Tag: Big Board

As the sports world comes to a screeching halt, the NFL continues to move on with free agency. The legal tampering period opens Monday at noon, which means the Indianapolis Colts will be able to negotiate with impending free agents.

Nothing is official until the start of the new league year, which is Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET. The Colts are among the teams with the most salary-cap space in the entire league—even after the contract extension for Anthony Castonzo. They are expected to be active in the market, but they shouldn’t be expected to splurge.

The big board helps organize which players should be a top priority for the Colts in free agency. Here’s a look at ranking the top 30 players set to hit the market for the Colts:

1. Dak Prescott, QB: By the time of reading, Prescott could very well be franchise tagged by the Cowboys. If he somehow hits the market (he won’t), the Colts should throw everything they can at the 26-year-old.

2. Byron Jones, CB: The top non-quarterback free agent. Jones would be a fantastic addition for the Colts secondary, giving them three above-average starters. He’s still young (27), has experience in Matt Eberflus’ system, can play cornerback and safety and has been one of the top cover corners in the league.

3. D.J. Reader, DT: Needing help on the interior, Reader offers versatility and production. At 25 years old, Reader is great at stopping the run but has shown plenty of upside to give push as a pass rusher.

4. Amari Cooper, WR: The top wideout on the market is going to get paid. There are legit concerns about his consistency, but Cooper is a polished route runner and an explosive talent. He’s a WR1 even with some concerns about drops.

5. Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE: Clowney will command top-dollar on the market, which could push the Colts away. He hasn’t given elite pass-rushing production, but whatever team signs him is going to get a beast. They will just have to pay up.