NFL free agency: Who's left for the Colts on defense

A thin NFL free-agent market carries a lot more depth on the defensive side of the ball.

For a Colts team that might be looking to upgrade the depth and talent on defense, that’s good news. Under Chris Ballard, Indianapolis has not been the type of team to overpay, but the Colts have unearthed key defensive starters like Jabaal Sheard and Denico Autry in Ballard’s first two offseasons, and if Indianapolis is ever going to sign a top-of-the-market starter, it looks like there are candidates on the defensive side of the ball this year.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the top 10 free agents at each position on defense. For the purposes of this exercise, players are placed at the position they would play in the Indianapolis defense, a 4-3 front that would require most 3-4 outside linebackers to play defensive end.

Defensive ends

New England Patriots Trey Flowers #98 in action against the Los Angeles Rams during NFL Super Bowl 53, Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Outlook: Nearly all of the big-time pass rushers coming off of their rookie deals were hit with the franchise tag to keep them from getting to the market, but this is still a fairly deep class, full of promising young talent and ageless veterans still capable of getting to the quarterback, with a very real possibility of more decorated veterans hitting the market in the week leading up to free agency.

1. Trey Flowers, New England Patriots (25): Flowers is the big prize on the defensive line market, a versatile player who has produced 21 sacks over the past three seasons. Used as more than just an edge rusher in New England’s scheme, Flowers is good against the run and the pass, and he’ll likely command top dollar for those skills on the open market. (Reports: He's joining the Lions on a five-year deal in the range of $16 million per season.) 

2. Preston Smith, Washington Redskins (26): Smith has spent most of his career as an outside linebacker in a 3-4, but at 265 pounds and coming from a four-man front at Mississippi State, he might actually be better if he gets a chance to put his hand back in the dirt. Used in a three-man rotation in Washington, Smith has 24.5 sacks in four years — including two eight-sack seasons — and he’s been an effective player against the run, which will entice teams who want to see what he can do in a featured role. (Report: He's signing with the Packers.)

3. Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit Lions (29): Ansah is capable of incredible heights; he has seasons of 14.5 sacks and 12 sacks. The problem has been injuries. Ansah has missed time in each of the last three seasons, including more than half of 2018 due to shoulder problems. At his age, Ansah is still gifted, but any team that signs him is hoping he can stay healthy.

4. Za’Darius Smith, Baltimore Ravens (26): Another outside linebacker in a 3-4, Smith appears to be on the rise after ripping off 8.5 sacks last season, and he’s a big-bodied player who could handle the move to defensive end in a four-man front. Because of that 3-4 experience, both Smiths will likely get a lot of attention from 3-4 teams. (Reports: He's signing with the Packers.)

5. Dante Fowler Jr., Los Angeles Rams (24): Fowler, the former No. 3 pick in the draft, would be higher on this list if he’d lived up to his athletic potential, but in three years in the NFL, he has 16 sacks (a career-high of eight in 2017), and he carries baggage off the field and in the locker room. Fowler was suspended by the Jaguars in training camp last year for a fight with teammate Yannick Ngakoue, and he served a one-game suspension to start the season for a 2017 arrest. (Signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Rams according to multiple media reports.)

6. Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens (36): An older player like Suggs doesn’t seem like a fit for the Colts, but it’s hard to believe he won’t find a home in free agency at some point. Suggs has 26 sacks over the past three seasons, and great pass rushers have a tendency to find ways to get to the quarterback deep into their careers. (Signing a one-year $7 million contract with Arizona according to published reports.)

7. Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins (37): The man who broke the Colts’ sackless streak this season is a lot like Suggs — far too old for most teams, but coming off of a six-sack season, 28 in the last three and likely still capable of providing pass rush in a situational role. (He joins the Titans.)

8. Alex Okafor, New Orleans Saints (28): Injuries have plagued Okafor throughout his career, but when he’s healthy for all 16 games, as he was last season in New Orleans, Okafor is an excellent run defender who also has the speed to get around the edge. He earned his way to free agency through a performance-based incentive in his contract. (He joins the Chiefs.)

9. Markus Golden, Arizona Cardinals (27): Golden, a high-effort player who racked up 12.5 sacks in a breakout season in 2016, will be a buy-low prospect for teams in the hopes that he’ll be able to finally turn the corner after the torn ACL he suffered in 2017 and get back to the player he was before the injury. (He joins the Giants.)

