Chris Ballard

C+

Top 48% — above averageCVI

D+

Bottom 30%Sentiment

—

Fan Verdict

Grade this GM::

Should Chris Ballard be kept, fired, or extended?

Transactions

Graded

Fan Votes

9 years

Tenure

League Comparison

#28

Sentiment Rank

of 32 GMs

#14

Most Active

37 moves

Contract Value

C+

Fair market contracts

OverpayFair ValueGreat Value

Indianapolis Colts' contract spending this season has been roughly in line with what the market dictates — no major steals, but no egregious overpays either. Across 32 contracts, 13 grade out as good value and 7 look like overpays based on comparable deals around the league. The best bang-for-the-buck deal was Cam Taylor-Britt (A+) at $1.4M/yr — getting defensive back production well above the price point. The priciest commitment relative to production was Devin Veresuk (D-) at $1.0M/yr — the linebacker market may have been richer than the on-field return suggests. The spending approach is neither aggressive nor conservative — a wait-and-see approach from a cap perspective.

Public Sentiment

D+

Below-average reception

NegativeMixedPositive

Indianapolis Colts' 2026 moves under Chris Ballard have drawn significant criticism from fans and media alike. Of 37 graded moves, 16 landed well with the fanbase, 9 drew mixed reactions, and 12 were viewed negatively. The standout move was bringing in Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (A+), which generated the most positive buzz. The most questioned decision was the Bill Murray cut (F), which drew the sharpest criticism. The fanbase remains split — some moves look promising while others need time to prove their worth.