The Indianapolis Colts will officially take the next step of the offseason Monday when the open negotiating period begins at noon ET, which will allow them to fill some of their needs.
Even with some of the most salary-cap space available across the NFL, we shouldn’t expect the Colts to make splash after splash. They might make a trade for a star cornerback, but general manager Chris Ballard has made it clear his M.O. is to avoid overpaying in free agency.
That might change a bit considering the number of impressive defensive free agents set to hit the market this offseason. But we still shouldn’t expect Ballard to completely change his ways.
Before the legal tampering period begins Monday, here’s a ranking of the team’s top needs:
12
Linebacker
Notable Colts’ free agents: Ronnie Harrison
Maybe adding an LB3 is on the to-do list, but the Colts have their starting tandem in Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed. They also re-signed Segun Olubi, who showed to have some promise as a depth linebacker.
11
Punter
Notable Colts’ free agents: Rigoberto Sanchez
As of this writing, Sanchez has not been re-signed. It very well could happen before noon Monday, which would take this position off the list entirely.
10
Interior Offensive Line
Notable Colts’ free agents: Danny Pinter
Like offensive tackle, some depth could be used at the interior spots. However, we shouldn’t expect the Colts to make overhaul changes to the unit considering how well they played in 2023.
9
Offensive Tackle
Notable Colts’ free agents: N/A
The Colts have their starting duo set, but it would be wise to add some veteran competition at swing tackle for Blake Freeland. Even so, this position likely isn’t a major priority for the Colts.
8
Tight End
Notable Colts’ free agents: N/A
What the Colts decide to do at tight end is a mystery. The room is pretty crowded, but it could clearly use an upgrade in explosiveness. Getting Jelani Woods back from a season-long hamstring injury would help, but the team can’t count on him to be an impact player until he proves it. The domestic violence charges against Drew Ogletree were dropped, but it’s still unclear what will happen with that situation.
7
Wide Receiver
Notable Colts’ free agents: Isaiah McKenzie
In terms of pure need, this position is more important for the Colts to address. However, it’s unlikely they prioritize it in free agency. Signing wide receivers in free agency rarely works out in the long run, but there are some intriguing short-term depth options like Darnell Mooney, Kendrick Bourne and Quez Watkins. Those types of signings also wouldn’t keep the Colts from adding to the position early in the draft.
6
Backup Running Back
Notable Colts’ free agents: Zack Moss
I wouldn’t necessarily argue with anyone who says this spot isn’t as big of a need. Jonathan Taylor is healthy this offseason, but he did miss some time due to an injury late in the year after missing the first month. Adding a dynamic talent like Antonio Gibson wouldn’t be a poor idea if Moss isn’t re-signed.
5
Edge Rusher
Notable Colts’ free agents: Tyquan Lewis, Jacob Martin
The Colts have a solid rotation at edge rusher, and it’s unlikely they make a splash in the form of signing Danielle Hunter or trading for Brian Burns. But there are so many solid options available that we should expect the Colts to be active in some way.
4
Backup Quarterback
Notable Colts’ free agents: Gardner Minshew
There are a handful of intriguing options if the Colts and Gardner Minshew don’t come together on a new contract. Ahead of the pack would be Tyrod Taylor, whose experience as a starter and in RPO concepts makes him an ideal backup to Anthony Richardson.
3
Interior Defensive Line
Notable Colts’ free agents: Grover Stewart, Taven Bryan
The need for this position is high, and it would climb even higher if Grover Stewart found a home elsewhere. Unless the Colts have plans to go after Christian Wilkins, which would cost them over $25 million annually, there are no other options to replace Stewart in free agency.
2
Cornerback
Notable Colts’ free agents: Kenny Moore II
The Colts have a bright future with Julius Brents on the outside, but Jaylon Jones probably works best as a CB3/4. Also, Kenny Moore II is set to hit free agency as of this writing. Pulling off a trade for L’Jarius Sneed, while expensive, would be worth it. They also could find some intriguing short-term players in the form of Kendall Fuller and Chidobe Awuzie.
1
Safety
Notable Colts’ free agents: Julian Blackmon
In terms of pure need, the safety position takes the cake. It may not meet the same positional value that cornerback or defensive tackle does, but there’s a good chance the Colts are aggressive in the safety market. This is especially true considering the abundance of talent that is hitting free agency.
