Colts Re-Sign CB Pierre Desir
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
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
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
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.
Colts, WR Ryan Grant Nearing Deal
[UPDATE: The Colts have agreed to sign Grant]
The Colts are nearing a deal with free agent wide receiver Ryan Grant, according to Mike Chappell of CBS4 (on Twitter). The news was first reported by former NFL wide receiver James Jones (Twitter link), who appears to have a pipeline on signings as of late. 
Grant agreed to a four-year deal with the Ravens on the first day of free agency, but that contract was voided due to a failed physical. The Ravens immediately signed fellow free agent wide receiver Michael Crabtree, so one has to wonder if Grant’s physical really raised red flags or if the Ravens simply jumped at an opportunity to add a more accomplished pass-catcher. For what it’s worth, Grant’s agent says there isn’t much of an issue.
“If there were a game tomorrow, Ryan would be able to play,” the agent said earlier this month.
Grant, a former fifth-round pick, broke out with 45 receptions for 573 yards and four touchdowns with Washington in 2017. The Raiders also met with Grant, but it appears that he is Indy-bound.
Notes On Andrew Luck, Johnathan Hankins
- Yesterday, the Colts agreed to trade their No. 3 overall selection in this year’s draft to the Jets in exchange for New York’s No. 6 overall pick and three second-round selections (including one in 2019). Most pundits believe that’s a pretty nice haul for Indianapolis, and Mike Wells of ESPN.com says it’s also good news for Andrew Luck. With this year’s class of rookie QBs considered to be quite strong — indeed, the Jets are widely expected to use the No. 3 overall pick on a signal-caller — the Colts could have guaranteed themselves of a Luck insurance policy if they felt they needed one. Instead, the move signals to Wells that the team is convinced Luck will look like his usual self in 2018 and beyond.
- The Colts made the surprising decision to cut Johnathan Hankins yesterday, and Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star writes that the move was scheme-based. Indianapolis is converting from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme this year, and while Hankins had only worked in a 4-3 before joining the Colts, the team believes that Hankins’ skill-set will not fit its new emphasis on speed and quickness. Hankins played quite well in 2017, though, and Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com believes he will land a contract that pays him $7MM per year on the open market (Twitter link).
- The Colts-Jets swap, combined with the Buccaneers‘ signing of Ryan Jensen, could result in a top-five prospect falling to Tampa Bay, which holds the No. 7 overall pick, as Jenna Laine of ESPN.com writes. Laine examines a few scenarios that could lead to a player like NC State’s Bradley Chubb or Penn State’s Saquon Barkley dropping into the Bucs’ laps.
Colts To Host CB Phillip Gaines
The Colts will host free agent cornerback Phillip Gaines on Sunday, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Indianapolis recently lost top corner Rashaan Melvin to the Raiders, and the club’s defensive back depth chart is among the weakest in the NFL. At present, the Colts are projected to start Quincy Wilson and Kenny Moore at cornerback — each are 2017 rookies who offered a combined six starts worth of experience. Last season, Indy ranked dead last in Football Outsiders‘ pass defense DVOA.
Gaines, 26, is a former third-round pick who appeared in 41 games with the Chiefs over the past three seasons. Typically a slot corner, Gaines graded as the second-worst CB in the NFL a season ago, per Pro Football Focus. He’s unlikely to return to Kansas City after the club added David Amerson and Kendall Fuller, but he’d offer familiarity in Indianapolis, where former Chiefs executive Chris Ballard is now general manager.
Colts Interested In Mike Pouncey
The Colts are among the clubs with interest in free agent center Mike Pouncey, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
Pouncey hasn’t been wanting for interest since earning his release from the Dolphins earlier this week. In addition to the Colts, both the Buccaneers and Chargers are reportedly eyeing Pouncey, although Tampa Bay’s current level of intrigue is unclear given that it signed fellow interior lineman Ryan Jensen. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is reportedly meeting with Pouncey today.
If signed by the Colts, Pouncey would likely be moved to guard given the presence of former first-round pick Ryan Kelly at center. That shouldn’t be a problem for the 28-year-old Pouncey, who has earned Pro Bowl berths at both guard and center in the past.
