Franchise Opportunities in Indianapolis, IN

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts are expected to make additional quarterback maneuvers before the offseason ends, but they bolstered the position a bit with the signing of former Philadelphia Eagles backup Gardner Minshew.

Indianapolis holds the fourth overall pick in next month's NFL draft, with which it is expected to select a quarterback. But Minshew, an experienced, young veteran, gives the Colts some peace of mind at a position that was a source of constant problems in 2022.

Minshew, 26, reunites with first-year Colts coach Shane Steichen, who was the Eagles' offensive coordinator the past two seasons. Minshew started two games in place of injured Eagles starter Jalen Hurts last season and brings familiarity with Steichen's offensive principles to what is expected to be a young quarterback unit.

Minshew said Friday that Colts officials did not specify what his role would be but that he would be ready for anything.

"I really don't have any expectations," he said. "I've come here to work hard and to have fun."

Minshew has started 32 games in his four seasons, including 14 as a rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. He has thrown 44 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in his career, during which he has posted a 93.1 passer rating.

The Colts have more quarterback decisions to make, including what to do with veteran Nick Foles. He is under contract for one more season. The Colts also have 2021 draft pick Sam Ehlinger on their roster. Last year's original starter, Matt Ryan, was released Wednesday.

Indianapolis endured a great deal of turmoil at quarterback last season, with Ryan being benched twice, Foles suffering a season-ending injury and Ehlinger being promoted to starter before later being demoted.

Minshew becomes, arguably, the most viable quarterback on the roster. Foles is nearing the end of his career and Ehlinger has had very limited experience. Signing Minshew gives the Colts options if and when they draft a quarterback, providing the luxury of not immediately inserting the newcomer into the starting lineup.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts are widely expected to draft their quarterback of the future in April.

In the meantime, Indianapolis has found a veteran backup who can handle the starting role if a young quarterback isn’t ready to go right away.

The Colts have agreed to terms on a one-year, $3.5 million, fully-guaranteed deal that includes another $2 million possible in incentives with former Jaguars and Eagles quarterback Gardner Minshew, a league source confirmed to IndyStar on Thursday night.

Indianapolis released former starting quarterback Matt Ryan on Wednesday, picking up more than $17 million in cap savings, and although veteran Nick Foles remains on the roster, it’s likely Foles also will not be back after just one season with the Colts, leaving Sam Ehlinger as the only returning quarterback in Indianapolis.

Minshew fills a key role for new head coach Shane Steichen.

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For starters, the Colts need an experienced quarterback who can handle the starting role if a potential rookie isn’t ready right away, and Minshew has started 24 games over four seasons in the NFL, including lengthy stints with the Jaguars in 2019 and 2020.

More importantly, Minshew already knows Steichen’s playbook, the terminology and how the new Colts head coach puts a game plan together, making him the perfect quarterback to help tutor a young player in the offense, and to tutor the offense as a whole.

When a new head coach installs his system, it often helps to have veterans who know the ropes to help the rest of the team pick up the terminology and system quickly.

Unable to hold onto the starting role in Jacksonville despite throwing 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions over 20 starts, Minshew has spent the last two seasons as the backup quarterback behind Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia, making four starts. Minshew completed 62.5% of his passes in those starts for 1,102 yards, an average of 8.1 yards per attempt, seven touchdowns and four interceptions, going 1-3 in his four starts.

But just as importantly, Minshew's presence doesn't change the franchise's likely course of action in resetting the quarterback position with a rookie to develop.

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Colts owner Jim Irsay already declared the team's intention when Steichen was introduced, citing the new coach's track record of developing Hurts and Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert as one of the deciding factors in the hire.

“You just felt that Shane had a lot of that offensive magic, which is hard to find in this league,” Irsay said. “Offense, in my mind, can be a little more complex. It takes a lot more time to develop, knowing we’re going to have to find a young quarterback to develop, that’s a key factor.”

The task has gotten a little bit more difficult since Irsay said those words.

Indianapolis holds the No. 4 pick in April's draft, a selection that puts the Colts firmly in range to take one of the four quarterbacks expected to be taken in the first round: Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Florida's Anthony Richardson and Kentucky's Will Levis.

Two of those quarterbacks will almost certainly be off the board by the time the Colts pick.

Carolina, led now by former Colts head coach Frank Reich, pulled off a blockbuster trade with Chicago last week, leaping over the Colts and everybody else into the No. 1 pick. Barring a shocking pick by Houston, the quarterback-desperate Panthers and Texans will take passers with the No. 1 and No. 2 picks.

