Insiders Stephen Holder and Zak Keefer discuss the Colts’ new head coach on the latest podcast ‘Chopping Wood’.
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Here’s your chance to play general manager and wade into the crop of NFL free agents for 2018. In advance of the free agent market, which officially opens March 14, we ranked the top ten available players at each position. We will continue to update this list as players make their decisions.
Here’s a look at the top unrestricted free agents at each position (with age in parenthesis), along with Insider Zak Keefer’s take on the Colts’ needs at each:
QUARTERBACKS
1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (39): He doesn’t want to leave New Orleans, and the Saints want him back, so a contract between the two seems like a formality. That said, New Orleans can’t tag Brees, and if he did hit the open market, the Pro Bowler would have no shortage of suitors.
2. Kirk Cousins, Washington (29): Coming off of consecutive 4,000-yard, 25-TD seasons, Cousins will likely become the best quarterback under the 30 to hit the open market since Brees back in 2006. Though few project Cousins to take the leap to superstardom Brees did upon arriving in New Orleans, Cousins is franchise-caliber and should still be the most coveted free agent in this class.
3. Case Keenum, Minnesota Vikings (30): An incredible Cinderella story last season, the journeyman delivered a Pro Bowl-worthy campaign (3,547 yards, 22 TDs) and took Minnesota to the brink of the Super Bowl. Now the question is, did any team in the league buy the breakout or will he be forced to sign a short-term prove-it pact to demonstrate he can succeed outside of Pat Shurmur’s system?
(We broke down defensive free agents, too)
4. Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings (25): The mystery box of free agent quarterbacks. He heroically returned to the Vikings sideline after recovering from a horrific knee injury that nearly cost him his leg, but his future remains uncertain. He hasn’t started a game since 2015 and while he showed promise in his first 29 games, he was far from a sure bet to make the leap to stardom back then, and he is an even bigger question mark now.
5. Sam Bradford, Minnesota Vikings (30): Familiar doesn’t even begin to describe Bradford’s relationship with the injury report. While on the field, Bradford can be among the most accurate passers in the NFL, but staying on the field has always been his bugaboo and what could keep him from landing a long-term commitment and/or a starting gig.
6. Josh McCown, New York Jets (39): Despite being armed with a cadre of castoffs, McCown stunned everyone by producing a stellar season (2,926 yards, 18 TDs) in New York. There is not one team, though, that wants to enter the new season with a near 40-year-old journeyman as its starter, but he would would make an ideal QB2 and mentor to a young signal-caller.
7. Jay Cutler, Miami Dolphins (34): It’s long past time for NFL evaluators and fans alike to acknowledge just exactly who Cutler is: a slightly above average NFL quarterback who never lived up to his full potential. His 2017 season was perfectly ordinary, (completing 62 percent of his passes with a 19-14 TD/INT ratio) but any team that pursues him has to know he’s got one foot out the door after retiring once already.
8. A.J. McCarron, Cincinnati Bengals (27): It seems unlikely that the Bengals had a better option than Andy Dalton all of this time and never deployed him. It’s possible their talent evaluators missed that badly but what’s more likely is that McCarron — with questionable arm strength and mobility — is best suited for the role he already had: backup.
9. Tom Savage, Houston Texans (27): He’s got a big arm, is willing to hang tough in the pocket and has showed flashes that he’s a capable NFL passer. However, he’s coming off a season-ending concussion and he threw more picks (six) than touchdowns (five) last year, so his potential is probably capped at high-end understudy.
10. Blaine Gabbert, Arizona Cardinals: The scouting report on this former first-round pick is the same as it ever was: Give him time to stand in the pocket, and he can be effective, but if he gets a whiff of even a little bit of pressure, he crumbles. He’s been hearing footsteps since back in his college days at Missouri.
Best of the rest: Geno Smith, New York Giants; Brock Osweiler, Denver Broncos; Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Matt Barkley, Arizona Cardinals; Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins; Derek Anderson, Carolina Panthers; Drew Stanton, Arizona Cardinals; Chad Henne, Jacksonville Jaguars;.E.J. Manuel, Oakland Raiders; Austin Davis, Oakland Raiders.
