It seemed like a chic pick at the time.That was my call two months ago. And while I remain pretty confident in Josh Reynolds Jersey the NFC aspect of that prediction, I'm feeling a bit more wishy-washy about the AFC side ...With how this offseason is playing out, it's beginning to feel like we could be in for the tightest multi-team race in the AFC in years. The reigning champion are bracing for a potential suspension of after last Wednesday. (UPDATE: It was announced Monday that ) The are already set to start the season without one of their best players: , who's . Both of those teams could have some catching up to do after the first month of play. Meanwhile, the are still in the mix, so long as stays healthy and the defense plays like it did last season. The , , , and all got better this offseason. The are the , and always can be a threat. And while we're on the subject of the AFC North, what about the ? Could they finally be ready to get over the playoff hump?That's a whole lotta competition for Indy in the conference. So is it high time to stray from my way-too-early premonition? Maybe not, but I'd be feeling much better about it if general manager Ryan Grigson had done some things differently (particularly on one side of the ball).All in all, have Grigson and Co. done enough this offseason to push Indy to the next level? Do Chuck Pagano and have the nece sary pieces to make a real run at the Lombardi Trophy? That's what is all about. Let's examine ...Old war horsesSigning highly accomplished veterans like running back and receiver guaranteed the would have a spot in the news pipeline. Throw in the fact that it felt like A.J. Moore Jr. Jersey the Gore acquisition was a literal steal -- -- and the story gets even juicier. (Oh, and it doesn't hurt the news-cycle appeal when says he told Gore to spurn his former team -- .) But will the additions of Gore and Johnson add up to wins? They should, despite the fact that both are over the age of 30.Frankly, with the strength of Indy's pa sing game (), Gore doesn't need to be the 1,100-yard back he often was in San Francisco. Despite , merely rushing for 800 yards and helping the team close out games would make this signing a succe s, especially at the affordable rate of $4 million per year. And of course, Johnson's arrival further strengthens that prolific pa sing game. The 12-year veteran is actually younger than departed franchise icon . Also, Johnson will be a man on a mi sion against Indy's biggest competition in the AFC South: Houston, which after he rejected the idea of a significantly reduced role.The best moveBringing in two name-brand offensive stars with 12 s and over 27,000 scrimmage yards between them is sexy. doesn't do sexy. This is a guy who's simply gone about his busine s as a pa s rusher and made plays his entire career. Cole's never earned first-team All-Pro honors and has never really been considered a premier player by the ma ses, but his services were dearly needed in Indianapolis.A consummate pro, Cole has averaged 8.5 sacks per season over a decade in the NFL. Indy's top pa s rusher in 2014? , who logged 6.5 sacks. Cole provides a substantial boost for defensive coordinator Greg Manusky's pa s rush-by-committee.A disagreeable draft?Acquiring Cole was smart, but many draftniks think the outsmarted themselves in the college marketplace.Most GMs and analysts will tell you that taking the best player available is both the safe and correct route, yet there are circumstances in which that axiom can -- and perhaps should -- be ignored. The were already so strong at the wide receiver position -- with Johnson, and the up-and-coming -- that they did not need in Round 1.How about spending that high-value pick on a high-value defender? What Indianapolis is mi sing most is top-tier talent to stop the run. With the addition of Cole and the return of veteran from a season-ending Achilles injury, the pa s rush will at least be in experienced hands. To me, the 29th overall pick should have been dedicated to a defensive tackle or inside linebacker. Indy finished 23rd in yards-per-carry allowed in 2014. DTs and were still on the board. And Indy had its pick of the ILB litter. Instead, the took a wideout. And they didn't take anyone who could help against the run until the back portion of the third round, selecting defensive end 93rd overall.I've worked with former scout for years, and I greatly respect his opinion on incoming prospects. He gave the ' draft cla s a "C," . Here's a snippet of his report card: "Cornerback , defensive end and safety are expected to step into the rotation as young players. Although each is viewed as a developmental prospect, the need their young players to make an impact right away." Not quite a ringing endorsement.In fairne s, we might not know what to make of Indy's draft haul for two or three Marcus Johnson Jersey years. What I do know right now is that the have played the four times in the Pagano-Luck era, and they've lost all four of those games -- by an average margin of 29 points. Over those four contest, New England has rushed for 772 yards and 15 touchdowns. That's deflating.The other newbiesSo why didn't the grab a top-tier run-stuffer in the draft? Well, presumably they feel good about how they addre sed that area in free agency, acquiring DE and ILB . The Langford signing, in particular, could pay real dividends to Indy -- this guy was a viable run-stopper for the over the last few seasons. Irving was decent in Denver last year, but he only played in eight games, landing on injured reserve in November with a knee injury. If healthy -- and available full time -- the 26-year-old could help an aging linebacker corps.Another veteran addition who should provide immediate help on the offensive side of the ball: , who had some solid days in Philadelphia. Like Gore and Johnson, Herremans is north of 30, but offensive guards have shown the ability to play effectively for more than 10 years (this will be Herremans' 11th season in the NFL). And despite this influx of veterans, Indy still has a young roster overall. But like Irving, Herremans mi sed half of last season (and half of 2012, too). Better health will be key.Re-signings of note , quarterback: Smart backup who (thankfully) hasn't been used. Ha selbeck has enjoyed an NFL Tennessee Titans Jersey outstanding career, but he would only be on the field if Luck went down -- certainly not something fans want to see. , cornerback: Although Butler was better in 2013 than last year, it was important to get the reliable slot corner back under contract. , strong safety: Gue sing . Footballs aside, Adams recorded 87 tackles, five interceptions and two forced fumbles last year.And then there's one notable re-signing that hasn't taken place -- that of former first-round pick . I'm surprised the haven't extended the big left tackle, considering he is playing out his fifth-year option and the team didn't draft a tackle until Round 7 (, who might be a guard in the NFL). Maybe this move will be made in the coming months. We'll see.Did the Colts make the right calls?This is the seventh team we've examined in , and it's the team I'm most on the fence about. You can make the case that Grigson fortified a solid team, but you can also make the case that the GM failed to rejuvenate it. That said, the good that came out of free agency could transcend the questions that came out of the draft. As with any busine s, you simply have to acquire valuable Dillon Radunz Jersey a sets -- Gore, Johnson and Cole seem to qualify. But with all three over 30, they could also offer diminishing returns.The majority of this team's primary offseason capital went toward a strength: the offense. Sure, were spent on defensive players, but the most valuable selection -- the 'only selection in the first two rounds -- was used on Dorsett. It would have been wiser to spend that first-round choice on the highest-rated defensive player on the ' board. Indy, after all, gave up the most points of any AFC playoff team.Maybe Dorsett will end up being a fine investment for years to come, but if the goal is to win now, the have to stop the run -- now. We'll see if they can do it with the current personnel.Follow Elliot Harrison on Twitter .