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INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts started off the new NFL league year with a bang a couple weeks ago, making some significant moves both in the trade and free agent markets.
Free agency buzz across the league has died down a bit since then, but there are still plenty of quality players left to be signed.
Before we get into that, here is a look at the Colts' in-house free agents who are still left on the market, grouped into what type of free agent each player is (unrestricted, restricted, exclusive rights):
UFA — S Clayton Geathers, WR Dontrelle Inman, WR Chester Rogers, DE Jabaal Sheard, K Adam Vinatieri, RB Jonathan Williams
RFA — CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, WR Marcus Johnson
ERFA — WR Daurice Fountain
Since free agency began, the moves that the Colts have made have transformed what their roster now needs.
Dating back to late in the 2019 season, the Colts have retained their own players in tight end Mo Alie-Cox, offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo, tight end Jack Doyle, kicker Chase McLaughlin and wide receiver Zach Pascal, but they have also brought in some excellent new pieces in defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, quarterback Philip Rivers, defensive tackle Sheldon Day and cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
Due to not only the volume, but the reported cost, of those deals, any players that the Colts may still be in the market for are likely not going to be of the big-ticket variety, so they may be looking at more modest options.
Looking ahead, we present the second edition of our Colts.com 2020 Free Agency Big Board. Rather than a typical big board in which players are ranked, we present you our top 20 available free agents specifically for the Colts, listed alphabetically.
PLAYER | POSITION | 2020 AGE | 2019 TEAM | BREAKDOWN |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jahleel Addae | Safety | 30 | Houston Texans | The Colts need depth behind Malik Hooker, Khari Willis and George Odum at safety, and Addae is good enough to be a starter if needed. |
Geronimo Allison | Wide Receiver | 26 | Green Bay Packers | A part-time starter for the Packers, Allison would fit perfectly with the Colts. They need depth at the position, and he's got nice size at 6-3, 202. |
Antoine Bethea | Safety | 36 | New York Giants | One of the best late-round finds of the last 15 years, the Colts could call home the safety who won a Super Bowl with them as a rookie. Providing leadership to a young Colts secondary could be invaluable. |
Jaron Brown | Wide Receiver | 30 | Seattle Seahawks | At 6-3, 204 pounds, Brown could fit the mold as the long, big-bodied receiver that Rivers has always had and the Colts are interested in. |
Morgan Burnett | Safety | 31 | Cleveland Browns | The versatile veteran safety could provide depth for the Colts in multiple spots in multiple formations. |
Charles Clay | Tight End | 31 | Arizona Cardinals | The Colts could use a proven veteran pass-catcher at tight end alongside Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox. |
Vinny Curry | Edge Defender | 32 | Philadelphia Eagles | With Jabaal Sheard still out on the market, the Colts could still use a depth at strong-side defensive end. |
Javien Elliott | Cornerback | 27 | Carolina Panthers | We saw how much the Colts' passing game struggled with Kenny Moore II injured late in 2019. Elliott could provide depth in the slot and outside. |
Markus Golden | Edge Defender | 29 | New York Giants | Again, the Colts could use a little more depth at defensive end, and Golden has two 10-sack seasons on his résumé. |
Rashard Higgins | Wide Receiver | 26 | Cleveland Browns | At 6-1, 198, Higgins could be a decent-size target for the Colts. He was one of quarterback Baker Mayfield's favorite targets in Cleveland. |
James Hurst | Offensive Lineman | 28 | Baltimore Ravens | The Plainfield, Ind., native would be a good replacement for Joe Haeg, as he has starting experience at both tackle and guard. |
Dion Jordan | Edge Defender | 30 | Oakland Raiders | The long, athletic edge defender could help provide depth for the Colts and give them a nice second wave on the defensive line. |
Josh Kline | Offensive Lineman | 30 | Minnesota Vikings | Many fans and media thought Kline deserved more time in Minnesota, so he should resurface elsewhere quickly to compete for a starting guard spot. |
Benson Mayowa | Edge Defender | 29 | Oakland Raiders | Another depth piece at edge, Mayowa has been a productive contributor to his teams' defensive fronts for several seasons now. |
Pernell McPhee | Edge Defender | 31 | Baltimore Ravens | You guessed it, another defensive end. McPhee's been productive for a long time, registering five seasons in his career with at least four sacks, and six seasons with at least five tackles for loss. |
Paul Richardson | Wide Receiver | 28 | Washington Redskins | If Richardson's health checks out, Colts quarterback Philip Rivers could get a lengthy, contested-catch maestro here. |
Logan Ryan | Cornerback | 29 | Tennessee Titans | Again, the Colts could use depth at slot corner, and Ryan could go above and beyond that. He's not the most fleet of foot, but he's versatile, tough and dependable. |
Luke Stocker | Tight End | 32 | Atlanta Falcons | Reliable as a blocker and pass-catcher, Stocker would be a perfect third member of the Colts' tight end group with Doyle and Alie-Cox. |
Delanie Walker | Tight End | 36 | Tennessee Titans | One of the most versatile and reliable tight ends of his era, Walker likely doesn't have much time left in the league. He's only played in eight games the last two seasons due to injury, so if his health looks good then he'll be a good second or third tight end option for interested teams. |
Tavon Wilson | Safety | 30 | Detroit Lions | Last on the list is yet another depth option at safety. Wilson isn't afraid to stick out and make the tackle, averaging 70 per season over the last four years, also adding 15 tackles for loss, three interceptions, one forced fumble, four recoveries and five sacks. |