The possibility remains that Carolina and Houston leave the Colts with a rookie quarterback who needs time to develop. Richardson, in particular, is a raw prospect with outstanding physical tools who might need seasoning, and the same could be said for Levis, who played in pro-style offenses at Kentucky but struggled last year.

Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard didn't do anything to suggest that the Colts won't be taking a quarterback in April's draft.

But he did suggest that it's possible the Colts go through a transitional year, playing a veteran quarterback while the rookie develops behind him.

"If it works out that way?" Ballard said. "Yeah, it's definitely on the table."

The extra $2 million in incentives baked into Minshew's contract would come into play then.

And even though Minshew's $3.5 million is guaranteed, the Colts managed to find a capable veteran option for a little less money than similar backups around the league.

Former Indianapolis quarterback Jacoby Brissett signed a one-year, $8 million deal in Washington that included $7.5 million guaranteed. Carolina signed veteran Andy Dalton to a two-year, $10 million deal that includes $8 million guaranteed and could rise to $17 million with incentives. Former Washington backup Taylor Heinicke got a two-year, $14 million deal from Atlanta that includes $6.32 million in guarantees and could go higher with incentives.

Minshew's deal is far less than that, signaling at least a temporary end to the Colts paying significant prices for veteran quarterback play. Indianapolis gave Brissett a two-year, $30 million deal when he stepped in for a retiring Andrew Luck in 2019, paid Philip Rivers $25 million to take the Colts to the playoffs in 2020, handed Carson Wentz $21 million in 2021 and paid Ryan $24 million last season, plus another $12 million guaranteed that made an impact on this year's cap. Indianapolis carries $18 million in dead money after releasing Ryan, and a move to release Foles would put another $1.5 million in dead money on the cap.

Assuming the Colts are drafting a quarterback in April, Indianapolis won't be paying anywhere close to those prices in 2023, an important consideration for a roster that has significant needs at wide receiver, offensive line and cornerback moving forward.

All of those moves are still likely forthcoming.

But the Colts have the veteran quarterback they needed.

Who they're drafting to learn from Minshew, and potentially play in front of him, is the big question.

The Dallas Cowboys remained largely quiet in the first 24 hours or so of the negotiation window -- that is, until Tuesday afternoon.

Dallas is acquiring cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Colts in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round pick, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported. Rapoport reported later Tuesday that the Cowboys are re-signing linebacker Leighton Vander Esch to a two-year, $11 million contract.

The 2019 Defensive Player of the Year has been a bit of a nomad in recent seasons, moving from New England to Carolina via in-season trade in 2021 before signing with Indianapolis in 2022. In both seasons, Gilmore proved he still has plenty left in the tank, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2021 and playing at a high level in 2022. Pro Football Focus ranked Gilmore as the ninth-best cornerback in the NFL in 2022 according to defensive grade, which included a coverage grade of 81.1. His 11 passes defensed, two interceptions and 66 tackles support this evaluation.

Gilmore played a key part in a Colts defense that quietly compiled a solid season, thanks to the efforts of players like Gilmore, Rodney McLeod and DeForest Buckner. Sensing that the Colts likely won't expect to contend for a title in 2023, Indianapolis capitalized on Gilmore's remaining value, sending him to Dallas for a Day 3 pick.

With Trevon Diggs and 2022 breakout defender DaRon Bland, Dallas doesn't necessarily have a massive need at the position, but it could certainly use another experienced player who can still cover receivers at a high level. The Cowboys believe that is precisely what they've gained in Gilmore, a Pro Bowl-caliber player who can do everything the team wants in Dan Quinn's defensive system.

Tuesday's addition of Gilmore and re-signing of safety Donovan Wilson signals a change in approach for Dallas, which focused heavily on offense in the last two years while enjoying surprisingly positive production from a defense that ended up being the team's strength. With this in mind, Dallas is doubling down on defense with the hopes it can take some pressure off the offense and carry the Cowboys to victory.

Dallas' decision to re-sign Vander Esch falls in line with this change.

Gilmore certainly brings winning experience to Dallas, his third new home in three years.

INDIANAPOLIS – Gardner Minshew II has arrived in his third NFL city in five years eager to extend his working relationship with Shane Steichen and open to whatever that entails.

“I really don’t have any expectations,’’ he said Friday. “I’ve come here to work hard and to have fun.

“If we do that every day, we’re going to end up in a good place.’’

