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Tight end Jack Doyle and the Indianapolis Colts aren’t done with each other. Doyle is reportedly signing a contract with the Colts to continue his career, the team announced on Tuesday evening.
Mike Garafolo had the details on the length of the deal:
Jack Doyle's deal with the Colts: Three years, $19 million base value with another $2 million in incentives, source says.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 8, 2017
Andrew Luck doesn’t necessarily have tons of weapons, but he’ll surely be happy that the team is able to keep their tight end. Doyle went to high school in Indiana and finally had a breakout year for his hometown team in 2016. Even with Dwayne Allen on the roster, Doyle recorded 59 catches for 584 yards and five touchdowns while appearing in all 16 games.
Doyle was second on the team in receiving yards, and was a clear favorite of Luck’s receiving the second most targets behind deep threat T.Y. Hilton. The Colts have had a particularly hard time making good free agent pick ups in recent years, so to keep a talent like Doyle should make Luck happy.
The 26-year-old out of Western Kentucky went undrafted before landing with the Colts in 2013 and saw limited time in his first three seasons.
From 2013-15, Doyle was targeted a total of 43 times. Last year alone he saw 75 targets and surpassed Allen on the depth chart by the end of the season. At 6’6, 275-pounds, Doyle brings a useful blend of speed and size to go along with his blocking abilities.
There was some chatter the Colts weren’t going to be able to keep him in the days leading up to free agency with the IndyStar reporting the two sides weren’t close to a deal.
It also appears the Colts are taking a new direction under new GM Chris Ballard. Many of the old signings are gone, and they’re keeping a younger talent such as Doyle:
Colts makeover:
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) March 7, 2017
Robert Mathis, 36-retired
Pat McAfee, 29-retired
Joe Reitz, 31-retired
D'Qwell Jackson, 33-cut
Mike Adams, 35-won't return.
Doyle played in 2016 on a one-year restricted free agent tender that paid him $1.6 million, but his value has soared since then. Doyle was certainly one of the headliners in a small group of notable tight end free agents — including Martellus Bennett, Jared Cook and Jordan Cameron — but his potential is only just beginning to show.