Tag: free agency target

Colts’ 2021 free agency target: TE Gerald Everett

Should the Colts target Gerald Everett?

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.

With Jack Doyle under contract and Mo Alie-Cox expected to be re-signed as a restricted free agent, the Colts will need to add a move tight end to the roster. They haven’t drafted one since Chris Ballard took over so it’s more likely they look to free agency to fill that void.

As free agency gets closer, we will do our best to preview and profile potential targets for the Colts this offseason. With roughly $43 million in projected salary-cap space, the Colts can go after whoever they want.

Please note that these articles aren’t reporting who the Colts will go after or who they have an interest in. This isn’t inside information but instead suggests who may be potential fits for the Colts to consider.

Other tight ends we have profiled:

  • Jonnu Smith (link)

Colts’ 2021 free agency target: TE Jonnu Smith

Could Jonnu Smith be a target for Indy?

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.

With Jack Doyle under contract and Mo Alie-Cox expected to be re-signed as a restricted free agent, the Colts will need to add a move tight end to the roster. They haven’t drafted one since Chris Ballard took over so it’s more likely they look to free agency to fill that void.

As free agency gets closer, we will do our best to preview and profile potential targets for the Colts this offseason. With roughly $43 million in projected salary-cap space, the Colts can go after whoever they want.

Please note that these articles aren’t reporting who the Colts will go after or who they have an interest in. This isn’t inside information but instead suggests who may be potential fits for the Colts to consider.

Colts’ 2021 free agency target: WR Corey Davis

Should the Colts target Corey Davis?

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.

Adding to the wide receiver position will be vital for the Colts this offseason even if they retain veteran T.Y. Hilton, who is set to be a free agent in March. With Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell and Zach Pascal currently leading the room, the Colts can look to free agency for some help at the position.

So as free agency gets closer, we will do our best to preview and profile potential targets for the Colts this offseason. With roughly $43 million in projected salary-cap space, the Colts can go after whoever they want.

Please note that these articles aren’t reporting who the Colts will go after or who they have an interest in. This isn’t inside information but instead suggests who may be potential fits for the Colts to consider.

Other wide receivers we have profiled:

  • Marvin Jones (link)
  • Curtis Samuel (link)
  • Nelson Agholor (link)

Colts’ 2021 free agency target: WR Nelson Agholor

Taking a look at WR Nelson Agholor as a potential free-agent target for the Indianapolis Colts in 2021.

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.

Adding to the wide receiver position will be vital for the Colts this offseason even if they retain veteran T.Y. Hilton, who is set to be a free agent in March. With Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell and Zach Pascal currently leading the room, the Colts can look to free agency for some help at the position.

So as free agency gets closer, we will do our best to preview and profile potential targets for the Colts this offseason. With roughly $43 million in projected salary-cap space, the Colts can go after whoever they want.

Please note that these articles aren’t reporting who the Colts will go after or who they have an interest in. This isn’t inside information but instead suggests who may be potential fits for the Colts to consider.

Other wide receivers we have profiled:

  • Marvin Jones (link)
  • Curtis Samuel (link)

Colts’ 2021 free agency target: WR Marvin Jones

Previewing Marvin Jones as a fit for the Colts.

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.

Adding to the wide receiver position will be vital for the Colts this offseason even if they retain veteran T.Y. Hilton, who is set to be a free agent in March. With Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell and Zach Pascal currently leading the room, the Colts can look to free agency for some help at the position.

So as free agency gets closer, we will do our best to preview and profile potential targets for the Colts this offseason. With roughly $43 million in projected salary-cap space, the Colts can go after whoever they want.

Please note that these articles aren’t reporting who the Colts will go after or who they have an interest in. This isn’t inside information but instead are suggestions as to potential fits for the Colts to consider.

Colts’ 2021 free agency target: DE Bud Dupree

Previewing Bud Dupree as a potential free agent target for the Colts.

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.

Among those is the edge rusher position. With Justin Houston, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Denico Autry set to hit free agency, the Colts have a big need to add more talent to the edge. As it currently stands, Kemoko Turay and Ben Banogu are the starting defensive ends.

So as free agency gets closer, we will do our best to preview and profile potential targets for the Colts this offseason. With roughly $43 million in projected salary-cap space, the Colts can go after whoever they want.

Other defensive ends we have previewed;

  • Romeo Okwara (link)
  • Carl Lawson (link)
  • Yannick Ngakoue (link)

Colts’ 2021 free agency target: DE Yannick Ngakoue

Previewing Yannick Ngakoue as a free-agent target.

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.

Among those is the edge rusher position. With Justin Houston, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Denico Autry set to hit free agency, the Colts have a big need to add more talent to the edge. As it currently stands, Kemoko Turay and Ben Banogu are the starting defensive ends.