It’s much too soon to project where that might be, or how Minshew figures into helping carry a team that finished with a seven-game losing streak and a 4-12-1 record last season to a place more acceptable.

The Indianapolis Colts are in major reboot mode at quarterback, and that began with the release of Matt Ryan earlier this week. It was expected, freed up $17.2 million in salary-cap space and assured the team will have its seventh different opening-day starter in September.

That might be whichever quarterback of the future general manager Chris Ballard selects with a top-4 pick in the April 27 draft.

Or it might be Minshew if the team believes the incoming rookie would benefit from sitting and learning behind a veteran before being exposed to NFL defenses. That’s a very real option after the Colts signed Minshew to a one-year contract worth a guaranteed $3.5 million that could add another $2 million if play-time incentives are triggered.

Minshew isn’t wading into the What if? discussions.

“First off, assuming is always a dangerous game,’’ he said. “Like I said, I’ve come here to work hard and to help the team in any way I can. So, whatever that role is, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.’’

Minshew’s four-year career – the first two in Jacksonville, the past two in Philadelphia – exposed him to both aspects of the position. He started 24 of 34 games with the Jaguars – an 8-16 record with 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions – only to be traded when they selected Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 pick in the ’21 draft.

The last two seasons with the Eagles, he worked as Jalen Hurts’ backup and was limited to nine games and four starts.

“It went by fast, I guess,’’ Minshew said. “A lot of fun, a lot of learning. Really looking forward to being able to use the experience I’ve had the last four years moving forward.’’

The Colts haven’t commented on Minshew’s acquisition, but it made too much sense for it not to occur. They were in the market for a reliable bridge to a rookie quarterback and Minshew was a valuable part of Steichen’s offense that past two seasons.

“Fired up to be working with Shane again,’’ Minshew said. “He’s a guy I have a ton of respect for, not only as a coach but just a guy.

“I’m really excited for how he is going to be as a head coach. You have to be on the same page, quarterback and playcaller. He does a very good job of kind of defining what we need, what he expects and what he wants out of each play. He’s very detailed and when you do that, it kind of takes some of the guesswork out and lets you play a little more freely within the rules, if that makes sense.’’

The Steichen/Minshew history can’t be overstated.

Minshew has been in the room the past two years as Steichen has sharpened the offense he and Nick Sirianni built, and the one Steichen will install in Indy. That intimate knowledge will prove invaluable if Minshew opens the season as the starter and as he helps indoctrinate a rookie quarterback.

It also should prove beneficial that Minshew has history with Colts’ first-year coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. Cooter was an offensive consultant with the Eagles in 2021.

“I have a tone of respect for how he sees the game,’’ Minshew said. “I really look forward to working with him. He’s obviously been around, seen a lot of things.

“I love how he sees the game and it’s going to be a lot of fun to work with him and Shane.’’

Minshew mentioned two offensive pillars for Steichen’s offense.

“Explosive plays and turnovers,’’ he said. “If you look at who wins games in the NFL – teams that win the turnover battle and teams that win the explosive-play battle. If you do those things, you give yourself a real good chance.’’

Minshew provided both with the Eagles. He averaged 8.1 yards per attempt and 13 yards per completion while tossing seven touchdowns against four interceptions.

Again, Minshew spoke glowingly about Steichen.

“One of the biggest things about Shane is he’s just straight up. He tells it like it is. He’s himself all the time,’’ he said. “I think that allows for open and honest communication, especially in the quarterback room and that’s imperative.

“The connection between the quarterback and the playcaller, you really have to understand not only what he’s calling but why he’s calling it. I think that’s huge.’’

Although Minshew is new to town, he’s familiar with how the Colts operate. The Jaguars selected him in the sixth-round of the 2019 draft, but Minshew thought he might end up elsewhere.

“I was fired up to come here and work with Shane,’’ he said. “This is a place I thought was a possibility I could’ve came in the draft. I had some great meetings with Chris Ballard, and Nick Sirianni was actually here at the time.

“I love how Chris Ballard builds teams. They always have high character, hard-working teams that play hard and love football, and that shows up on tape.

“I’ve always had a lot of respect for how they do things here.’’

You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.

For anyone lamenting a cold, dismal March, I have excellent news: It's about to get worse.

The weather may improve, but the local vibe is set for a titanic shift to the emotional, the sad and the angsty, as nine bands born of and molded by the '00s emo music revival are set to perform in Indianapolis within an 80-day span starting at the end of May.

