Of Pro Football Focus’ top 20 remaining free agents, the Indianapolis Colts were not named a “best landing spot” for any of them.
The reason that this is specifically of some interest to the Colts is because several of PFF’s top remaining free agents play either the cornerback or safety positions—two big positional needs that the Colts still have to address.
Below is a look at who those players are along with their overall ranking from PFF:
1. Justin Simmons (S)
2. Stephon Gilmore (CB)
3. Steven Nelson (CB)
5. Xavien Howard (CB)
8. Julian Blackmon (S)
13. Adoree’ Jackson (CB)
For what it’s worth, GM Chris Ballard did mention via The Athletic that the Colts have re-started talks with Blackmon. There are also safeties not on this list still available, most notably Tashaun Gipson, Quandre Diggs, and Jayron Kesrse, who could come in and make an impact.
At cornerback the Colts do have Kenny Moore manning the slot, and Ballard would also add that he likes the team’s three young boundary corners in Jaylon Jones, JuJu Brents, and Dallis Flowers. However, relying completely on those three does come with some risks.
“We know we need to add,” said Ballard about the secondary via the Colts team site, “and there’s still some vets out there that we will definitely pay attention to,” Ballard said. “But there’s still work to be done.”
From a salary cap standpoint, the Colts have the 13th most effective salary cap space available, according to Over the Cap, giving them some flexibility to make an addition or two.
If the Colts don’t add to the cornerback or safety rooms over the next few weeks, they’ll then turn their attention to the draft to tackle these needs.
The good news is that this is a very deep cornerback class. Overall, it was one of PFF’s highest-graded position groups, with the class receiving an A for its depth. And with such talented offensive tackle and wide receiver groups in this class as well, that could help push down some of the top cornerback options, most notably, Terrion Arnold and Quinyon Mitchell, to the Colts at pick 15.
The safety position in this year’s draft is a different story, however. Unless a team plans to convert Iowa’s Cooper DeJean to safety, there likely aren’t any that are going to be selected in the first round, especially at pick 15 where the Colts are.
On Daniel Jeremiah’s recent top 50 big board, no safeties made the list, while this position group received the second-lowest grade from PFF with a C+ in terms of overall talent and depth. So when it comes to the Colts finding some immediate impact help at this position, that admittedly is a more difficult task than at cornerback.
Every GM wants options in the draft so they don’t feel like they have to select a certain position at a specific spot. Adding to the secondary in free agency before the draft, specifically at safety, would provide Ballard with some added flexibility when on the clock.
