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Indianapolis Colts News & Rumors

Dolphins To Meet With Frank Gore

March 22nd, 2018 at 8:48am CST by Zachary Links

Frank Gore could finish his football career back where it all started. Gore is slated to visit with the Dolphins on Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Gore was born in Coral Gables, Florida and played his college football at the University of Miami. With the Hurricanes, Gore averaged 5.7 yards per carry and became a third round pick of the Niners in 2005. Thirteen years later, GMs regret allowing him to slip all the way to No. 65 overall. Gore has had a remarkable career and has been shockingly durable throughout as well. He has missed only 12 possible regular season games in his career and has missed none since 2010.

The five-time Pro Bowler is no longer among the very best at his position, but he remains healthy and somewhat productive on the verge of his 35th birthday. Last year, Gore ran for 961 yards off of 261 carries, giving him a 3.7 yards per carry average. That wasn’t terribly efficient, but he did add 29 catches for 245 yards and one score.

It’s possible that Gore can perform better after moving on from the Colts, who finished 18th in run blocking last season, per Football Outsiders. The Dolphins were ranked even lower by FO’s stats, but they do have a new look offensive line that features guard Josh Sitton and Daniel Kilgore and is bookended by a pair of former first round picks in Laremy Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James.

Colts Re-Sign RB Christine Michael

March 21st, 2018 at 5:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Colts have re-signed running back Christine Michael, the club announced today.

Michael, 27, has typically been long on talent and upside, but short on results, during his five-year NFL career. Last season, the former second-round pick signed with Indianapolis in early June only to be placed on injured reserve two weeks later. The Colts must have liked what they saw from Michael during that brief stay on the roster, as they’ve now agreed to bring him back for another campaign.

Michael’s most productive season came in 2016, when he split time between the Seahawks and Packers. After beginning the year as Seattle’s starting running back, Michael managed six touchdowns before being surprisingly released at midseason. He managed only 3.7 yards per carry after being picked up by the Packers, who eventually cut him the following summer.

The Colts do not plan to re-sign veteran Frank Gore, so Michael will join a running back depth chart currently comprised of Marlon Mack, Robert Turbin, Matt Jones, George Winn, and Josh Ferguson.

Colts Meet With WR Dontrelle Inman

March 21st, 2018 at 5:01pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts hosted free agent WR Dontrelle Inman on a visit, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. New Colts OC Nick Sirianni was Inman’s WR coach in Los Angeles.

The Cowboys also have interest in Inman, so there’s a market for him despite a strange year 2017. Inman slid down the Chargers’ depth chart and was traded to the Bears during the year. After doing little in Los Angeles, he caught 23 passes for 334 with one touchdown in eight games. He finished out third in catches and receiving yards amongst Bears players, despite having just half a season with the team.

In 2016, Inman had the best year of his career with 58 grabs for 810 yards and four TDs. The potential is there for him to be an impact player and he’s still just 29 years old.

The Colts have ten wide receivers under contract, but T.Y. Hilton and free agent pickup Ryan Grant are the only real notables of the bunch.

Colts To Re-Sign G Jack Mewhort

March 21st, 2018 at 10:46am CST by Zachary Links

The Colts are bringing back guard Jack Mewhort. It’s a one-year deal with a base value of $1.5MM and another $1.5MM in incentives, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. 

Mewhort’s season ended in October thanks to a knee injury, marking his second straight incomplete campaign. However, he did have three quality years as an NFL starter before that and the Colts did not want to let him get away. Mewhort doesn’t turn 27 until October, so he’s still young enough to bounce back and be a difference maker in 2018.

Mewhort will likely compete with Matt Slauson for the starting job at left guard. Beyond that, the Colts currently project to start left tackle Anthony Castonzo, center Ryan Kelly, right guard Joe Haeg, and right tackle Denzelle Good.

Colts Host Cameron Meredith On Visit

March 20th, 2018 at 4:41pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts hosted Bears restricted free agent Cameron Meredith for a visit, a league source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Bears have the right to match any offer after using the low level tender on Meredith. If they do not match an offer sheet, they will not receive any draft compensation. 

Meredith, 26 in September, missed all of 2017 with a knee injury. Before that, he had a breakout season for Chicago. In 2016, Meredith hauled in 66 receptions for 888 yards and four touchdowns. If healthy, the former undrafted free agent could be a big contributor for the Colts, Bears, or another team in 2018.

The Colts signed Ryan Grant on Tuesday, but their WR group is a bit thin outside of him and T.Y. Hilton. Donte Moncrief left to sign a surprisingly lucrative free agent deal with the Jaguars earlier this month, leaving Indianapolis with a clear need to fill in free agency or the draft.

In other Colts news, the team has signed tight end Eric Ebron, re-signed cornerback Pierre Desir, and added offensive lineman Matt Slauson.