The summer of sadness will be bookended by two of the all-time greats, Death Cab for Cutie and Jimmy Eat World, performing outdoors in the heart of the city.

Last week's column:Appleton: A Hoosier sweep of several top Oscars? It could happen

Although the genre has faded, and its paragon bands have grown in complexity and depth, I'm morbidly pleased to share this list of summer shows sure to make millennials realize the feelings we had at 16 weren't as complex as we once thought.

Death Cab for Cutie

May 31 TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park

We kick off of course with the greatest of the emo genre. The alpha and the omega. The best and worst of our feelings in band form.

Death Cab played a solid set at the All IN Music & Arts Festival in September, but unfortunately, the memory that stuck with me from that show was frontman Ben Gibbard waving off the crowd for clapping horribly off-beat.

We won't be getting the double nostalgia sandwich of Gibbard's The Postal Service and Death Cab playing their seminal albums, "Give Up" and "Transatlanticism," back-to-back. That tour is largely skipping the Midwest.

But we do get the modern version of Death Cab, which brings a more diverse sound.

Paramore

June 5 Gainbridge Fieldhouse

A group known for bringing positive energy, even to the sad, teenaged lyrics of its early music, will be up next. Like Death Cab, Paramore has outgrown the emo label with more than a decade of solid writing and performing outside the genre.

But also like Death Cab, the band shows flashes of that early melancholy. I have somehow never seen Paramore live, but that will soon be rectified.

Review of huge show last weekend:Blake Shelton takes Indy audience for smooth drive through country air

WonderRoad

June 17-18 Garfield Park

Indianapolis's contemporary rock festival, WonderRoad, features a few emo veterans.

Saturday headliner Weezer may not be closely identified with the genre, as it was already a mainstream hitmaker by the mid-'90s, but the group did as much to lay the groundwork for post-millennium melodramatic rock as any.

In 1996, the group released "Pinkerton," an emo album before the term regained significance featuring tracks written by frontman Rivers Cuomo after he went back to college and got sad.

But it's all good stuff at a Weezer show. There's no wasted motion up there.

On Sunday, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness will have what you need. The Wilderness is a solid modern band in its own right, but McMahon pulls heavily from his two emo powerhouse projects, Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin, to make this a millennial can't-miss set.

Jack's Mannequin's "Everything in Transit" is a perfect album. It came out the summer before senior year, and we would blare it at the pizza shop I worked in while making dough every morning.

Dashboard Confessional

June 17 TCU Amphitheater

Another pillar of '00s emo was announced Monday, as Dashboard Confessional will open for Counting Crows in June.

In a cruel twist of fate, we will have to choose between this show and the first day of WonderRoad. An intrepid fan could theoretically catch Dashboard then drive to Garfield Park for Weezer, but that would be as costly as it is ambitious.

Dashboard are the true lords of the sappy love song wing of the genre and worth a look if you're skipping WonderRoad.

Fall Out Boy

July 16 Ruoff Music Center

Tickets are growing scarce for one of the year's biggest shows, so this is not one to wait on for my fellow sad kids.

Truth be told, I've never been a huge Fall Out Boy fan. But I am looking forward to seeing what the band can do in front of what I'm guessing will be 20,000+ in attendance at Ruoff.

Another big Indianapolis show:Kiss announces Indianapolis show as part of latest farewell tour

Sad Summer Festival

July 22 TCU Amphitheater

Two familiar bands for mid-aughts teenagers here: Taking Back Sunday and Motion City Soundtrack.

About five years ago, I saw Taking Back Sunday open for Dashboard Confessional at a park amphitheater down the street from my high school. It was a dream show filled with nightmare moments, as every bathroom trip and beer run involved making small talk with people I hadn't seen since high school.

The festival's title tells me everything I need to know about this one.

Jimmy Eat World

Aug. 18 TCU Amphitheater

An incredible show was quietly announced earlier this week, as Jimmy Eat World will play with Manchester Orchestra and Middle Kids in August. All three are excellent bands.

Jimmy Eat World playing "Bleed American" live is an out-of-body experience. It's so loud you feel it in your spleen. It's one of the five moments that comes to my mind when I conceptualize live music in general, and that's after seeing hundreds of bands in 25 years as a music fan.

Do not miss this show. I've already marked this as my birthday present. I will not be working that night.

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Rory Appleton is the pop culture reporter and columnist at IndyStar. Contact him at 317-552-9044 and [email protected], or follow him on Twitter at @RoryDoesPhonics.