What the Colts are thinking: All indications within the building are that Andrew Luck will be under center come Week 1. If not, new coach Frank Reich seems very high on backup Jacoby Brissett.
RUNNING BACKS
1. Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers (26): The most dynamic and creative back in the game, Bell is a playmaker in every sense of the word. He’s totaled 1,800 yards in each of the past two seasons despite missing five games. The only reason for a buyer beware sticker on Bell is due to the fact that he’s coming off a league-leading 400-touch season and has not always been the picture of health and reliability.
2. Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers (27): While there is a steep drop off from Bell to Hyde, the former second-round pick out of Ohio State is a complete back in the same mold as Bell. The 27-year-old played his first full slate this past year and nearly ran for 1,000 yards while hauling in a career high 59 passes and totaling around 1,300 total yards.
3. Dion Lewis, New England Patriots (27): Lewis emerged as more than just a scat back this season, rushing for 896 yards on just 180 carries (5.0 YPC). All the while, the 27-year-old still caught 35 passes to give him 1,000 total yards for the first time in his career. Of course with Lewis, production has never been a problem. Health has, as he’s missed 18 games in three years in New England.
4. Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns (25): Despite playing in an inept Browns system, Crowell has quietly been one of the more effective backs in the league over the past two seasons, averaging 902 rushing yards per season on 4.4 yards per carry. An intriguing blend of power and speed, he’s also proved himself an able pass-catcher, hauling in 68 passes over the past two years.
5. Rex Burkhead, New England Patriots (27): Burkhead proved a perfect fit in New England’s versatile system as a playmaker who could do a little bit of everything. At 214 pounds, he has the size to run between the tackles, but he also has sticky fingers and worked well as pass-catcher for Tom Brady (30 receptions). He’s probably not a lead back, but teams could do a lot worse than Burkhead at RB2.
6. Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings (25): McKinnon is a speedster with natural pass-catching ability. However, despite his shiftiness, he leaves a lot to be desired in the running game, having failed to average better than 3.8 YPC his past two years in Minnesota.
7. LeGarrette Blount, Philadelphia Eagles (31): Still a force to be reckoned with between the tackles, Blount plowed forward for 4.4 yards per carry and rushed for 766 yards in his first year in Philly. However, and after back-to-back Super Bowl campaigns, he might not have a lot left in the tank.
8. Alfred Morris, Dallas Cowboys (29): Blame the Cowboys’ struggles on Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension if you want, but Morris did everything he could to keep Dallas in contention with Zeke out, rushing for 4.8 yards per carry and a touchdown in five starts. Morris is three years removed from his Pro Bowl days in Washington but could still serve as useful bruiser in many systems.
9. Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts (34): Father Time is undefeated, but Frank Gore is putting up one hell of a fight. Though he’s not the same slippery bulldozer he used to be, Gore is still capable of slithering through holes and taking what his offensive gives him. Combined with his locker room presence, more than one playoff-caliber team should take an interest.
10. Orleans Darkwa, New York Giants (25): The Giants’ running game was practically nonexistent this season, but give the powerful Darkwa some credit for finding space (751 yards, 4.4 YPC) behind a dreadful offensive line. Still plenty young, Darkwa would provide solid depth to any team looking for it.
Best of the rest: Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals; Christine Michael, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks; Jamaal Charles, Denver Broncos; Charles Sims, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Branden Oliver, San Diego Chargers; Kenjon Barner, Philadelphia Eagles; Benny Cunningham, Chicago Bears; Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles; Alfred Blue, Houston Texans.
What the Colts are thinking: With just two capable running backs under contract, Robert Turbin and Marlon Mack, the Colts will need to address this in the offseason. Gore won’t return. In their effort to get younger, the Colts could attack this need through the draft or in free agency. Or both.
