Dontari Poe rumors: Falcons, Colts, Raiders among free agent suitors
By Matt Conner
Indianapolis Colts
Why it would work: Chris Ballard is the new general manager of the Indianapolis Colts and knows Poe very well, as much as Scott Pioli. Ballard has already hosted Poe for a visit and he left town, but a league source told Stephen Holder of the Indy Star that the Colts are “still in the mix” to sign him. Perhaps Poe wanted to get the full tour and hear all offers first. Perhaps Ballard wanted the market to set itself and asked for a chance to make a final offer. Either way, this connection is still very much alive.
Beyond the interpersonal familiarity, Poe makes loads of sense on the field for the Colts as well. The Colts have wasted Andrew Luck’s first few years in the NFL because they are so void of talent and depth along both lines, and Ballard knows well how to build these up. Both have been a strength for the Chiefs over the years for good reason. Expect Ballard to address both lines in the draft but to also shore them up in free agency.
The Colts have been busy signing pass rushers, including Jabaal Sheard and John Simon, but the line has largely gone untouched. David Parry is in legal trouble, and Zach Kerr signed with the Broncos. The Colts can’t just hope that Kendall Langford gets healthy given that the defensive front is poor, with or without him. Adding Poe would be a serious upgrade on a line that could use much more attention.
Why it wouldn’t work: Poe might not want to step into such a negative scenario. The Colts have offensive optimism, but the defense will be a multi-year project for Ballard. Compare the Colts to the Falcons and it’s a no-brainer in terms of overall talent, amount of pressure and potential for success.
In addition, while the Colts are very much alive among the suitors for Poe, they also let him walk. It’s impossible to know if Poe is angered by not being given a firm contract on site, but it could come into play.
Odds: 2-1