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Stampede Blue

An Indianapolis Colts blog

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Poll: How good do you want the Colts to be this year?

An idea for a poll question emerged from a short conversation I had with Iowacoltsfan on a previous post. I suggested that I believed that the negativity towards Chris Ballard had reached a point that many fans would trade a good season, for a bad one that produced his ouster. He shared that he didn’t […]

Anthony Richardson reports to Colts offseason workouts ahead of pivotal contract year

The situation hasn’t changed regarding the Indianapolis Colts endless quarterback carousel, but the optics have. Quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. walked back into the Colts’ facility Monday to participate in voluntary offseason workouts.  Despite a trade request that still hangs over the franchise, his presence during the install period signals he’s willing to put in the […]

Report: Readily available Colts QB reports for voluntary offseason workouts

According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., who is currently available for trade, reported for the team’s voluntary offseason workouts on Monday for the first time: Subject to potential trade negotiations, after his representation and him were given permission to seek out a trade earlier this offseason, Richardson Sr. had missed […]

A.J. Haulcy can be a Chess Piece for the Secondary Lou Anarumo is Coveting

The Colts selected AJ Haulcy with their third round pick in this year’s draft.  The player is fascinating, but the use of resources on a safety is even more fascinating to me. I was shocked that they decided to address the safety position with their limited resources in this year’s draft— but I really shouldn’t […]

Imagine if you had done what the Colts did

In unsurprising news, the Indianapolis Colts declined Anthony Richardson’s fifth-year option. The former fourth overall pick is set to be an unrestricted free agent next year which marks the final nail in the coffin. With no trade suitors, the Colts are prepared to run out the clock. This is the reality of the situation. The […]

Anonymous NFL execs reportedly weigh in on Colts 2026 NFL Draft class

According to The Athletic’s Mike Sando, anonymous NFL executives recently weighed in on the Indianapolis Colts 2026 draft class, which even without a first round pick, saw the Horseshoe potentially land two immediate defensive starters on ‘Day 2’: “They would not have gotten a Sauce Gardner picking where they were going to pick, whether that […]

Colts decline Anthony Richardson Sr’s fifth-year option

The Colts have officially declined the fifth-year option on quarterback Anthony Richardson, a move that had felt inevitable for weeks but still marks a significant moment for the franchise. Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Florida, will now enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2026 and […]

Following NFL Draft, trade suitors for Colts QB Anthony Richardson Sr. may be dwindling

When asked about the status for both veteran cornerback Kenny Moore II and quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., Indianapolis Colts longtime general manager Chris Ballard recently responded, “Nothing. Nothing yet,” in regards to finding a potential trade that would be worth the franchise’s while. Both players had previously requested a trade out of Indianapolis earlier this […]

Colts need their solid draft to turn into strong production

Chris Ballard and the Indianapolis Colts are getting solid marks for their 2026 draft. They filled immediate needs and bolstered their depth across some weaker areas. They appear to have avoided major reaches and got great value with some of their selections like C.J. Allen, A.J. Haulcy, and Deion Burks to name a few. It […]

Colts should consider signing 49ers free agent WR Jauan Jennings

The Indianapolis Colts still arguably need an outside WR2 upgrade, and one noticeable name still remains unsigned, San Francisco 49ers free agent wideout Jauan Jennings. The 28-year-old wide receiver recently visited the Minnesota Vikings, and while no deal was reached, it seems like only a matter of time before the veteran wideout finds a new […]

Vikings sign Colts backup free agent defensive tackle

On Wednesday, the Minnesota Vikings announced that they signed Indianapolis Colts free agent defensive tackle Eric Johnson II, who was an unrestricted free agent, and will not count toward compensatory draft pick consideration: Originally a 2022 5th round pick of the Colts, the 27-year-old defensive tackle appeared in 51 career games for Indianapolis, recording 41 […]

Could the Colts find a different roster option for Anthony Richardson?

What is the best course of action when you have a player that is currently making more money than what he brings in value to your team?  The options always seem to be to either trade the player, or to cut the player.  You try to minimize the loss, by getting rid of the player […]

Colts projected to gain 2 extra picks in 2027 Draft

The over-month long period of the offseason where signings factor into the compensatory pick formula has came and went. After the April 27th deadline, all signings going forward in the offseason have no bearing on the compensatory picks a team receives. Teams that lose more compensatory Free Agents than they acquire are eligible to receive […]

CJ Allen Gives the Colts Their Green Dot of the Future

The Colts drafted CJ Allen in the second round of the NFL Draft. With a strong desire to get younger and faster on the defensive side of the ball the Colts found a tough, physical MIKE linebacker who can be the green dot of the future. We’ll break down some of the tape, but I […]

Colts draft grades Reacts survey results: Grading the full 2026 class

The Indianapolis Colts completed their 8-player rookie class this past extended weekend for the 2026 NFL Draft—and the Horseshoe faithful have weighed in. 51% of Colts fans gave Indianapolis a “B” grade, which seems pretty favorable given that their favorite team didn’t have a first round pick this year. If given the option, I would […]

Without first rounder again, what positions could Colts address in 2027 NFL Draft?

Our friends at SB Nation NFL published their 2027 NFL Mock Draft, and while the Indianapolis Colts also don’t have next year’s first round pick as a result of last year’s trade deadline Sauce Gardner deal, it’s interesting to think about the potential possibilities. For what’s it’s worth, SB Nation’s James Dator projected the New […]

To get more physical, the Colts executed a simple draft strategy

Sometimes things work out a certain way. It isn’t always planned, but it just makes sense. The draft board could have worked out a thousand different ways for the Indianapolis Colts over the weekend, but as it stands, a common theme emerged. Chris Ballard loves the trenches, but he also has an affinity for physicality. […]

What did ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. think of Colts 2026 draft class?

According to ESPN’s longtime draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. (subscription), he believes the Indianapolis Colts earned a pretty good mark for their 2026 NFL Draft class, giving Colts general manager Chris Ballard and company a B+ grade overall: Indianapolis Colts: B+ Top needs entering the draft: Edge rusher, wide receiver, linebacker, safety, offensive tackle The Colts […]

Grading the Colts Day 3 Draft Picks

Round 4, Pick 113: Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky Jay Robins’ Big Board Ranking: 109th Grade: B+ The Colts got a potential starter in Jalen Farmer at the beginning of Day 3. Farmer was one of the best athletes in the offensive line class and a 2 year starter for Kentucky. He uses his quick feet […]

Draft Contest results and Colts draft thoughts.

The draft contest this year was both ugly and beautiful. First, the ugly. There were only 21 entries this year. I thought we might get more entries by being on the main page, but the understood need to get all the draft information on the site, saw the post slip from the main page relatively […]

Colts 2026 NFL Draft class recap

The Indianapolis Colts had eight draft picks in this extended weekend’s 2026 NFL Draft. With no first round draft pick as a result of last year’s trade deadline Sauce Gardner blockbuster deal, the Colts weren’t initially slated to pick until the 47th overall pick in Round 2. However, with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis traded down […]