Indianapolis Colts: 3 reasons Eric Fisher signing is a head-scratcher
1. Fisher’s Signing Sends Mixed Signals
Is this a win-now move? Are the Indianapolis Colts convinced they can win the Super Bowl in 2021? After all, top contenders are more apt to offer and follow through with one-year deals with aging veterans in an attempt to get over the hump.
But at this point, doesn’t Fisher rehabbing from an Achilles injury feel just as risky as throwing a rookie into the fire at left tackle on Day 1? At the very least, the latter situation gives you the potential to find your blindside blocker of the future.
When the dust settled after the NFL Draft, the Colts passed on what scouts/analysts thought was one of the most NFL-ready tackles in Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw in the first round. Then came the second round. Teven Jenkins, gone. Liam Eichenberg, taken. Walker Little. Sam Cosmi. Dillon Radunz. All of those guys were drafted juuuust before the Colts picked at No. 54. Ballard had no urgency to trade up when he saw the run on tackles beginning.
Apparently, the Colts didn’t like any of the tackle options enough to do that. Not one of them. They could be right! But that feels almost insane. There wasn’t one guy who could profile as a potential future left tackle? Not one? OK, maybe the Colts like someone in next year’s draft, which is expected to be deep. It’s possible!
But guess what?! Next year, they may not have their first-round pick if Wentz manages to exceed expectations based on the terms of the “conditional” second-round pick he was traded for. At the very least, the Colts will not have a second-rounder.
So what was the Fisher move signaling? Are the Colts merely trying something out in hopes it works so they can remain contenders and potentially sign him to an extension? Or is he a high-profile stopgap that will silence the concerned fanbase for the time being as the organization looks for a more viable, long-term option?
This move sells us on … none of that. It’s still all up in the air. And the Colts will still have to address arguably the most important position on the field come 2022. At that point, they’ll either be starting from scratch with a rookie, re-upping with Fisher, or searching the barren free agent market for someone.
Moral of the story? There’s still a question mark here for 2021 and beyond. Nothing is solved. It’s all wait and see. And that kind of uncertainty makes it really difficult to prognosticate the team’s success for the foreseeable future.
