Tag: colts free agency

Colts free agency: Kareem Jackson takes visit

The Colts hosted free-agent S Kareem Jackson for a visit Wednesday.

The Indianapolis Colts hosted safety Kareem Jackson for a visit in free agency on Wednesday, according to Howard Balzer.

Even though the Colts have re-engaged talks with Julian Blackmon, it also appears they’re keeping tabs on the rest of the market.

Jackson has spent his entire career with the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos. The 35-year-old was a first-round pick with the Texans back in the 2010 NFL draft as a cornerback.

He spent nine seasons with the Texans before heading to the Denver Broncos in 2019, which is when he made the switch to safety. He spent five seasons in Denver before he was waived and then claimed by the Texans late during the 2023 season.

Jackson was most notably suspended twice during the 2023 season for illegal hits on defenseless receivers.

The Colts desperately need to address the strong safety position. Blackmon would be the ideal choice considering the other options on the market, but it will be interesting to see what kind of impression Jackson made on the Colts during his visit Wednesday.

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Colts re-engaging talks with free-agent Julian Blackmon

The Colts have re-engaged talks with free-agent S Julian Blackmon.

The Indianapolis Colts are about to get heavy into preparation for the 2024 NFL draft, but they have re-engaged in talks with safety Julian Blackmon, who currently remains unsigned in free agency.

After dishing out over $200 million in contract money to in-house free agents like Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart and Kenny Moore II, to name a few, Blackmon is the biggest name left on the market for the Colts.

According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, general manager Chris Ballard told the media at the annual league meetings this week that the team has re-engaged with Blackmon.

Ballard strongly suggested there would be roster moves to come, particularly in the secondary. The Colts, he said, have re-engaged with safety Julian Blackmon, their 2020 third-round pick who remains on the market after visits to the Bills and 49ers in the past week.

Blackmon took visits with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers during the second week of free agency. The Bills instead wound up signing Mike Edwards, who also had a visit with the Colts just before signing.

The secondary is the biggest question for the Colts right now. The safety position lacks depth and a true starter at the strong safety spot. This draft class is perceived as a weak group compared to other years in the past. Finding a starter won’t be easy if Blackmon signs elsewhere.

The cornerback position also is another one of need for the Colts, but they have slightly more depth there. It’s likely the No. 15 overall pick will be a cornerback if one of the top prospects like Terrion Arnold or Quinyon Mitchell falls to them.

Bringing Blackmon back into the mix wouldn’t solve all of their problems, but it would give them some support at a position that is likely going to be viewed as the team’s biggest need going into 2024.

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NFL free agency: Colts re-sign DT Taven Bryan

Taven Bryan is coming back on a one-year deal.

The Indianapolis Colts are re-signing defensive tackle Taven Bryan in free agency, per multiple reports Tuesday.

Despite the Colts adding Raekwon Davis to the roster on a two-year deal as a rotational depth piece, the team also brought back Bryan into the mix after his one-year stint with the team in 2023.

The contract is for one year again and the terms were not disclosed immediately.

Bryan, 28, served mostly as a depth piece behind DeForest Buckner at the three-technique. However, he started seven games at the one-technique during the 2023 season, six of which were due to the Grover Stewart suspension.

Known for his pass rushing more than his run-stopping abilities, Bryan struggled to produce at the one-technique, but the Colts clearly saw something to work with as a pass rusher behind Buckner and Dayo Odeyingbo at the three-technique.

The former first-round pick recorded 22 tackles (12 solo), four tackles for loss, two sacks and one quarterback hit. According to Pro Football Focus, Bryan recorded 11 total pressures and logged an 11.3% pass-rush win rate.

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NFL free agency: Colts host S Mike Edwards for visit

The Colts hosted free-agent S Mike Edwards for a visit Monday.

The Indianapolis Colts held a free-agent visit for safety Mike Edwards on Monday, per the league’s transaction wire.

A third-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, Edwards entered the league with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent four seasons with the Bucs before signing a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency during the 2023 offseason.

Edwards has the versatility to work both as a free and strong safety. With the Chiefs, he primarily lined up as a free safety but spent a solid chunk of his snaps in the box. He had similar splits with the Buccaneers as well.

During the 2023 season, Edwards appeared in all 17 games while making five starts. He recorded 51 tackles (32 solo), two tackles for loss, five passes defensed and one interception.

According to Pro Football Focus, he recorded five run stops and allowed a 66.4 passer rating in coverage on 28 targets.

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Colts free agent S Julian Blackmon visiting Bills

Julian Blackmon is taking a visit with the Bills.

Indianapolis Colts free-agent safety Julian Blackmon is visiting the Buffalo Bills this week as the second wave of free agency ramps up.

The former third-round pick out of Utah is the biggest name the Colts currently have on the market after re-signing a handful of their top free agents.

Blackmon has produced well during his time with the Colts even though he’s dealt with a bit of an injury history.

Coming off his best season in the NFL, Blackmon switched to the strong safety position. He thrived in that role, recording career-high marks in tackles (88), solo tackles (55), tackles for loss (five), interceptions (four) and passes defensed (eight).

According to Pro Football Focus, Blackmon also thrived in coverage. He allowed a 70.5% reception rate and a 57.5 passer rating on 44 targets.

