Matt Bowen of ESPN recently put together a list of the top remaining free agents on the market. Would any of these players make sense for the Colts to sign?
The Colts’ 91-man roster is set for the moment, but roster building is a 365-day-a-year job. Following the NFL draft, GM Chris Ballard mentioned that there were still some talented free agents on the market and that he would do his due diligence, searching for any potential fits.
“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.”
From a salary cap perspective, with $26.21 million in available cap space, the Colts have more than enough room to make an addition, especially when we consider that at this time of the offseason, these will be short-term, relatively inexpensive, low-risk deals that free agents are earning.
Here is a look at the top remaining free agents that Bowen mentioned and whether or not any of them could be on the Colts’ radar:
As defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said, outside of Kenny More in the slot, the cornerback position is ‘wide open.’ The only outside additions made to this group were drafting Jaylin Simpson and Micah Abraham in the fifth and sixth-round of the draft. Bowen notes Howard’s “solid perimeter coverage traits,” along with him having excellent ball production throughout his career, something this Colts’ secondary needs more of.
Center is not a position the Colts need to add to. They, of course, have Ryan Kelly and just drafted Tanor Bortolini. Also on the roster as potential backup options are Danny Pinter and Wesley French.
Like cornerback, the starting free safety role next to Julian Blackmon is up for grabs. On the back end of this Colts’ defense last season, too many big plays were allowed. Simmons is considered the best safety available. He has at least three interceptions in each of the last six seasons, and is “strong in run support,” says Bowen.
Again, cornerback is a need, but is a reunion with Gilmore going to happen? Probably not, although having already played in Bradley’s defense would make for an easier transition back in Indianapolis. Gilmore had nine pass breakups and two interceptions in 2023.
Bowen mentions Nelson’s ability to play zone coverage. He’s also coming off a season where he recorded a career-high four interceptions. Nelson would boost the competition and add starting experience to this young Colts’ cornerback room.
Anthony Richardson is the starter and the Colts already signed a veteran backup in Joe Flacco. This is not a need.
Like center, the Colts have their 2023 starters at guard returning and options behind Quenton Nelson and Will Fries, including Bortolini, Matt Goncalves, Pinter, and Sills, among others.
Just about any of the top available cornerbacks should be on the Colts’ radar to at least some degree. Jackson improved as the 2023 season went on and the Giants pass rush improved, although he has missed time with injuries in each of the last four seasons.
There’s no such thing as too much pass-rush depth, but the Colts have already invested heavily in the defensive front this offseason, re-signing Grover Stewart and Tyquan Lewis, adding Raekwon Davis, picking up Kwity Paye’s fifth-year option for 2025, extending DeForest Buckner, and drafting Laiatu Latu.
With the additions of Adonai Mitchell and Anthony Gould through the draft, along with Ashton Dulin returning from injury, the Colts receiver room has gotten crowded.
At the defensive end, the Colts already have Paye, Latu, Lewis, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Samson Ebukam.
With Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Adonai Mitchell, the Colts’ top three receivers are pretty well established. They also have recent draft picks in Gould and Alec Pierce behind this trio.
If there’s a spot on the offensive line you could make an argument that the Colts could add to it is tackle. Braden Smith is still working his way back from injury, Goncalves is a rookie, Jake Witt is a 2023 seventh-round pick, and Blake Freeland took his lumps as a rookie. However, with that said, this still isn’t a position the Colts will add to.
As we’ve already established, this is one of the last positions that the Colts should have to add to.