Targeting Free Agents

If the last two years have taught Colts fans anything, it should be that Chris Ballard is not going to make a splash in free agency. He wants to build through the draft and he wants the Colts' locker room and coaching staff to develop their homegrown talent. When the Colts are deciding between two equally talented players, it seems to come down to locker room fit first and then scheme fit. Coach Reich and his staff will have some say in who the Colts acquire but not overpaying, acquiring talent, and continuing to acquire youth will be the priorities. That being said, the Colts have more salary cap space than any other team in the league and a handful of holes on the roster.

I look for the Colts to acquire three to five unrestricted free agents including a big-bodied starting receiver, a high-end edge rusher, and a defensive back. Edge rusher is the only place I see the Colts spending big money.

Edge Rusher:

When looking at PFF's top- 50 free agents, I see several edge rushers potentially coming available, but I rule several guys out nearly automatically. Below are who I consider to be intriguing fits for the Colts.

DeMarcus Lawrence (26): would be a dream pick up due to his connection to defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus, his production levels, and his age but that isn't going to happen. He is a beast in every sense of the word and Dallas will not let him leave.

Trey Flowers (25): would be a nice pick up and I see him as a strong possibility due to his youth and production levels. He has never had more than 7.5 sacks in a season, but he plays well against the run while also generating an average of roughly 4 pressures per game over the last two years. He seems to be very near Jabaal Sheard in terms of talent.

Brandon Graham (30): doesn't seem like the type of acquisition Ballard would make. Very talented player, good against the run and a great bull rusher. Doesn't pick up a lot of sacks. Also, will be on the wrong side of 30 next year.

Jadeveon Clowney (25): young and improves every year while also being a physical freak. If the Texans have any idea what they're doing, they'll make him a Texan for life this offseason.

Shaquil Barrett (26): has only played outside linebacker in Denver, but has just begun scratching the surface as an edge rusher. He would be an intriguing option but not sure how good of a scheme fit he would be.

Preston Smith (26): has picked up 24.5 sacks through his 4 year career, has good size and 2018 was very much a breakout season for Smith. I'm honestly not sure if he can consistently do it.

Za'Darius Smith (27): GREAT size, and had a breakout year in 2018. He is very much on the upward trajectory of his career and I believe over the next 2 to 3 years, he will evolve into one of the next great Baltimore Ravens' defenders. I don't think the Ravens let him out of the building.

Ziggy Ansah (29): could be a great pick up on a short term deal, but he has never consistently or fully tapped into the potential he so often showed early in his career.

Dante Fowler Jr. (24): the youngest guy on this list and also the only guy who hasn't come anywhere near meeting his potential. The former number-3 overall pick still possesses the talent that made him a top draft choice. He also picked up 8 sacks for the Jaguars in 2017.

Cameron Wake (37): No.

The three most likely options I see coming to Indy are as follows: Fowler, Ansah, and Flowers. I think Ansah and Fowler would both flourish in the Colts' system and they would be able to pick up 10+ sacks as long as they stayed healthy. Flowers doesn't fit that mold, but he could definitely bolster the Colts pass rush while being a very solid 6 to 8 sack guy. While, as a Colts fan, I would love to see the Colts sign any of these guys, I don't know if I see it happening because the cost of edge rushers has become so exorbitant.

Wide Receiver:

There are very few receivers who excite me in this free agency class, but I see the Colts targeting a bigger-bodied receiver to fill the role of the number 2 receiver behind TY Hilton.

Tyrell Williams (26): the only receiver in the PFF top-50 who I could see filling this role. He had the best year of his career in 2016, but has not been able to match that level consistently. He also possesses a level of familiarity with Head Coach Frank Reich as Reich was the Chargers offensive coordinator when Williams was drafted. I see this as a very high likelihood.

Defensive Back:

I don't see the Colts hotly pursuing a cornerback as Ballard has shown a penchant for being willing to move forward with his guys and Kenny Moore and Pierre Desir (if he is re-signed) are his guys. Plus, the Colts also have the intriguing Jalen Collins, Nate Hairston, and Quincy Wilson all on their roster. I do, however, see them pursuing a top-end safety if they do not re-sign Clayton Geathers and/or Matthias Farley. There are only two guys I see in the PFF top-50 that match Geathers/Farley in talent.

Landon Collins (25): He is an absolute stud who should have been drafted by the Colts over Phillip Dorsett in 2015, I thought that then and I know it now. If the Giants let Collins walk, I think the Colts will try to move mountains to pick him up.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (26): I don't see him leaving Washington especially after they let D.J. Swearinger go during the season. He's a great talent and the Redskins have had so many defensive issues in recent years, I don't see them letting a pro bowl safety walk especially considering Dan Snyder's talents at overpaying players.

I see the Colts making moves this off-season, but most of them will come via the draft. I hope the Colts spend some of their cap space by pursuing players to fill some of the holes on their roster because Dante Fowler Jr., Tyrell Williams, and Landon Collins would look pretty great in the horseshoe.

Colts top 2018 free agent pick up, Eric Ebron, is an important piece for the foreseeable future in Indy. (Image courtesy of Detroit Free Press)