Acquiring free agents is what makes a team go from just having potential to being contenders. In the past, the Indianapolis Colts have acquired free agents sparingly, but this offseason there is too much talent to pass up.
For the first time in years, Indy has the two big elements in football locked in. They have their quarterback of the future in Anthony Richardson. They also have their head coach of the future in Shane Steichen. The only remaining thing is getting complimentary pieces to project this team to greatness so they can be a contender in this league.
The Colts have over $60M in cap space going into 2024 which gives them some wiggle room this offseason to make some moves.
Here are Five Free Agents the Indianapolis Colts Should Consider
CB L’Jarius Sneed
The Kansas City Chiefs, L’Jarious Sneed is in the last year of his four-year contract. He is considered a top free agent defensive back and there is good reason as to why. In his short career, Sneed has already accomplished picking off quarterbacks 10 times. He has also forced four fumbles and accumulated 223 solo tackles. This is all coming in four years.
The tricky thing with Sneed is what kind of money he might be demanding. According to Chiefs General Manager, Brett Veach, re-signing Sneed will be a priority this offseason. Therefore if the Colts want any shot at getting him, they would have to provide some financial incentive for him to leave Kansas City. It would probably require a substantial payday for Sneed to leave, but his talent and contribution would be worth every penny, especially if Kenny Moore II does not re-sign with the team.
DE Chase Young
The San Francisco 49ers signed Chase Young in the middle of the 2023 season. He will be at the end of his four-year contract that originated with the Washington Commanders and will be a free agent this offseason. Young was the second overall pick in 2020, defensive rookie of the year, and a pro bowler. The reason why Young was not dominating in a Commanders uniform anymore is due, in large part, to injuries. He suffered a knee injury in week 10 of the 2021 season. In the next season, he would only play in three games due to ACL surgery.
The intriguing thing about Young is that he is the kind of player who could go under the radar and be a steal for a team to pick up. So far with San Fransisco, he has not been much of a contributor. He has played more of a depth role than anything else. Nonetheless, the 6-5, 260 edge rusher still has much to bring to this league at only age 24. The Colts have a couple of solid edge rushers with potential, but none play with the physicality and dominance that Young can play with.
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
Star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is in the last year of his four-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Colts have a couple of promising safeties in Nick Cross and Julian Blackmon, but a safety of Winfield’s caliber would be an exciting addition. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, has been a pro bowler, and was a first-team all-pro safety in 2023.
While his accolades are certainly impressive, his stat line last season is even more impressive. Coming off the best season of his career last year, Winfield posted three interceptions, six forced fumbles, six sacks, and 76 solo tackles. His market as a free agent will be huge this offseason. Therefore, if the Colts want a shot at acquiring his talent, they will need to play the market carefully.
LB Devin White
Devin White has spent all five years of his career with the Buccaneers and he is coming to the end of his contract. He was a second-team all-pro in 2020 and a pro bowler in 2021. While his productivity does not jump off the page like his teammate Antoine Winfield, he has been a key piece to the Buccaneers defense. In 2023, White finished with two interceptions, 2.5 sacks, and 49 solo tackles.
What makes an acquisition like White so intriguing for the Colts is how he could complement EJ Speed and Zaire Franklin at linebacker. Gus Bradley plays his linebackers as a rallying group within his zone defense. One of the reasons why Franklin can rack up so many tackles every season is due to how Bradley plays him. The goal is to keep everything short and in front and have the linebackers make plays. An addition like White as a third linebacker would be huge for not just depth, but also efficiency.
QB Jacoby Brissett
A very familiar free agent this offseason is Commanders backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett. In 2019, when Andrew Luck abruptly retired from football, Brissett was the Colts starting quarterback and carried the team to seven wins. Brissett has had opportunities to be a starter in this league, but unfortunately, he always went back to the backup role. With the assumption that free agent quarterback Garnder Minshew will not re-sign in 2024, the Indianapolis Colts will need a solid backup who can win games if Anthony Richardson is absent again.
Brissett understands this league as he just finished his eighth season. On top of being a veteran, he spent four years in Indy with Andrew Luck and spent one year in New England with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Brissett is not a quarterback who can take a team to a playoff run, but he can win games when called upon. For a Colts team with health concerns for Anthony Richardson, a solid backup quarterback is a must.
Main Image: Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