Read more on the Colts:
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars (24): Two years ago, the 6-3 Robinson looked like the next big thing at wide receiver, hauling in 80 passes for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns. However, perhaps due to playing alongside Blake Bortles, Robinson regressed the following year, then tore his ACL Week 1 this past season. Robinson is expected to be franchise tagged if he and the Jags can’t work out a long-term deal, but he’d surely be a hot commodity if he hit the open market.
2. Sammy Watkins, Los Angeles Rams (24): There’s no escaping the fact that last season was an incredibly disappointing one for the former fourth overall pick (2014). He played on the highest scoring team in the NFL yet came away with just 39 catches and 593 yards. However, he won’t even be 25 until June and he remains one of the most gifted weapons in the league. Of note, he’s also an elite run-blocker.
3. Paul Richardson, Seattle Seahawks (25): For teams looking for big-time potential without the big-time price tag, the former Seahawk could be their man. With a consistent starting role for the first time in his four-year career, this downfield playmaker responded with a healthy 44 catches, 703 yards and six touchdowns in 2017. However, he does come up with some risk, as he’s suffered significant knee injuries at both the NFL and collegiate levels and he’s not yet a crisp route runner.
4. Terrelle Pryor, Washington (28): In terms of disappointing seasons, there is no one on this list who tops the 6-6 Pryor. After a sensational 1,000-yard campaign with Cleveland in 2016, he wilted in Washington. He never got on the same page as Kirk Cousins and finished the year with just 20 catches and 220 yards. Still, there is clearly talent here and perhaps the right system could coax another 2016-type season out of him.
5. Marqise Lee, Jacksonville Jaguars (26): The lesser of two Jaguars weapons poised to hit the open market, Lee is the first receiver on this list where you’d have to squint pretty hard to see him as a No. 1 option. He’s possesses decent hands and is willing to go over the middle. However, he’s probably best served joining a team already equipped with a top target allowing him to deliver the same sort of steady production he’s provided the past two years in Jacksonville (50-60 catches, 700-800 yards and a few scores).
6. Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis Colts (24): As far as disappointing seasons go, Moncrief is a challenger to Pryor’s title because there are few more physically gifted receivers than Moncrief. He has the size, speed, hands and leaping ability of a No. 1 receiver yet has never made the jump to stardom. Injuries have taken their toll, as has inconsistent play at quarterback. But no matter the reasons, the fact is he’s coming of two straight seasons with 30 catches or fewer, so he’ll likely have to settle for a lot less money and years than he was hoping for just a season ago.
7. John Brown, Arizona Cardinals (27): He’s lighting quick and can take the top off any defense as exemplified by his career 14.5 yards per catch. However, a litany of injuries have kept him off the field for seven games the past two years and have limited the amount of home runs he’s been able to hit.
8. Mike Wallace, Baltimore Ravens (31): Wallace can still blaze with the best of them and remains a home run waiting to happen. Among active players with at least 400 catches, his 15.0 yards per reception are fifth most in the NFL — T.Y. Hilton is No. 2 at 15.8. Wallace is actually a more capable all-around receiving threat than most want to give him credit for but his age, occasionally questionable hands and challenging personality will likely keep his price tag low.
9. Jordan Mathews, Buffalo Bills (25): The 6-3 slot receiver looked like a star in the making on Chip Kelly’s Eagles, but a change in schemes, modest athletic ability and injuries kept him from fulfilling that promise. He didn’t produce much after being traded to the Bills before the 2017 season (25 catches, 282 yards), but he still has a good hands, creates mismatches in the slot and has a nose for the end zone (20 TDs in four years).
10. Eric Decker, Tennessee Titans (31): After becoming a salary cap casualty for the Jets, Decker latched on with the Titans and amassed a respectable 54 catches and 563 yards in a run-heavy offense. Though he will soon be 31, Decker still retains the skills that made him a reliable No. 2 in Peyton Manning’s offense in Denver. He’s a great route-runner, sure-handed and can occasionally stretch a defense, but how long though skills remain intact is another question entirely.
