Whether or not the Indianapolis Colts are going to make an addition at safety remains to be seen, but the free agent options at that position dwindled on Thursday with John Johnson re-signing with the Los Angeles Rams.
If there is one position where it still makes sense for the Colts to add to it is at safety. In addition to providing additional competition for Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas for that starting free safety role, depth is a need as well with Daniel Scott out for the season with an Achilles injury.
Over Johnson’s seven-year career, he has been a fairly sound tackler and recorded 15 interceptions and 32 pass breakups. He also has a career passer rating when targeted of 87.1. The 2020 season was Johnson’s best, where he ranked sixth in PFF’s run defense grade and third in coverage grade among all safeties.
Still available in free agency at the safety position are Justin Simmons, Eddie Jackson, and Quandre Diggs, among others. To see the full list of the top remaining free agent safeties–and cornerbacks–click here.
As I already highlighted, we don’t know if the Colts are actively trying to make an addition at safety or any position for that matter. But what we do know is a need exists at safety, and the Colts have the salary cap flexibility to make a signing with nearly $26 million in available cap space.
On top of that, as any GM should be doing, Chris Ballard mentioned after the draft that they would do their due diligence and look into if there are any potential free agent fits still out there.
“Between now and the start of the season – there are still some good players out there,” Ballard said after the draft. “There’s some veterans out there that can still play. We’ll dig and investigate all of them and then make a decision if we think they are the right fit for us as we go along.”
In addition to the Rams signing Johnson, it was also reported by Adam Schefter this week that free agent safety Tashaun Gipson will serve a six-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy.