Where will Arian Foster land? That is a question that will likely be answered in the next several weeks. Last week, Pro Football Rumors analyzed potential landing spots for running back Arian Foster after his departure from the Houston Texans. Taking a deeper look, the Indianapolis Colts should be the team leading the way for Foster’s talents.
Arian Foster Should Sign with the Colts
Why the Colts are a Good Fit
The Indianapolis Colts need a running back in a big way. Currently the depth chart for the Colts consists of Frank Gore, Robert Turbin, and Jordan Todman, respectively. Not necessarily the most intimidating “3-headed monster” for opposing defenses. With Andrew Luck coming off of his worst season as a professional, and probably his entire playing career at any level, the Colts will need a spark of some sort. Foster could come into camp with this team and compete for a starting role immediately. Of course his injury concerns are legitimate and need to be taken seriously, but his ability to play the running back position at an elite level is also legitimate, which makes him a serious candidate for the Colts. Prior to last season, Foster was performing as one of the top running backs in the NFL. Totaling over 1,200 rushing yards, over 300 receiving yards, and accounting for 13 total touchdowns, Foster was a dominant force in only 13 games in 2014. When this season begins, Foster will have reached the dreaded 30 years of age mark and will likely not be bringing those kinds of overall numbers to the table any longer; however, he still may be able to be effective with his receiving ability and yards per carry. Bringing in Foster to go along with veteran Frank Gore could give Foster the protection from injury he needs while also giving Gore the rest he needs. That combination may not be the “thunder and thunder” that the Tennessee Titans are so hopeful for, but could be a decent enough tandem to make a playoff run.
The Depth Chart
Jordan Todman has barely played at all in his three NFL seasons, amassing just over 100 total carries. Although he has shown explosive, play-making ability, which is likely much of the reason why he was brought into the Colts’ organization, Todman’s consistency to be a full-time contributor has not been demonstrated early in his career. Robert Turbin has shown some consistency throughout his four NFL seasons with a 4.0 yards per carry average, however he has not established himself as any kind of explosive threat. With a long carry of only 26 yards, Turbin is more of a fullback-halfback hybrid who really needs his offensive line to perform well for him to make plays; unfortunately, the offensive line for the Colts was one of the team’s biggest weaknesses last season. The Colts know what they have in Turbin, but he will not be enough to get them over last year’s woes and help Andrew Luck’s offense get back to where it needs to be. Last but not least, the veteran Frank Gore will lead the charge once again for Indianapolis. Last year, Gore just missed the coveted 1,000 yard rushing mark (967) for the first time since 2010, when he only played in 11 games. Looking past the rushing totals, Gore’s 3.7 yards per carry and 60.4 yards per game were the lowest of his very lengthy and productive career. Not having rushed for over 100 yards in any game last season and clearly losing a step in the explosive department, Gore still managed to do a decent job in 2015 without much, if any, help from his offensive line. Now at age 33, Gore cannot be expected to see the 260 rushing attempts he did a year ago, but will surely still be effective if he is given some help and some rest.
The Salary Cap
With nearly $16 million in cap space, Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson has the opportunity to take some chances over the next several weeks leading into training camp. Having been set to make $6.5 million this coming season, with a potential cap hit of $8.7 million, not only will Foster not touch those numbers in 2016, we know why he was cut. Likely to get a one- or two-year deal, Foster will probably receive between $1.2 million and $1.5 million per year with very little guaranteed and incentives that could lead to a total of approximately $2 million. If this is the case, the Colts will have plenty of room for him on their roster, and just as importantly, under their cap.
Summing It All Up
The Indianapolis Colts need Arian Foster and Arian Foster needs the Indianapolis Colts. If an organization can bring in an experienced veteran, who may still have some gas left in the tank (and for a cheap price), then why not at least give him a shot? If the 2016 Foster experiment fails, the Colts lose nothing except for some minor money. However, if the Colts are willing to take a chance and are successful, then not only does their offense have an increased chance to get back to its expected form, but this team will also make a legitimate run for a division title.
