Colts GM Chris Ballard comments on headliners of free agency haul, upcoming QB competition

NFL: Scouting Combine — Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Colts made a recent surprising splash in free agency, and longtime GM Chris Ballard provided some interesting commentary and analysis.

On ‘Behind the Colts’ produced by the Indianapolis Colts, longtime general manager Chris Ballard commented on the headliners of his recent surprising 2025 free agency haul, the team’s resulting upcoming quarterback competition, and his newfound offseason flexibility:

Camryn Bynum, Safety

“We liked him coming out of college,” Ballard said. “We saw the instincts. We saw the ball skills, which has absolutely translated to our league. He takes the ball away, and he has a nose for it, but also he’s a good athlete. He’s a good tackler. He’s a good offset to (fellow starting safety) Nick Cross.”

Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs

Charvarius Ward, Cornerback

“Been following him for a long time and watching him throughout his career,” Ballard added. “Played at a very high level and every stop along the way. Knowing that we needed to add another corner with experience that was a good fit for what Lou (Anarumo) wanted to do in terms of playing a little more man coverage. We thought he was an excellent fit for us.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to get him and the fit. He gives us a corner that I think can match up really well against good players.”

Daniel Jones and the Upcoming QB Competition

“Competition brings out the best of anybody,” Ballard noted. “It’s a competitive league. We’re not just bringing in anybody. It had to be somebody that’s really going to be able to challenge Anthony (Richardson), and I think it’s going to go both ways.”

“Anthony will challenge Daniel also.”

“Between Daniel and Anthony, you’re going to see a really good competition. It’s going to be a spirited competition, but I also think it’s going to be one where they help each other to grow too.”

“And so we thought Daniel’s skill-set, and Anthony’s skill-set. There’s a lot of similarities there. So offensively, I think that’s going to help our offensive staff, so okay, we don’t have to make these wholesale changes with one guy or the other.”

“We got to make the best decision for the team. Whatever the outcome is, the outcome is based on performance.”

“Excited about both of them. Excited to get Daniel in the building. I think he’s a really good fit for what we want to do, and who he is as a person, and who he can be as a player.”

Newfound Offseason Flexibility

“No question (with) the secondary (signings),” concluded Ballard. “It doesn’t force us to go after or take a guy high if we don’t have him valued that way. It does offer some flexibility. We got work to do. I mean there’s still some free agents out there that we’ve got our eye on.”

“You know with Bynum, Ward, and quarterback, sometimes, it works out. Sometimes, it doesn’t. This year, it did.”