Frank Gore, Andre Johnson Signings Give Colts Short- and Long-Term Boost

"The Indianapolis Colts got older in free agency. Why would they do that?"

For the most part, the reaction to the Colts' signing of running back Frank Gore and wide receiver Andre Johnson was extremely positive, whether it was casual fans recognizing former Pro Bowlers or others seeing their fits in Indianapolis. But for a select few, the above was a very real criticism.

Take this piece by CBS Sports' Pete Prisco, for example, somebody whose football opinion I respect and one of the few national columnists who spends a large chunk of time watching film:

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Getting older is never something you want to do as a team. Yet we had the Colts signing Frank Gore, who turns 32 in May, to a contract and they are in pursuit of receiver Andre Johnson. The Colts got rid of Reggie Wayne because he couldn't run and Johnson has slowed down in a big way as well. Why not get younger players to grow with Andrew Luck? ... I know Chuck Pagano and Pep Hamilton want to run the ball more, and Gore is a tough inside runner, but the move to sign Gore isn't one that I would have made.

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There's a lot to Prisco's points, but the gist of it is something that is a common criticism (a term I use lightly, these moves have been lauded by most): The Colts risked too much money on older players.

In a sense, there is truth to be had there.

Andre Johnson just had his worst full season as a professional and is turning 34 this year.

Frank Gore just had his worst full season as a professional and is turning 32 this year.

There is risk attached to both players, whether it be production hitting a wall or injury risk due to the beating their bodies have taken. Seven million dollars per year for a 34-year-old wide receiver is high, putting Johnson in the top 20 average salaries in the league for a wide receiver. Four million dollars a year for Frank Gore is just as high in today's depressed running back market, putting him in the top 10 among running backs.

For older players, that jumps off the page.

But there's another side to each of those arguments.

Johnson just had his worst professional season, but he still caught 85 balls for over 900 yards, something that the Colts receivers simply haven't done.

	85 Receptions	900 Yards	Both
Under Peyton Manning	Marvin Harrison (7), Reggie Wayne (4)	Marvin Harrison (8), Reggie Wayne (8), Pierre Garcon (1), Brandon Stokley (1),	Marvin Harrison (7), Reggie Wayne (4)
Under Andrew Luck	Reggie Wayne (1)	Reggie Wayne (1), T.Y. Hilton (2)	Reggie Wayne (1)

Gore just had his worst professional season, but he still rushed for over 1,100 yards and 4.3 yards per carry. Here is the list of 1,000-yard rushers the Colts have had with Andrew Luck at quarterback: None.

Both players still have plenty left in the tank to give, even if they are no longer in their primes.

Now, nobody should expect Gore and Johnson to each get over 1,000 yards and be Pro Bowlers next year. Neither will receive the same amount of touches they did at their previous locations, where both were focal points of the offense.

But that's the second point: The Colts don't need, and are not expecting, Gore or Johnson to have All-Pro seasons.

If the Colts were signing Johnson to be a No. 1 receiver and Gore to be a bell-cow, 300-carry starter, I'd be right alongside the critics criticizing their age. But they aren't. Gore and Johnson were signed to fill very specific roles that both fill short-term needs and leave the Colts flexible for long-term development.

Johnson's signing was all about bringing a veteran presence to the receiving group. Yes, the Colts wanted to get older at receiver. Prior to the Johnson signing, the Colts' top three wide receivers were T.Y. Hilton (25 years old with 1 3/4 seasons of starting experience), Donte Moncrief (21 years old, two NFL starts) and Duron Carter (23 years old, zero NFL experience).

The Colts desperately needed a receiver to start alongside Hilton, preferably a possession receiver who can be a safety blanket for Luck. What better option was there than Johnson? Like Bleacher Report's Cian Fahey said last week, Johnson's all-around athleticism and veteran savvy in space means he can still be very productive.

The Colts aren't counting on Johnson to be "The Guy." That's still T.Y. Hilton. They aren't counting on him to be the long-term starter. That's Donte Moncrief and/or Duron Carter, if they develop as the Colts hope they will. The Colts need Johnson to be the bridge as the future approaches.

It's a similar story for Gore, although the future is not yet on the roster.

The Colts need a running game to pair with Luck, but spending a large amount of guaranteed money on a young back like DeMarco Murray would be silly. The offense is going to revolve around Luck and the passing game, and a running back by committee situation is most likely until a drafted back pans out.

With the 2015 draft being deep in running back talent, the smart course of action was to draft a back in the second, third or fourth round and pair him with a veteran on a short-term contract. The latter is complete, now the Colts just have to go get the future.

If anything illustrates this, it's the two veterans' reported contracts.

Both deals are three-year contracts, which is short in and of itself. But Gore's contract is basically a team option after the first two years, with no guarantee on year three, and Johnson's deal will likely have a similar structure.

UPDATE: Johnson's contract is very similar in structure, with zero dead money coming after the first two years.

Player	2015 Cap Hit (Dead $)	2016 Cap Hit	2017 Cap Hit
Andre Johnson	$7.5M ($10M)	$7.5M ($2.5M)	$6M
Frank Gore	$4.5 M ($6.5M)	$4M ($3M)	$3.5M
Total	$12M ($16.5M)	$11.5 ($5.5M)	$9.5M ($0)

The plan isn't to keep either player around long-term. They are short-term contributors and bridges to the future.

It's no coincidence that Andrew Luck's rookie contract (after the team's fifth-year option) will expire after two years.

That is the linchpin that holds general manager Ryan Grigson's plan together. With Luck, T.Y. Hilton, Anthony Castonzo, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen all needing contract extensions in the next two years, the Colts had to plan ahead. Signing players like Jeremy Maclin, Torrey Smith, DeMarco Murray or Ndamukong Suh to more expensive, long-term deals wouldn't have been prudent.

Instead, the Colts are doing exactly what good teams do: Building around the draft. By signing veterans to short-term deals, the Colts are betting on players like Moncrief, Jack Mewhort and Jonathan Newsome to develop into core players, along with the potential 2015 draft picks.

Grigson's offseason really hinges on a strong draft, not free agents, and that's the way it should be.

Gore and Johnson?

They're just teaching the young guys, providing stellar veteran leadership and holding down the starting spots until the young players can develop.

It's the perfect role, and it's suited for the team's best interest in both the short- and long-term.