The first day of the legal tampering period has come and gone, and the Indianapolis Colts made their first signing of free agency in the form of wide receiver Devin Funchess.
Several of the top free agents have been reportedly signed and while nothing is official until Wednesday afternoon, there are still some options the Colts have to consider on the market.
Here, we take a position by position look at the best remaining free agents for the Colts following the first day of the legal tampering period:
EDGE
Preston Smith: The most intriguing edge rusher for the Colts has to be Smith at this point. He’s got length from the edge and the size to work as a prototypical defensive end. His skill set would blend nicely in the one-gap front.
Za’Darius Smith: A versatile weapon that can be used all along the defensive line, Smith would provide the Colts with another interior pass rusher while also kicking out to the edge if need be.
Shaq Barrett: Wanting to be paid like a starter, it remains to be seen what kind of money he’s commanding, but he shined in a limited role during his time with the Broncos. He could be a cheaper yet production option for the Colts.
Justin Houston: After trying to trade him, the Chiefs released Houston. The Colts could try to bring him in on a short-term deal to add the pass rush. Using him as a situational pass rusher could help with consistency and injury prevention.
Interior Defensive Line
Sheldon Richardson: The Colts might not even have interest in Richardson, who has been known to shake up the locker room, but if they feel he’s past that, the veteran could be an option to help disrupt the interior.
Darius Philon: Working in a one-gap scheme could help Philon find some bigger numbers, despite having 8.5 sacks in an extremely limited role with the Chargers over the last two years. He’s a sleeper candidate in free agency for the Colts.
Wide Receiver
Tyrell Williams: The top option on the market, Williams will come at a high price, which means the Colts are likely out. However, he’s still available and could be a target if Chris Ballard is feeling crazy.
Golden Tate: Still one of the top slot receivers, Tate shouldn’t be too expensive if the Colts wanted to add some more veteran depth to the room. Though, it is hard to see them bringing in another piece on a relatively big deal.
Chris Conley: Sticking with this one, Conley is a nice fit for the offense and could come cheap. His speed and athleticism work well if the Colts wanted to add another high-upside wide receiver.
Safety
Adrian Amos: The Colts might not have signed Landon Collins, but there is still a top option left in Amos. He’s young, versatile and a nice fit for the two-high scheme the Colts like to run.
Adrian Phillips: More the speed of the Colts, Phillips is a versatile asset in the secondary that can contribute right away and likely wouldn’t be on a contract that would tie the Colts up down the line if Ballard wanted to make it for multiple years.
Tre Boston: A serviceable option if the Colts wanted to add some veteran depth, Boston has been solid working as a versatile piece. He’d be solid in the rotation and likely wouldn’t cost the Colts much financially.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: It is concerning the Packers shipped Clinton-Dix off despite their need at safety. He’s been productive throughout his career, but it remains to be seen if the Colts feel he’s worth a multi-year deal.
Cornerback
Ronald Darby: The ACL tear is a concern, but Pierre Desir seems to be generating interest. The Colts need to add depth to the room in case Desir does find a new home even if it also means looking toward the draft for young depth.
Jason Verrett: It wasn’t long ago that Verrett was considered one of the better cornerbacks in the game. He’d likely be able to start right away for the Colts while giving them a value in the market, potentially.
Bradley Roby: The former Bronco didn’t play all that well when he finally got his chance to start, but he could be simply looking for a change of scenery in a defense that won’t force him to be in man coverage all day long.