10. Shane Ray, Denver Broncos (25): Plagued by injuries throughout his time in Denver, Ray had an eight-sack season in his second year in the NFL, but he’s been unable to shake wrist injuries over the past two seasons and recorded just one sack in each of those two years. Unless a team gets him at low cost, he’s a risk, a lot like Golden.

What the Colts are thinking: A dominant player off the edge is Indianapolis’ biggest need, and there are several promising pass rushers coming off of rookie contracts who might be able to live up to a big salary. That being said, the league-wide need for pass rushers might drive up the price and hand these guys a little more than they’re worth, like the Giants did with Olivier Vernon a couple of years ago. If that happens, Indianapolis could try to identify a sleeper somewhere south of the top end of the market, likely a young player who has flashed potential but not fully realized it yet.

Defensive tackles

Los Angeles Rams Ndamukong Suh #93 in action against the New England Patriots during NFL Super Bowl 53, Sunday, February 3, 2019 in Atlanta. The Patriots won 13-3. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Outlook: Beyond the top handful of targets, there are a lot of run-stoppers in this class, which will fit some teams but push the value down for others. NFL teams are bent on figuring out how to get pass rush from the interior, which makes the old run-plugging nose tackle less valuable than he was the past.

1. Ndamukong Suh, Los Angeles Rams (32): Suh is no longer the unblockable force he was as a young player, but anybody who watched the Rams in the playoffs knows he’s still capable of dominating from the interior. In nine seasons in the NFL, Suh has never recorded fewer than four sacks; he’s had 4.5 in each of the last two years.

2. Sheldon Richardson, Minnesota Vikings (28): Free-willed and outspoken, Richardson has spent the past two seasons playing on one-year deals, and due to his character concerns, he could be looking at another short-term deal despite a bounceback season with 4.5 sacks in Minnesota. Something of a risk, Richardson is supremely talented. (Will sign with Cleveland for three years and $36 million per published reports.)

3. Tim Jernigan, Philadelphia Eagles (26): Brought in as a pass rusher who had 13 sacks in three seasons with Baltimore, Jernigan played more of a run-stopping role with Philadelphia, and he missed most of 2018 with a back injury suffered in the offseason. Improved play in the playoffs, including a half-sack in each of the Eagles' games, could be a sign he’s ready to return to form.

4. Darius Philon, Los Angeles Chargers (25): Philon, who has 8.5 sacks over the last two years, might be able to cash in as a young, promising player who’s coming off of his rookie deal and take the next step in an expanded role. 

5. Henry Anderson, New York Jets (27): The Colts traded Anderson for a seventh-round pick during the NFL Draft last season because Indianapolis felt he didn’t fit the scheme. The oft-injured Anderson made the most of his new surroundings, racking up seven sacks and proving he can provide pass rush from the interior. (He remains with the Jets.)

6. Muhammad Wilkerson, Green Bay Packers (29): Wilkerson’s Pro Bowl talent and past production should place him higher on the list, but the veteran is coming off of a fractured ankle that required two surgeries. Wilkerson has almost always operated as a defensive end in a 3-4, but he rushes from the interior and would play 3-technique tackle in a 4-3.

7. Corey Liuget, Los Angeles Chargers (28): Liuget has been a rock for the Chargers for eight years, but a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs and a torn quadricep kept him from making much of an impact in 2018. An excellent pass rusher early in his career, Liuget has just three sacks in his last three seasons as he gets older.

8. Malcom Brown, New England Patriots (25): Brown’s a former first-round pick who is better at stopping the run than rushing the passer; he’s got 8.5 career sacks in 60 career games. (He joins the Saints.)

9. Johnathan Hankins, Oakland Raiders (26): Hankins, a Ballard signing in 2017 who was released in a surprise move after one season in Indianapolis, isn’t a good fit in a 4-3 defense focused on all of its linemen penetrating, but he still has a lot of value as a run-stopper in the right scheme. (He will remain in Oakland on a two-year deal.)

10. Christian Covington, Houston Texans (25): Covington’s an interesting case, a young player who might benefit from a shift to a different team, although he hasn’t had much pass-rush production (7.5 sacks) in four seasons. (He joins the Cowboys.)