Colts Sign OL Matt Slauson

March 20th, 2018 at 4:19pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts have signed offensive lineman Matt Slauson, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal worth $3MM, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. 

Slauson, 32, started seven games at left guard the Chargers before he was sidelined in October with a biceps injury. He also offers previous experience at center and could be an option in the middle should Ryan Kelly miss time again.

Free agent Jack Mewhort continues to float in free agent limbo and it’s not clear if he’ll be retained. If he is brought back into the fold, the Colts could have the two veterans compete in camp to see who will start at one guard spot opposite of Joe Haeg. Last season, Jeremy Vujnovich started all 16 games at left guard, but he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ worst qualified player at the position.

The Lions met with Slauson last week, but he’s headed to Indianapolis instead.

Colts Re-Sign CB Pierre Desir

March 20th, 2018 at 12:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Cornerback Pierre Desir has agreed to a new one-year deal with the Colts, a league source tells Stephen Holder of the Indy Star (on Twitter). 

Desir was claimed by the Colts in September of 2017 after he missed the Seahawks’ initial 53-man cut. The 27-year-old (28 in September) quickly impressed coaches and found himself with a prominent role behind top corners Nate Hairston and Rashaan Melvin. He appeared in nine games (six starts) for Indianapolis, finishing out with career highs in passes defensed (7) and total tackles (32) before landing on IR in December with a pectoral injury.

Now that Melvin has signed with the Raiders, Desir figures to be in for serious playing time right off the bat in 2018. The Colts likely will continue to look for cornerback help with Quincy Wilson, Kenny Moore, and Nate Hairston amongst their top CBs under contract. Darius Butler, who spent time at cornerback before playing primarily at safety in ’17, is in free agency limbo.

Colts To Sign WR Ryan Grant

March 20th, 2018 at 11:13am CST by Zachary Links

Ryan Grant has agreed to sign with the Colts, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a one-year, $5MM deal for the wide receiver. 

Presumably, Grant has passed the Colts’ physical, which he did not able to do with the Ravens. Grant had a four-year deal worth $29MM ($14.5MM guaranteed) in place with Baltimore, but the Ravens nullified the agreement when they found an issue with Grant’s ankle that dated back to the final game of the 2017 season.

It’s not uncommon for players to fail a physical evaluation with one team and pass a physical with another club. Grant’s ankle, apparently, did not deter the Colts and it did not deter the Raiders from showing interest in him either. There’s also the possibility that the Ravens simply found a way to bail on the Grant deal once Michael Crabtree became available.

As shown on Roster Resource, Grant currently projects to be the Colts’ No. 2 wide receiver behind star T.Y. Hilton. Indianapolis figures to further bolster that group, which also includes eight other receivers who are of the late-round and UDFA variety.

Grant had 45 catches for 573 yards and four touchdowns with the Redskins last year. Pro Football Focus ranked Grant just 57th out of 116 qualified NFL wide receivers.

Colts Sign TE Eric Ebron

March 19th, 2018 at 7:56pm CST by Ben Levine

Eric Ebron has found a new home. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the tight end has signed with the Colts. It will be a two-year deal worth a maximum of $15MM.

Ebron’s blocking skills leave a bit to be desired, but the tight end has been plenty productive in the passing game throughout his career. He finished the 2017 season with 53 catches for 574 yards and four touchdowns. The former first-rounder ultimately rated as an above-average tight end, as Pro Football Focus ranked him 13th among 71 candidates at the position.

Assuming Andrew Luck is healthy, Ebron would provide the quarterback with another talented target. The free agent would presumably displace Jack Doyle from the starting lineup in Indy, although there could be enough targets for the duo. Doyle had his best NFL season in 2017, hauling in 80 receptions for 690 yards and four scores.

The Colts will have to ultimately make some decisions at tight end. The team is now rostering seven players at the position, including Darrell Daniels, Ross Travis, and Erik Swoope.

After being released by the Lions, there was plenty of interest in the 24-year-old. Besides the Colts, the Patriots, Panthers, and Ravens were all connected to Ebron.

Colts Meet With LB Korey Toomer

March 19th, 2018 at 11:01am CST by Zachary Links

The Colts are meeting with linebacker Korey Toomer on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Toomer has spent the last two seasons with the Chargers but is now exploring free agency. 

Toomer came to the Bolts in 2016 when he was signed off of the Raiders’ practice squad. Since then, he has racked up 125 tackles for the Chargers. The Chargers retained Toomer with a $1.797MM low tender last season but, this time around, he’s likely looking at a pay bump.

After Jonathan Bostic signed with the Steelers and Barkevious Mingo joined up with the Dolphins, the Colts are looking at a little thin at linebacker. They’ll have opportunities to add to the unit in the draft – particularly after trading down with the Jets and scoring two additional second picks – but Toomer would represent a proven veteran option.

In 2017, Toomer racked up 48 tackles, one sack, and one interception returned for a touchdown in 15 games.

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