Colts GM explains team’s lack of activity during free-agency period

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard.

The Indianapolis Colts were one of the least active teams in NFL free agency this offseason.

The team signed just two players who weren’t on the roster last season, and according to a recent appearance on DraftKings’ “The GM Shuffle” podcast, general manager Chris Ballard says it was by design.

“The guys we decided to re-sign, when you started matching and looking at the market in comparison, we didn't see there was enough of a difference for us to not go with the guys we know,” Ballard said. “And look, I know a lot of times people want change. They see the shiny car on the other side, but a lot of times … you know the players, they are the type of teammates they are, you know the type of work they will put in. That type of continuity, especially during the second half of the season, will bode well for us this year.”

Of the 12 players the Colts signed this offseason, quarterback Joe Flacco and defensive tackle Raekwon Davis are the two new non-draftee additions joining the Colts roster.

The team gave new big-money contracts to receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (three years, $70M), defensive tackle Grover Stewart (three years, $39M) and cornerback Kenny Moore III (three years, $30M.)

To Ballard’s point, had Pittman Jr. hit free agency, he would’ve signed the second-biggest deal among WRs behind Calvin Ridley, while Stewart’s deal was the second-largest among free-agent DTs and Moore III’s deal is second-largest among free-agent CBs.

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