Chris Ballard Makes A Rare Early Move As Colts Sign Cam...
Chris Ballard Makes A Rare Early Move As Colts Sign Camryn Bynum
In the early hours of free agency, shortly after the start of the legal tampering period, Colts fans witnessed something truly rare: the Colts making a fairly big move and signing former Vikings safety Camryn Bynum to a 4-year deal worth $60 million.
Bynum, who was drafted 125th overall in the 4th round of the 2021 NFL Draft, started all 17 games in each of the last three seasons for Minnesota. During his time with the Vikings, Bynum recorded 8 interceptions with 28 passes defended, forced 3 fumbles and recovered 4, while racking up 217 solo tackles, as well as 5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The move likely spells the end of Julian Blackmon’s time in the Circle City, with Bynum expected to slide into the starting role alongside Nick Cross.
Per James Boyd of The Athletic and The Fan Morning Show, Bynum’s deal is the most money Chris Ballard has spent on an outside free agent since he came to Indianapolis. It comes after Ballard suggested to the media that he might reevaluate his team-building approach that traditionally saw the Colts standing by on Day One of free agency. It’s not enough to know if Ballard has really changed his ways, but it’s certainly a start.
During the Monday edition of The Ride With JMV, Stephen Holder of ESPN joined and gave his thoughts on Ballard being active this early in free agency.
“I think it’s very notable, and if you are looking for the new Chris Ballard; I’m not saying this is a franchise-changing move, I’m not going to oversell this, but if you are looking for indications that he’s going about things a little differently, this is a big indication…You have never seen this man do this, absolutely never seen him do this. He has drafted a couple of safety’s with early draft picks, which is resources and that counts, but you have never seen Chris Ballard, general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, go out there and give a safety a $60 million contract, or any defensive back for that matter. That is different, that tells us something. Now, it’s not enough, and it doesn’t mean they’re on a path to the playoffs all of a sudden; all I’m saying is that is a very big indicator for me. Now, it boils down to what else [does Ballard] have in this plan of his, and can [he] execute it.”
Listen to JMV’s full conversation with Stephen Holder of ESPN down below, and tune into The Ride With JMV weekdays from 3-6pm on 93.5/107.5 The Fan!
Chris Ballard Makes A Rare Early Move As Colts Sign Camryn Bynum was originally published on rone1075thefan.staging.go.ione.nyc