Offseason Outlook: The Colts Top 5 Needs/Wants
The Colts have had a lot to deal with this last season. From the retirement of Andrew Luck to the numerous injuries that they sustained during their season; this team was fighting an uphill battle. It started at the top, Jacoby Brissett missed time in the middle of the season and then when he returned wasn’t the same. TY Hilton also missed time this season along with Devin Funchess who ended the season on IR. Then you have Eric Ebron who also ended the year on IR, when you have these many key guys hurt it difficult to win. Not only did their offense get bit by the injury bug, but the defense as well got hit. To start the reigning RDPOY Darius Leonard got hit with it and missed a few games. Then you mix in a few defensive linemen and people from the secondary and you have a recipe for disaster last season. Luckily, again armed with plenty of money to add to the team and a solid young core of guys to build around this team can make some moves now to make noise in the postseason next year.
Indianapolis Colts
Wants
Quarterback
Wide receiver
Edge rusher
Cornerback
Safety
Needs
Figure out who will be the starting quarterback this season
Find a partner for TY Hilton
Add a young edge rusher to help build this defense
Find a shutdown corner either in free agent, draft or trade
Find a true safety to solidify that backend of the defense.
Quarterback
The most important position on any football team is the quarterback. They are the only person that has contact with the ball nearly every play. They have more control over the outcome of games than people know. That’s why when you have a bad or average quarterback in play, you only have an average team. This past season, Jacoby Brissett looked to be a solid quarterback until his injury. After he returned, the guy wasn’t the same. He played at the level of a backup quarterback and not where he was to start the season. Due to the Colts now losing faith in Brissett to be a starter they have no other choice than to find the new starter either as a bridge or a decade of play. They have the option to either attack this in free agency with a guy like Phillip Rivers or Ryan Tannehill. The other option can be Teddy Bridgewater in free agency or a draft choice like Jordan Love or Jacob Eason. The draft choices would be great to either start immediately have sat behind one of the veteran options. Yet Bridgewater would probably be there best bet of a young veteran who can play the next ten years. Even with his injury history, he would be good because you would still have Jacoby Brissett able to step in a game or two to help.
Edge Rusher
The Colts haven’t had a legitimate pass rush star since the days of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. The addition of Justin Houston was solid but couldn’t replace the leader in sacks for the team as they need. He is still getting older and won’t be able to keep this up too much longer. They have a few role players on the defensive front, but they can use an edge rusher that can take over a game and wreck it. They can either sign a free agent, trade for a guy or draft a young guy they can mold into whom they want. The best idea for them is to sign a free agent or make a trade. There are plenty of trade options out there this offseason. They can get a guy like Clowney or Barrett. They can also get a guy in a sign and trade deal where they trade for a guy and sign him to a long-term deal like what happened to Frank Clark and Dee Ford last offseason. This year people like Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue are prime candidates for this. Both can stop the run and rusher the passer with the best of them. The best fit for the Colts though would be either Ngakoue or Clowney. Both guys can play 4-3 end in base defense well and if need be stand up and rush from the outside linebacker spot.
Find a shutdown corner either in free agency, draft or trade
There aren’t many true shutdown corners in the game of football left. You have guys like Gilmore, White, Sherman on a good day and Peterson when fully healthy. You got guys like Humphrey and Ramsey who are young and doing it well too. But there isn’t a true shutdown cornerback for every team in the league. That’s what makes the need or want for one that much greater. The Colts have a good collection of corners now but if they have a true shutdown guy, then their secondary will be even better in all aspects of their game. The best thing for them to do in this case is sign, trade or draft a guy. There aren’t too many shutdown guys in free agency, but they can target guys like Jimmy Smith or James Bradberry. They could even draft a guy or two they feel like can come in and be a lockdown guy like AJ Terrell, Jeff Okudah, CJ Henderson, Kristian Fulton or Trevon Diggs. Yet, the best bet for them to obtain their guy this offseason is in a trade. I can really see them trading with the Lions for a second-round pick for Darius Slay. He will give them a lockdown corner for one side of the field allowing them to mix and match the rest of the guys around.
-By: Darren Braxton
Writer/Interviewer