An early look at potential free agent fits for the Indianapolis Colts
The Colts will head into free agency with around $35 million in cap space, with the potential to increase it significantly with some roster moves. That amount gives Colts GM Chris Ballard room to make some of the moves he wants to this off-season. Ballard does have a few decision to make in terms of the Colts own free agents but after that he has the opportunity to address some of the teams roster needs in free agency. Here is an early look at potential targets Ballard could look at to address the teams needs.
Paulson Adebo, Cornerback
The Colts secondary is very inconsistent, there’s games where they look great and shutdown the opponents receivers and then there’s games where they get destroyed down the field. The Colts have Juju Brents, Jaylon Jones and Kenny Moore pencilled in to start, however Brents is coming off an injured season and Jones and Moore particularly poor season performances. There is a huge need for a veteran corner to be added to the group.
Paulson Adebo would be the perfect addition to the Colts cornerback group. Adebo is coming off an injury shortened year in which he broke his femur but in the 7 games he did manage he managed 3 interceptions, 10 passes defended and 52 tackles. Adebo is only 25, he fits what Chris Ballard looks for in his cornerbacks and would a great cornerback pick up to start and push the young guys in the room on the outside.
Jevon Holland, Safety
The Colts safety plan in 2023 was very underwhelming and there is a huge need at the position this off-season. Starter Julian Blackmon is a free agent whilst Nick Cross had a breakout year but Rodney Thomas is far too inconsistent to rely on. The Colts moved Blackmon back to a free safety role in 2024 but his skill set allows him to be versatile in playing in the box too which he excelled at in 2023. The Colts are in dire need of a quality free safety.
Jevon Holland is a safety who would be perfect as a free safety in the Colts system, allowing Cross to man the strong safety role as he did so well in 2024. Holland is an uber athletic free safety who plays best when he is sat in a deep zone and can read the game from back there.
Holland is coming off an injury plagued down year for his standards and was far away from the 2021-2023 years where he was arguably one of the best safeties in the league. Getting Holland in a Jessie Bates type role in Lou Anarumo’s defense would be a huge addition to a struggling safety room.
Dre Greenlaw, Linebacker
Greenlaw is a former 5th round pick in 2019 from Arkansas. He has been a starter from his rookie year and has been one of the best linebackers year on year for the last couple of years. Greenlaw has been one half of the best linebacking tandem for the past couple of years and has been at the heart of a top 10 defense for the 49ers. Greenlaw excels in run defense and coverage and is a great tackler, everything the Colts linebackers were poor at in 2024.
Michael Hoecht, Defensive Line
One attribute Chris Ballard always looks for on the defensive line is versatility, Hoecht might very well be the king of versatility, having played defensive tackle, end and linebacker for the Rams. He was an undrafted free agent in 2020, a pure special teams player in 2021, a linebacker in 2022, a 6 sack defensive end in 2023, and moveable chess piece in 2024z. He is the definition of a hardworking player who has played and proved his way onto the field. Hoecht, 6’4” 310lbs, would be a great backup to DeForest Buckner at the 3-technique position replacing Taven Bryan, whilst also offering flexibility to kick outside at end too.