After playing in only five games in 2016, Pouncey’s play was limited by a hip injury last season. Pro Football Focus noted his lackluster performance, grading Pouncey as just the No. 27 center in the NFL. It’s possible Pouncey will require hip replacement surgery down the road, while at least one doctor has reportedly recommended that Pouncey retire, but he’s rejected that advice tho this point.
Colts Release Johnathan Hankins
A year after signing Johnathan Hankins to a three-year, $27MM deal, the Colts are releasing the defensive lineman, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
Hankins received a $7MM roster bonus and no signing bonus, with all of the defender’s guarantees coming in the contract’s first year. The Colts will not be tagged with any dead-money charges because of this surprising cut.
The timing of this release is notable. The 26-year-old lineman would have seen $4.5MM his $8MM 2018 salary become fully guaranteed on Sunday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. The Colts did this despite possessing more than $65MM in cap space — second-most in the league.
Hankins signed with the Colts shortly after free agency began last year, doing so after being a Giants starter for three years. He functioned in that role last season as well, starting 15 games.
This move also comes as the Colts are preparing to transition to a 4-3 defense, and prior to last season, Hankins had only worked in a 4-3 scheme. He played in the Colts’ 3-4 setup last season and graded out quite well, being tabbed as the No. 20 interior defender by Pro Football Focus. And the advanced metrics site only graded two full-time interior defenders — former Giants running mate Damon Harrison and now-UFA Ndamukong Suh — as being better against the run last season, doing so for an Indianapolis defense that ranked 30th.
He will become one of the more recognizable talents on the market and would almost certainly be expected to be a coveted commodity by other defensive tackle-needy franchises.
Jets Acquire No. 3 Pick From Colts
The Jets are moving up. The team has acquired the third-overall pick from the Colts (via Indy’s Twitter). In exchange, the Jets have sent Indy their first-rounder (No. 6) a pair of upcoming seconds (No. 37 and No. 49), and a 2019 second-round pick.
NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Jets “explored all options,” including the possibility of adding the top-overall pick from the Browns. Meanwhile, the Colts heard offers from several teams, but they ultimately felt good about the package they received from the Jets.
The general consensus seems to be that the Jets will ultimately use their new pick to take a quarterback. By acquiring the selection, the organization is assuring that they can take one of the top prospects in the draft, a list that includes Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Baker Mayfield. Of course, choosing a quarterback with the third pick will only complicate the Jets’ quarterback plans heading into 2018.
Assuming they take a quarterback in the draft, the team will clearly be leaning on the youngster to lead the organization in the future. However, for at least next season, the Jets would likely turn to veteran Josh McCown for the starting gig. After re-signing McCown earlier this week, the organization reportedly told the signal-caller that he’ll be their starter next season. The Jets also added Teddy Bridgewater, and they’re rostering Bryce Petty, Christian Hackenberg, and Joel Stave. At least two of those latter three quarterbacks will be let go prior to the season.
In recent years, we’ve seen several teams trade into a top-three selection in the draft. Last season, the Bears moved up to No. 2 and sent San Francisco No. 3, No. 67, and No. 111. In 2017, the Titans traded the No. 1 pick (along with No. 113 and No. 177) to the Rams for No. 15, No. 43, No. 45, and No. 76 (along with a first- and third-rounder in 2017). That same year, the Browns traded No. 2 (and a conditional fifth-rounder) to Philly for No. 8, No. 77, No. 100, a 2017 first-rounder, and a 2018 second-rounder.
What does this all mean? Well, it seems like both teams could justify the haul they gave up/received. According to ProFootballTalk.com’s “Draft Trade Chart,” Indy received solid value for the No. 3 pick. That selection was given a value of 2,200, and their new 2018 selections equal out to a 2,540 value (that also doesn’t account for the 2019 second-rounder). From that perspective, you could argue that the Colts won the trade. However, when you consider the trades from previous seasons, the Jets did an admirable job of not including an additional first-rounder in the package.