The Indianapolis Colts suffered an excruciating loss to end their 2021 NFL season as they lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18. Had they won that game, they would have earned a spot in the playoffs as a wild card game.
Hoping that does not happen again, owner Jim Irsay, general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Frank Reich had a meeting following the season. Irsay wants to see some changes and rightfully so.
The Colts are good enough with a few tweaks to be one of the better teams in the AFC. They showed in the middle part of the season that they can hang with the best of the best. To ensure they do not have a slow start and disappointing ending again in 2022, they need to address a few needs.
The quarterback position will be one many people point to. Carson Wentz was unable to step up his performance when the team needed him most. But, they could very well be stuck with him for at least 2022 unless they can pry one of the potentially available veterans away from their respective teams.
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If they are unable to make a change at quarterback, upgrading the positions around him to maximize his potential is another route to take. The Indianapolis Colts have some money to spend in NFL free agency, so they can fill their needs.
One of the underrated needs for the team this offseason is at tight end. The offensive line and wide receiver spots are what many people point to first, but they could lose both of their top producers at the position this offseason in Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox.
Doyle is contemplating retirement while Alie-Cox is hitting NFL free agency. If they lose both, they will have a hole to fill. One player that Kevin Hickey of Colts Wire believes they could target Dalton Schultz.
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Schultz has come on the last two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He was pressed into starting duties after Blake Jarwin got hurt and he has taken the starting job and ran with it. Schultz is as good of a blocker as he is a pass catcher, providing excellent value at the tight end spot as he can remain on the field in any situation.
He would also help compensate for the team not having a true No. 2 option in the passing game behind Michael Pittman Jr. Schultz isn’t the most athletically gifted player, but he is an excellent route runner and can line up in numerous spots in the formation.
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Indianapolis has arguably more pressing needs, but landing a top-shelve tight end would certainly make life easier for Wentz. He build an excellent rapport with Zach Ertz during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles and could do the same with Dalton Schultz in Indianapolis—assuming he departs from the Dallas Cowboys in NFL free agency.