What the Colts are thinking: Ballard made a key move by signing Margus Hunt a week before the start of free agency, and now Indianapolis might have enough depth that they don’t need to address the position until the draft, since Denico Autry, Tyquan Lewis and Jihad Ward are all coming back at the spot along with Hunt.

Linebackers

Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosley runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Outlook: A team looking for linebacker help is in luck. There is talent, and plenty of it, available on the free-agent market, ranging from perennial Pro Bowlers to young players on the rise to versatile veterans who still have something to offer the right team.

1. C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens (26): The Ravens chose not to tag their four-time Pro Bowl linebacker, but Baltimore is going to try to re-sign him before another team gets a shot at him. Excellent against the run (four seasons of more than 100 tackles) and the pass (nine interceptions, 8.5 sacks), Mosley is as good as they get inside. (Signing with the New York Jets for five years, $85 million.)

2. Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings (26): Barr’s a four-time Pro Bowler whose production (an average of 67.6 tackles and 2.7 sacks) doesn’t quite match the accolades. But he’s a rarity in today’s game, a player who can both stack up tackles at the line of scrimmage, rush the passer and make plays in coverage. Barr will be a great fit in the right scheme as a defensive coordinator’s personal weapon. (Signing with the Minnesota Vikings New York Jets per published reports.)

3. Kwon Alexander, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (24): Alexander is one of the youngest players on the market, and although he’s coming off of a torn ACL, his speed, nose for the ball and coverage ability make him an ideal fit for today’s game when he’s healthy. (Reports: He joins the 49ers for four years, $54 million.)

4. K.J. Wright, Seattle Seahawks (29): Bobby Wagner’s running mate for so many seasons with the Legion Boom, Wright is an instinctive run-and-chase linebacker who can handle himself in zone coverage, and although he missed 11 games with a knee injury, he’d be an excellent starter if he fends off Father Time past the age of 30. (Re-signed with Seattle.)

5. Jordan Hicks, Philadelphia Eagles (26): Hicks might have made a Pro Bowl or two in his career already if he could stay healthy, but he’s only played 16 games once in four seasons. When he’s healthy, Hicks is a rangy linebacker who’s excellent in the passing game, both as a ballhawk — he had five interceptions in 2016 — and as a blitzer. (He joins the Cardinals on a four-year deal)

6. Jamie Collins, Cleveland Browns (29): Collins is an older version of Barr. Released by the Browns because his production didn’t match his salary, Collins is nevertheless a versatile weapon for a defense, capable of rushing off the edge and playing in coverage, as he’s got 17.5 sacks and seven interceptions over the past five seasons.

7. Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers (32): The long-time leader of the Packers defense used to be a premier edge rusher, but as his career’s progressed, Green Bay has used him inside, and that ability to play on the ball and off gives Matthews value as he heads into his 11th season. A team that signs Matthews can play him in both capacities, and he’s a good blitzer from the interior. (He joins the Rams.)

8. Denzel Perryman, Los Angeles Chargers (26): Perryman might never reach the market; the Chargers are reportedly trying to sign him before anybody else gets a shot at him. When he’s healthy, Perryman is a thumper with a knack for impact plays, but he’s missed 16 games over the last two seasons due to hamstring injuries. (He stays with the Chargers.)

9. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos (29): A key part of Denver’s Super Bowl defense, Marshall missed five games last season due to a knee injury and lost his starting spot to younger players. If healthy, he can bring his leadership and experience on some very good defenses to a new team.

10. Mark Barron, Los Angeles Rams (29): Drafted as a safety, Barron was moved to linebacker as part of a league-wide movement to move bigger safeties into the box, thereby increasing team speed in coverage. Barron has made more than 100 tackles twice, and he had five combined interceptions in 2016 and 2017, but his play dropped off on the Rams’ way to the Super Bowl. (He joins the Steelers.)

What the Colts are thinking: Indianapolis, like a lot of teams in today’s NFL, gives only two linebackers starter’s snaps because the Colts operate out of the nickel so much, and after last season, Indianapolis doesn’t need to make an investment in a starter at linebacker. Darius Leonard is the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year and a first-team All-Pro, and Anthony Walker emerged as the defense’s leader and an excellent player in his own right. Any investment here would be for depth, and the Colts have several young linebackers behind Leonard and Walker who’ve shown promise.

