The Athletic predicts a quiet free agency for Colts

Don’t be shocked with another quiet free agency.

With a boatload of salary-cap space and a few positions of need, the Indianapolis Colts are one of the teams that has been linked to several free agents simply because of their resources.

General manager Chris Ballard has always played it relatively quiet in free agency with calculated moves and rarely spending up on a player. While some of that may change in theory before free agency starts, The Athletic predicted a quiet free agency for the Colts.

Using their top-100 free agents list as a reference, Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic predicted where each player on the list will land.

  • LT Anthony Castonzo
  • DE Robert Quinn
  • DT Maliek Collins
  • WR Nelson Agholor

While it would be nice to see the Colts try to make bigger moves in free agency, this outcome wouldn’t be a surprise at all. Ballard likes to pick his spots while building mainly through the draft—of which they currently have eight picks.

Castonzo is expected to return, and the Colts are working on his contract right now. That one is nearly a given.

The addition of Quinn is interesting because instead of trying to find a younger pass rusher with upside on the market, they instead go with a veteran opposite Justin Houston. Quinn had 11.5 sacks and 22 quarterback hits in 2019, the highest totals of his career since his All-Pro 2013 campaign.

Adding Collins to the mix is something to be expected as well. He won’t make top dollar on the market, and the Colts would be bringing in a solid run-stopper with limited upside as a pass rusher. He has experience working in the same defense as Matt Eberflus, which is a plus.

The Colts need wide receiver help, which is why Agholor seems to be a fit. He has experience working with Frank Reich and new wide receivers coach Mike Groh. Agholor has been less than impressive since entering the league as a first-round pick and his inability to produce as an outside wide receiver limits his upside. He’s intriguing if the Colts feel they need a slot wide receiver, but there appear to be better options on the market.

Seeing the Colts finally splurge on some big free agents would be fun, but don’t be surprised if they wind up coming out of free agency with a crop like this.