The Colts are beginning the Frank Reich era with a ton of money available to spend in NFL free agency. According to OverTheCap.com, the team is more than $73 million under the salary cap for 2018, the third most room in the league.
The Colts should not go nuts throwing around cash. They instead should look for the sweet spot of quantity and quality from the open market. Before they go to work addressing their many needs with their current seven draft picks for April, Reich and general manager Chris Ballard could use several veteran complementary parts.
Once again, much of Indy's work involves getting more support for quarterback with the hopeful return of Andrew Luck. But moving on from coach Chuck Pagano also requires the Colts to undergo more defensive overhaul as the team goes from a 3-4 to a 4-3 with Tampa 2 zone coverage concepts.
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Here's a look at the six most glaring position holes for the Colts and which free agents could help fill them.
Running back
Ballard at the NFL Combine confirmed the expected: The team won't be bringing back Frank Gore for a fourth season at soon-to-be age 35. For now, the Colts go into 2018 with a mix of second-year players Marlon Mack and Josh Ferguson, plus Redskins castoff Matt Jones.
Although Penn State's Saquon Barkley will be tempting at No. 3 overall, the Colts are more likely to add a rookie option in a later round. Before then, they can have their pick of veterans. Should they go for a three-down type, the Patriots' Dion Lewis would mesh better with Reich's West Coast than the 49ers' Carlos Hyde or former Buccaneer Doug Martin would.
If the Colts don't go big with Lewis, going complementary for early-down power or third-down explosiveness makes sense, given Reich saw how well Philadelphia's committee worked. The Browns' Isaiah Crowell and the Eagles' LeGarrette Blount fit into the former category. For the "Sproles role" receiving tip, the Vikings' Jerick McKinnon is attractive.
The Colts need depth with experience, and they need to increase the overall versatility of their backfield. Expect Mack, Ferguson and Jones to get plenty of competition, including one seasoned option.
Wide receiver
The Colts have T.Y. Hilton signed through 2020 as their non-traditional No. 1, but they don't have much else. There's little reason to keep Donte Moncrief and Kamar Aiken as free agents. Ballard did name-drop No. 3 Chester Rogers as someone he likes, but Rogers has struggled along with the other two.
The Jaguars' Allen Robinson is the dream signing for Reich. With the Eagles, Reich saw what a difference a big-bodied field-stretcher and red-zone target could make after Philadelphia signed Alshon Jeffery last offseason. Jacksonville, however, is unlikely to let Robinson hit the market.
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Of the rest, the Rams' Sammy Watkins and his well-rounded skill set would be preferable over the Seahawks' Paul Richardson. A flyer on Terrelle Pryor Sr., who busted with the Redskins, could work out as a rebound in Reich and Nick Sirianni's offense. On the cheaper side, the Cardinals' John Brown and the Giants' Tavarres King have the profiles to complement Hilton outside. The Bills' Jordan Matthews, a former Eagle, also is in play as a "big slot" for Reich.
With Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, the Colts were down to Hilton, tight end Jack Doyle and the backs in the passing game. There's room for an outside possession, an inside option and another deep threat. Don't be surprised if two of those come via multiple middle-tier veterans instead of one big one.
Offensive line
The Colts are set at the two most critical positions. Left tackle Anthony Castonzo has developed into a strong bookend, while the team expects center Ryan Kelly to become an anchor after an injury-riddled season.
Opposite Castonzo, right tackle remains an issue with neither Denzelle Good nor Le'Raven Clark looking like a legitimate answer. Jack Mewhort, who played right guard last season, is coming off season-ending knee surgery. Joe Haeg's slow development as a 2016 first-rounder continued at left guard.
Although this screams that the Colts need to think about Notre Dame's Quinton Nelson, the draft's best offensive lineman, with Mewhort and inside backup Mike Person as free agents, the team could use at least one seasoned fix. The Patriots' Cameron Fleming would solve the Good/Clark problem. The Steelers' Chris Hubbard could start either at right tackle or one of the guard spots.