Cornerbacks

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby (21) tackles Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) during the second half of an NFL football game at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Outlook: There is no clear No. 1 on the market, but there are solid starters available, on the outside and in the slot, and the depth goes beyond the top 10 at the position. Plucking a cornerback in free agency and putting him in the right situation is notoriously difficult, but there are starting-level options at the position.

1. Ronald Darby, Philadelphia Eagles (25): Darby’s a tough player to evaluate, both from a production standpoint and because he’s coming off of a torn ACL, his second major injury in as many years. When he’s healthy, Darby’s a good starting cornerback with a knack for getting his hands on the football and knocking it away, but he has to be able to play more than half a season. (He stays with the Eagles.)

2. Pierre Desir, Indianapolis Colts (28): Desir picked the perfect time to have the best season of his career, and the two games he played against DeAndre Hopkins made him a much hotter commodity on the market. A vagabond before last season, Desir proved he can be a physical, sure-tackling cornerback who fares well against physical receivers, and the combination of his size and breakout season might price him out of Indianapolis. The Colts want him back, but Desir’s season could land them in a bidding war. (He remains with the Colts on a three-year deal.)

3. Bradley Roby, Denver Broncos (26): The third member of the cornerback group that made up the No Fly Zone in Denver, Roby has been at his best when he’s playing a supporting role to Chris Harris and Aqib Talib. Roby didn’t make the most of his promotion to full-time starter last year, but he’s an experienced, durable cornerback who has played on some very good defenses. (He joins the Texans.)

4. Bryce Callahan, Chicago Bears (27): Callahan might have had the best season of anybody on this list, but as a slot cornerback, his value is greater to teams that need a nickel, rather than an outside player. Callahan’s had a little trouble staying healthy, but when he’s good, he’s one of the league’s best at playing in the slot, a position that’s a starter in the NFL now. (He joins the Broncos.)

5. Steven Nelson, Kansas City Chiefs (26): The Chiefs’ defense struggled at all levels last season, but Nelson turned in the best season of his career so far from a production standpoint, playing in all 16 games for the first time and making four interceptions, all while taking starter’s snaps. (He joins the Steelers.)

6. Darqueze Dennard, Cincinnati Bengals (27): Another excellent slot cornerback, Dennard has been durable and productive as a blitzer in five seasons with the Bengals, but his ball skills leave something to be desired.

7. Kareem Jackson, Houston Texans (30): There are two difficult questions to answer with Jackson: the first is his age, the second is which position he’ll play at 31. Jackson played cornerback and safety last season, but if a team is willing to give him help over the top, his experience and ball skills could still be an asset on the outside. (Signing with the Denver Broncos)

8. Bashaud Breeland, Green Bay Packers (27): An injury threw a wrench in Breeland’s free agency last year, and he was forced to wait to sign until the season started, visiting the Colts along the way. Once he got healthy, though, Breeland was solid for the Packers, and he was a four-year starter in Washington with 60 pass breakups and eight interceptions. (He joins the Chiefs.)

9. Jason Verrett, Los Angeles Chargers (27): This is a difficult decision for NFL teams. The one time Verrett was healthy enough to play close to a full season, he was a lockdown No. 1 cornerback who made the Pro Bowl. The problem is that he’s played 11 games in the other four seasons of his career combined, and his bad injury luck makes his availability a major deterrent. (He joins the 49ers.)

10.  Kevin Johnson, Houston Texans (26): Johnson is a lot like Verrett, except without the Pro Bowl peak. After playing in all 16 games as a rookie, he’s played just 19 in the last three seasons, and his 2018 was lost because of concussions, the kind of injury that could put his career in jeopardy if they continue to happen. (He joins the Bills.)

What the Colts are thinking: If Desir leaves, Indianapolis has only two cornerbacks who played any snaps of significance after the bye on the roster, and the Colts need another player to line up along with Quincy Wilson and Kenny Moore when three cornerbacks are on the field. Whether that player comes from free agency or from the draft, or a combination of the two, remains to be seen. With Moore playing at a near Pro Bowl-level in the slot, expect any investment to come on the outside.