So as free agency gets closer, we will do our best to preview and profile potential targets for the Colts this offseason. With roughly $43 million in projected salary-cap space, the Colts can go after whoever they want.

Other defensive ends we have previewed;

  • Romeo Okwara (link)
  • Carl Lawson (link)

Colts’ 2021 free agent target: DE Romeo Okwara

Profiling free agent DE Romeo Okwara.

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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Colts’ 2020 free agency target: DE Arik Armstead

Arik Armstead set career-highs in several categories.

Even with a pair of promising young edge rushers, the Indianapolis Colts could be in the market to add a defensive end in free agency. Could this make Arik Armstead a target?

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Profile

Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 292
Age: 26
Drafted: 2015 — First round (No. 17)

Career Stats

The Road So Far

Armstead was highly-touted as a first-round pick for the San Francisco 49ers but never truly had the production to match the hype. He has all of the physical tools to be successful but through his first four seasons in the league, he recorded just 9.0 sacks and 29 quarterback hits in 46 games.

However, Armstead got a resurgence when he needed it most. On the final year of his rookie contract, Armstead led the 49ers with 10.0 sacks and was second on the defense with 18 quarterback hits, behind Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa.

In 2019, Armstead set career-highs in sacks (10), tackles for loss (11) and quarterback hits (18).

Fit With The Colts

The defensive end room for the Colts is already solid but improvements must be made. Justin Houston still has enough left in the tank while Kemoko Turay was on his way to a strong season before injury. Ben Banogu flashed in limited work and it remains to be seen if Jabaal Sheard will be re-signed.

Armstead brings a lot of versatility and upside to the defense. His size would allow him to play the edge on early downs while trying to get upfield but then kick inside on third downs, giving the Colts a little extra juice on the interior.

Armstead still has the physical tools to be successful and while he won’t automatically be a double-digit sack rusher every year, the Colts have the scheme and mindset to get the most out of him.

Price

Had Armstead not broken out like he did, his price wouldn’t be that high. And given his age, he should be in line for a nice payday. The market likely indicates that Armstead could see somewhere around $15–17 million at an average annual value. For a player that has had one good year, that’s probably too rich for Chris Ballard’s liking. An AAV of $15 million would put Armstead in the top-15 for all defensive linemen. It’s unlikely Ballard wants to pay that unless they really feel he’s a perfect fit.

Conclusion

Armstead is an intriguing target for the Colts. He has the physical tools to be a nice fit for the defense and would provide a solid upgrade with consistency. The market might phase the Colts out of serious talks for Armstead, but he is at least an edge rusher they should consider in free agency.

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Colts’ 2020 free agency target: DT D.J. Reader

D.J. Reader would be a nice fit for the Colts.

The Indianapolis Colts continue to have a need at the defensive tackle position. Could this make D.J. Reader a target for them in free agency this offseason?

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The Road So Far

A fifth-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft to the Houston Texans, Reader has been a force at the nose tackle position. Though his size (6’3, 347) has been phasing out of the traditional one-technique mold, Reader is more than just a run-stuffing defensive tackle.

Reader has been a durable piece of the Texans defensive line, having played 61 of a possible 64 games since 2016. His snap count has increased every season since entering the league, helping proves he’s both reliable and productive.

In 2019, Reader recorded 2.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits. He also had a career-high 36 pressures and 35 defensive stops, per Pro Football Focus.

Fit With The Colts

The biggest need for the Colts on the interior line comes at the three-technique. However, the entire defense would benefit from having a nose tackle like Reader who can be an elite run-stopper while simultaneously providing a push from the top of the pocket.

With Grover Stewart currently the only true nose tackle on the roster, the Colts could bring in Reader to rotate with him. This would give Indy a strong duo against the run with the occasional upside at pass rush when Reader is on the field.

Though he has been solid as a two-gap defensive tackle, Reader’s pass-rushing would benefit from the gap-shooting front for the Colts. Already possessing the ability to stop the run, Reader would be a fantastic fit.

Price

At the age of 25, the Colts would be more than happy to give Reader a multi-year deal. He’s been consistent and reliable enough to where the length of the contract shouldn’t bring much concern. Reader will be expected to see a high pay raise though.

When looking at Spotrac’s market value model, Reader is expected to receive a deal somewhere in the ballpark of five-years for $59 million. The Colts likely wouldn’t do the five years, but the average annual salary of $12 million shouldn’t be something to keep them from being in the mix to sign Reader. That AAV is a fair number for Reader given what the going rate for defensive tackles is.

Conclusion

The Colts won’t be huge spenders in free agency but addressing the defensive tackle position is a must. Reader provides an upgrade at a position of need and while he will get a nice payday, his average annual salary won’t break the bank for Chris Ballard.

If and when Reader hits the market, he should be high on the list of targets for Indy.

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