offseason.
Entering free agency with well over $50 million in cap space, the front office has maddeningly decided to hoard most of it while sprinkling in the occasional sentimental re-signing, including the likes of wideout TY Hilton, cornerback Xavier Rhodes, and running back Marlon Mack.
In an attempt to justify their conservative approach, the Colts have maintained the notion that they’re preserving cap space for future extensions for homegrown stars, which doesn’t really make sense when you consider those deals won’t come into play until next year at the earliest.
Given that zero extensions have been handed out thus far, the fan base really deserves an explanation for Indy’s lack of urgency this offseason. Unfortunately, team owner Jim Irsay didn’t offer much in this regard during his latest press conference.
Speaking on free agency and the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft on Wednesday, Irsay asserted that the Colts have improved and reiterated what fans and pundits have been speculating for the last few months regarding the defensive end and left tackle positions.
Jim Irsay is offering a few thoughts on the Colts during this "Kick the Stigma" presser....
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) April 14, 2021
1) Says he feels the team is improved from last season as players grow, despite the limited additions
2) He expects they can address DE and OT in the draft. "There's a lot of options."
Colts owner Jim Irsay discussed free agency and the upcoming 2021 Draft.
If fans should take anything away from these bland comments, it’s that the Colts are definitely planning to give younger players more opportunities. If we had to guess, we’d say he was referring to defensive line tandem Tyquan Lewis and Kemoko Turay, both of whom were taken in the second round of the 2018 draft and could be in for bigger roles next year.
Getting beyond those specific comments, it’s looking increasingly likely that Indianapolis will address their needs at edge rusher and left tackle in the draft. It’s been setting up this way for quite a while and their continued refusal to splurge in free agency suggests they’ll potentially spend their first two picks (No. 21 and No. 54 overall) on those positions.
Irsay also spoke on Justin Houston’s free agency. The four-time Pro Bowler is scheduled to meet with Baltimore this week, and the longtime owner confirmed what reports have indicated over the last several weeks, and that is the Colts remain in play for his services.
Irsay also suggests that Justin Houston is still in play for the Colts.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) April 14, 2021
With the draft just two weeks away, Irsay was likely instructed not to reveal too much about the team’s offseason and overall plans for the annual event. However, it says a lot that he didn’t come off as bullish here as he generally does while discussing what lies ahead for the organization.
After all, it was just one month ago that Irsay proclaimed that a “golden era” of Colts football is developing right before our very eyes. That might be the case, but we wouldn’t fault fans who were left wanting more from this specific media session.
We know it technically isn’t Irsay’s job to get fans riled up EVERY time he steps in front of a microphone, but we were admittedly a little shocked he didn’t provide a memorable zinger.
