With free agency quickly approaching in the next few weeks, the Indianapolis Colts should be targeting the defensive interior. Could that make veteran Derek Wolfe a candidate?
The Road So Far
A career player for the Denver Broncos, Wolfe was a second-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft out of Cincinnati. Since then, he has been a key part of the Broncos defensive line. But there is a chance he hits the open market.
Wolfe has battled injuries over his nine-year career thus far. He’s played a full 16 games just three times and has done so just once since the 2015 season began. Even with the injuries, Wolfe has shown he can be a productive player on the interior, which is something the Colts sorely need.
Before dislocating his elbow in Week 13, Wolfe was enjoying a strong 2019 campaign. In 12 games, he had 7.0 sacks, eight tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hits.
Fit With The Colts
Wolfe might be one of the more underrated players to hit the market but one the Colts might welcome in. His age (30) and injury history might be a concern, but Wolfe would still be a nice fit along the interior as a veteran presence and rotational player.
Wolfe has the size the Colts like in their defensive linemen. He can play the three-technique or the nose in a pinch, but that kind of versatility would be intriguing to the Colts. Wolfe would fit well in the gap-shooting front for the Colts. Wolfe could also line up at defensive end if the Colts wanted to use more of a heavier package upfront.
He would also be someone the Colts could target because of how much Chris Ballard wants to add a veteran to the defensive side of the ball. He has said it was a regret to allow some of the older players to leave in favor of getting younger so Ballard could be looking to target a veteran to add to the interior.
Price
Because of his age and injury history, Wolfe likely wouldn’t be expensive on the market. He might not be as cheap as some other options, but the Colts certainly wouldn’t have to pay up for him if he hits free agency. Wolfe made a base salary of $8 million in 2019. With the market rising, he could see something similar to that. The Colts could be looking at something like a two-year deal with an average annual value of $8.5 million. That’s just a rough estimate with no concrete evidence to support it, though.
Conclusion
The Colts are likely to be looking to add a veteran along the interior defensive line. Having someone with production would help that notion, and Wolfe could be that player. The risks of his injury history are well-documented and should be taken into account.
But Wolfe could be a nice short-term addition for the defensive line while also providing a veteran presence.