AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Steelers

Colts

Colts GM Chris Ballard said they explored some options in free agency, but ultimately felt uncomfortable with the amount of money that was being thrown around.  

“We thought there were some good players on the market and we dabbled in,” Ballard said via Andrew Walker.  “… we couldn’t get a price point to where we would be comfortable with what the player was going to give us.”

Ballard said the Colts’ comfort with their young players on the roster played a role in that decision.  

“We think our young players (will) continue to improve,” Ballard said. “This is what we believe in, and this is the path we’re going to go.”

• Ballard mentioned the team is still discussing a return with WR Dontrelle Inman.  (George Bremer)
• The Colts reportedly inquired about a trade for former Chiefs LB Dee Ford, but elected to save the draft pick and just sign LB Justin Houston in free agency instead.  (Adam Schefter)
• Indianapolis also reportedly bid in the range of $12.5 million per season for LB Preston Smith. (Tony Pauline) 

• Ian Rapoport reports that there is “nothing imminent” between the Colts and free agent RB Jay Ajayi after his visit on Wednesday, but the two sides are continuing to negotiate a possible deal. 

Jaguars

Jaguars HC Doug Marrone some of the things that stood out to him about newly signed QB Nick Foles. 

“The biggest thing for me was nothing stays with him,” Marrone tells Albert Breer. “He doesn’t get rattled. He knows where he’s going with the football. He’s great in the locker room. His teammates love him. Those were the constant things. … Some of them you can see on film, but some of them you can’t. It’s the relationships, how he is around the building. Things of that nature.

“Those are the things that stuck out. What’s amazing is, the consistency of all those sources that you’ve spoken to, they’re all different, all from different times, but after a while it becomes a pattern.”

Steelers

Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com doesn’t think Steelers GM Kevin Colbert or HC Mike Tomlin are on the hot seat, despite all that has transpired over the past year.

“Maybe Art Rooney II is different than his dad. I’ll wait to see proof of it,” Breer writes. “Short of a total disaster in 2019, I don’t see Pittsburgh blowing the operation up.”

• The Steelers met with West Virginia WRs David Sills and Gary Jennings.  (Aditi Kinkhabwala)