Safety

Oct 7, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; New York Giants defensive back Landon Collins (21) controls the ball as Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Moore (12) tackles during the second half at Bank of America Stadium.

Outlook: With each passing day, another big name at the safety position is banished to free agency, and that means there is no shortage of Pro Bowl-caliber, playmaking veteran safeties available, which could drive prices down a bit because there’s so much supply available in a free agent market that is thin at a lot of other positions.

1. Landon Collins, New York Giants (25): Collins might be a little limited in coverage, but the three-time Pro Bowler has good ball skills, can line up in man-to-man against tight ends and slot receivers, and there’s probably not a better tackler as a defensive back in the entire NFL. When New York decided to let him hit the market, most observers were stunned. (Reports: He joins Washington for six years, $84 million.)

2. Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks (30): Thomas is the best safety of his generation, the key to the Legion of Boom’s success, and he’d be atop this list if he hadn’t suffered a broken leg twice in the past three seasons. Nobody in the NFL is better at taking away the deep ball; Thomas is the type of player who can erase just about any mistake. (He joins the Ravens on a four-year deal.)

3. Tyrann Mathieu, Houston Texans (26): Back on the market after signing a one-year deal last offseason, Mathieu made the most of it, displaying his diverse array of skills (three sacks, two interceptions, 89 tackles) in his season with Houston. Versatile, with a knack for the big play, Mathieu will get a lot of attention on the open market. (Reports: He agrees to a three-year, $42 million deal with the Chiefs.)

4. Eric Weddle, Baltimore Ravens (34): Baltimore’s decision to cut the six-time Pro Bowler came as a surprise, particularly given his importance to the NFL’s No. 1 defense last season. Weddle’s age will turn some teams off in this market, but great safeties have a history of playing deep into their careers, and Weddle’s ability to confuse quarterbacks and take away throwing lanes remains extraordinary. (Agreed to terms with Rams on two-year deal worth up $12.5 million). 

5. Adrian Amos, Chicago Bears (25): Big, strong and a sure tackler on one of the NFL’s best defenses, Amos is a good, young player coming off of his rookie contract. The only thing that might be lacking is more takeaway production; he has just three interceptions and three forced fumbles in his four seasons. (Signing with the Green Bay Packers.)

6. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Washington Redskins (26): A former Pro Bowler who has 14 interceptions and four forced fumbles in his five-year career, Clinton-Dix has been durable and productive, but the Packers’ decision to trade him at midseason was a sign that his big plays might have come at a cost for Green Bay at times. (He joins the Bears.)

7. Lamarcus Joyner, Los Angeles Rams (28): Joyner’s a hybrid player, a safety who entered the league as a cornerback and therefore has better matchup skills in coverage than some of the other players at his position. Joyner, who is only 5-8, lacks size, but he was important enough to the Rams that he played under the franchise tag last season. (SIgning a four-year deal with the Oakland Raiders.)

8. Kenny Vaccaro, Tennessee Titans (28): Tennessee has made Vaccaro a “primary target” to retain in free agency, in large part because of the big-play ability he brought to the Titans after signing during training camp. A thumper of a strong safety, Vaccaro is a good blitzer who has 9.5 sacks in his career and also has nine interceptions in six seasons. (Reports: He stays with the Titans.)

9. Tre Boston, Arizona Cardinals (26): Boston’s an interesting case, a player who has only gotten a single season in Los Angeles and Arizona over the last two years despite good ball skills and a knack for making interceptions. A durable player who has missed just three games over the last four seasons, Boston also has 10 interceptions in the last three, including five in 2017.

10. Clayton Geathers, Indianapolis Colts (26): The book on Geathers is simple. When he’s healthy, he’s a force, prompting Ballard to say that the team wants him back at the Combine last week. The problem is the injuries. Geathers is as tough as they come and plays through pain as much as possible, but he’s missed 22 games in the last three seasons. (He stays with the Colts.) 

What the Colts are thinking: Due to all of the things they ask safeties to do, the Colts value the position more than a lot of teams around the league, and the injuries suffered by Geathers, Matthias Farley and Malik Hooker showed how much the team could use improved depth at the position. With money to spend, talent on the market and the importance of the position in the defense, Indianapolis could make an investment here.