The Colts have a massive need to fill the strong safety position this offseason so it will be interesting to see what comes of Blackmon’s visit with the Bills.

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Colts free-agent DE Jacob Martin signs with Bears

Jacob Martin is heading to the Bears.

Indianapolis Colts free-agent defensive end Jacob Martin agreed to a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears on Friday.

While the Colts have been busy re-signing a handful of their own players, Martin will be heading elsewhere after a solid campaign working as a rotational pass rusher.

Martin spent one season with the Colts, which came in 2023, and he fared pretty well considering his limited role.

In 17 games (no starts), Martin recorded 2.0 sacks and three quarterback hits on 16% of the defensive snaps. That may not seem all that significant, but he also added 14 total pressures and a team-high 17.3% pass-rush win rate, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Colts have their solid rotation of four edge rushers so bringing back Martin would have been a luxury.

Now, he joins former Colts defensive coordinator and current Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.

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Colts re-sign DE Genard Avery

Genard Avery returns on a one-year deal.

The Indianapolis Colts re-signed defensive end Genard Avery to a one-year deal, per multiple reports Wednesday.

Avery spent the entire 2023 season on the Reserve/Injured list after he picked up a knee injury during joint training camp practice. The injury was to Avery’s LCL and meniscus and required season-ending surgery.

A fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft out of Memphis, Avery was selected by the Cleveland Browns. He spent one and a half seasons in Cleveland before they traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles at the trade deadline in 2019.

Avery then spent the next two and a half seasons with the Eagles before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2022 offseason. He was cut during the preseason before the 2022 campaign and eventually signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In 62 career games (17 starts), Avery has recorded 106 tackles (65 solo), 8.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 29 quarterback hits.

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Colts to re-sign CB Kenny Moore II to 3-year deal

And it’s official! Kenny Moore II is returning on a three-year deal.

The Indianapolis Colts crossed the finish line with one of their top free agents, signing cornerback Kenny Moore II to a three-year deal on Tuesday.

The three-year extensions have been a theme for general manager Chris Ballard, and Moore is the latest to sign on the dotted line. He was their biggest free agent left to re-sign, bringing back a key piece of the secondary.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the news of the signing.

This is the second time Moore has been the highest-paid slot cornerback in the NFL during his career.

It was reported less than an hour earlier than this news that the Colts were making a strong push to bring Moore back. Now, the ink is on the paper, and the Colts will see the return of their top slot defender.

This is a pretty big deal for the Colts’ secondary, which is a major question mark going into the offseason. With Moore and several other in-house players now under contract before free agency, general manager Chris Ballard can focus on bringing in some outside free agents.

The slot position is becoming increasingly vital, and Moore bounced back in a major way after a disappointing 2022 campaign.

According to Pro Football Focus, Moore’s 96.2 passer rating ranked sixth-best among slot defenders with at least 300 coverage snaps from the slot. His 0.93 yards per snap ranked fourth-best while he allowed 5.31 yards after the catch per reception.

Moore’s stout ability as a run defender from the slot also makes him an important piece of the defense.

 

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Colts making ‘strong push’ to re-sign CB Kenny Moore

The Colts reportedly are making a strong push to re-sign CB Kenny Moore II.

The Indianapolis Colts reportedly are making a strong push to re-sign pending free-agent cornerback Kenny Moore II, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

There has been mutual interest for a deal to get done between the Colts and Moore even though his market appears to be picking up.

The Colts have re-signed many of their top free agents such as Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart and Tyquan Lewis. Moore is expected to be next on the list.

Being able to re-sign Moore, along with the players that already are back, would be a big deal for Gus Bradley’s defense. The slot position is becoming increasingly vital, and Moore bounced back in a major way after a disappointing 2022 campaign.

According to Pro Football Focus, Moore’s 96.2 passer rating ranked sixth-best among slot defenders with at least 300 coverage snaps from the slot. His 0.93 yards per snap ranked fourth-best while he allowed 5.31 yards after the catch per reception.

Moore’s stout ability as a run defender from the slot also makes him an important piece of the defense.

If they can bring Moore back on a two or three-year deal and then add a cornerback like L’Jarius Sneed via trade or a prospect like Terrion Arnold in the draft, a position of need would turn into a strength.

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Colts agreed to terms on 3-year deal with P Rigoberto Sanchez

Rigoberto Sanchez will be back with the Colts on a new 3-year deal!

The Indianapolis Colts and pending free agent punter Rigoberto Sanchez agreed to terms on a new contract, per multiple reports Tuesday.

Sanchez returned to form late in the 2023 season after working his way back from an Achilles tear that claimed his 2022 campaign. Now, the Colts can move forward with their specialist unit intact.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network was the first to report the news.

Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reported it will be a three-year deal for the punter.

Sanchez has been pretty reliable since entering the league in 2017. The former undrafted free agent out of Hawaii also handled kickoff duties before the Colts signed Matt Gay last offseason.

Despite coming back from a torn Achilles in 2023, Sanchez posted a career-high 42.8 net yards per return on 68 punts. Remarkably, none of his punts resulted in a touchback while 21 of them landed inside the 20-yard line.

It may not seem like a vital signing, but Sanchez gives the Colts a reliable weapon as a punter, and he should be even more effective now that he’s further removed from the Achilles injury.

 

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