If the Colts want to move on from Mewhort, the Panthers' Andrew Norwell, free agency's best offensive lineman, would be a terrific get for left guard and somebody they can easily afford. The Titans' Josh Kline and the Bears' Josh Sitton could start at either guard spot.
There's no excuse for Ballard and Reich not to be thinking big here with so many options to finally turn a weakness into a five-position strength.
Defensive end
Going from a three-man front to a four-man front is always tough, because the makeup of this particular position changes. The Colts now need ends who can edge rush again, long removed from the days of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis going after the quarterback.
Indianapolis had only 25 sacks in 2017, with outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard recording a team-high 5 1/2. The good news is Sheard is better built to play end, so he should have a more natural transition. Strongside linebacker John Simon, however, will need to stay where he is as a run-stuffer. And behind both, Barkevious Mingo is a free agent.
While Henry Anderson slides from end to run-stuffing tackle next to former Giants 4-3 standout Johnathan Hankins, it leaves the other end as a concern with 2017 third-rounder Tarrell Basham as the next edge-rushing option. A starter and more depth are needed for the rotation, given Al Woods, who turns 31 in March, is more of a 3-4 nose.
Ballard at the Combine admitted that type of edge-rusher is hard to find in free agency. Cases in point are the Lions franchise-tagging Ezekiel Ansah. The Cowboys are ready to do the same with DeMarcus Lawrence, for whom there will be no Dallas reunion with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
The Colts' best bet in free agency may be the Falcons' Adrian Clayborn, who was effective as a situational pass-rusher last season. The lack of mid-career impact defensive ends in free agency is also the reason Indianapolis in many mock drafts selects N.C. State's Bradley Chubb at No. 3 overall instead of Barkley or Nelson.
Inside linebacker
This is the other big change to the defensive front seven. Inside linebacker was a consistent need in the 3-4; the difference now is the Colts need someone at the position who's rangier and capable of covering as well as run-stopping. Jon Bostic is a free agent and unlikely to be re-signed for the new scheme.
The easy top target here is the Cowboys' Anthony Hitchens, who had Eberflus as his position coach last season. There's already a trust factor in Hitchens being well-rounded and doing everything asked of him. It will shocking if Indianapolis does not emerge as the front-runner for his services.
The Lions' Tahir Whitehead also would be a strong get at a higher price. On the cheaper side, the Bills' Preston Brown needs to be considered. The Eagles' Nigel Bradham is an excellent cover man and has swung well from inside to outside, so a Reich reunion can't be ruled out. Older versatile options are the Jaguars' Paul Posluzny and the Raiders' NaVorro Bowman.
Like they do with offensive line, the Colts need to come away with a significant addition here from a strong position pool in line with their system.
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Cornerback
The Colts have a top free agent they would like to re-sign in Rashaan Melvin, who shut down opponents' top receivers as a 28-year-old last season. The problem: For an older veteran on the market, other teams also know how good he was in 2017, and that might price him out of Indianapolis.
Ballard likes Melvin and wants him back, but he also won't overspend for a late bloomer coming off a hand injury. The Patriots' Malcolm Butler is slightly younger. Although Butler struggled a bit in 2017, he is durable, has a longer history of strong coverage and can perform well in the zone. At a similar price to Melvin, Butler would be a better value.
Behind Melvin, Pierre Desir and corner-turned-safety Darius Butler are also free agents. With how much money they have, the Colts could get a top-end starter and some more punch for the slot.
If it's not Melvin returning or Butler arriving, the Bears' Kyle Fuller and the Redskins' Bashaud Breeland have appeal because they're younger with more upside. For inside, the Colts should consider the Rams' Nickell Robey-Coleman and the Raiders' T.J. Carrie.
Because of Reich and Luck, the Colts can be this year's Rams if they take advantage of their upper hand with the salary cap and be aggressive.
What they could use most in free agency lines up with the best options available across positions. Ballard is saying the right things to make one believe he will make the moves, too, as Indianapolis has a coach who is perfectly aligned with his personnel thinking.
