The Indianapolis Colts could be spenders in free agency during the 2021 offseason so we will be profiling several potential targets at positions of need.
Profile
Name: Romeo Okwara
Age: 25
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 263 pounds
Draft Year: 2016 — Undrafted
PFF Free Agent Rank: 96th — 14th DE
Career Stats
Spider Chart
The Road So Far
Okwara entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants in 2016 where he spent two seasons in a depth role. They waived him before the 2018 season, and he was claimed by the Detroit Lions.
Okwara is coming off of his best season yet recording 10 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 18 quarterback hits. His 61 pressures were tied for the fifth-most among all edge rushers, per Pro Football Focus.
Fit With The Colts
It is no surprise the Colts will be suitors for several edge rushers. It’s one of their biggest needs this offseason. Okwara would fit nicely on the edge as the starter next to DeForest Buckner, who would be at the three-technique.
Okawara meets the length threshold the Colts seemingly have when it comes to edge rushers, and his 2020 season showed a slimmer and more dynamic pass rusher. He can work on all three downs and even though he only made nine starts in 2020, he would fit in perfectly in the Colts’ aggressive front as a starter.
Not only can Okwara rush the passer, but his length also allows him to set a strong edge against the run as well.
Price
This is where it may get tricky for the Colts. We aren’t sure how much they want to spend on a pass rusher even though they absolutely should. That said, Spotrac’s market value model has Okwara signing a three-year deal worth $30 million, coming out to $10 million per year.
That’s a price the Colts could and should be willing to pay for an edge rusher who has the potential to rack up double-digit sacks over the foreseeable future.
Conclusion
If there was one big free agent the Colts signed and Okwara happened to be it, then that would be a big win for Chris Ballard. Okwara should be one of the free agents the Colts heavily pursue given his recent production, fit with the scheme and potential as a double-digit sack artist.
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