Best of the rest: Jaron Brown, Arizona Cardinals; Danny Amendola, New England Patriots; Bruce Ellington, Houston Texans; Tyrell Williams, San Diego Chargers; Taylor Gabriel, Atlanta Falcons; Albert Wilson, Kansas City Chiefs; Kendall Wright, Chicago Bears; Dontrelle Inman, Chicago Bears; Deonte Thompson, Buffalo Bills; Brice Butler, Dallas Cowboys; Ryan Grant, Washington.
What the Colts are thinking: Suddenly, what was once one of the team’s deepest position groups is alarmingly thin. Beyond T.Y. Hilton and Chester Rogers, the Colts have nothing at wideout heading into 2018. Moncrief remains this team’s biggest free agent decision. If they don’t bring him back, expect the Colts to chase a wide receiver (or two) in free agency, then draft one as well. Arizona’s Brown could be an intriguing fit in Frank Reich’s new offense.
TIGHT ENDS
1. Trey Burton, Philadelphia Eagles (26): Stuck behind Pro Bowler Zach Ertz, Burton was forced into a No. 2 role in an explosive Eagles offense. However, he has shown hints he can be much more that an secondary option when given the opportunity. In his only start this season, the ultra-athletic Burton hauled in five passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Though not a great blocker, if he’s looking for a bigger opportunity, there will be no shortage of teams happy to award it to him.
2. Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks (31): After two seasons of failing to take advantage of Graham’s prodigious red zone skills, Seattle finally figured out what a devastating weapon he can still be and put him to work. Graham caught 10 touchdown passes in a Pro Bowl season after catching only eight combined in his first two seasons in Seattle. After recovering from a gruesome knee injury, Graham is not the athletic freak he once was in New Orleans, but he’s still among the NFL’s most unguardable pass-catchers in the red zone.
3. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, New York Jets (25): Character and effort concerns chased the 26-year-old out of Tampa Bay, but he seemed to have put those things behind him in a stellar 2017 campaign that saw him catch 50 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns. He might never be a high-volume, superstar tight end, but the former second-round pick proved he’s more than capable secondary option.
4. Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals (27): There was a time when this Notre Dame and Bishop Dwenger product looked poised to challenge Rob Gronkowski’s spot as the NFL’s premier tight end, but that was before major back injuries cost him 22 games over the past two seasons. He was recently cleared to participate in offseason workouts, but there’s no telling if he’ll retain the athleticism that made him a red zone nightmare. Any team that brings him in will likely do so on a low-cost, low-risk deal.
5. Benjamin Watson, Baltimore Ravens (37): The guy can still play. After missing all of 2016 with an injury, Watson bounced back to catch 61 passes for 522 yards and four touchdowns. He remains a capable run blocker and though he’s not long for the NFL, he’d serve many teams well as a second-string tight end.
6. Antonio Gates, Los Angeles Chargers (38): The Frank Gore of tight ends. Gates will be entering his 16th season but proved last year he still has something left in the tank. In the final three games of the season, Gates hauled in 11 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Odds are the Chargers lifer stays in his adopted home or finds a team that gives him a legitimate chance at winning his first Super Bowl.
7. Virgil Green, Denver Broncos (29): The soon-to-be 30-year-old is the definition of a prototypical No. 2 tight end. He’s a sound blocker in the running game and won’t embarrass himself in the passing game. There’s probably some upside in a more pass-heavy offense.
8. Luke Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (28): Wilson is of the breed of tight ends capable of stretching the field and cutting defenses for big gains. He’s averaged 12.7 yards per reception during his five-year career and caught 11 touchdowns, though he’s also struggled with drops. With a respectable reputation as a run blocker, Wilson makes for a fine secondary tight end.
9. Niles Paul, Washington: Standing only 6-1, Paul is undersized for a tight end but has managed to stick around the NFL for six years because of his versatility. Last season, the 28-year-old often lined up as H-back, or hybrid tight end/fullback, which allowed Washington to experiment with formations. He’s also proved valuable on special teams.
10. Anthony Fasano, Miami Dolphins (33): He doesn’t have a lot of time left in the league, but he’s still has one skill that keeps him around: blocking. He remains a solid run-blocking tight end while representing little to no threat as a receiver.
Best of the rest: Julius Thomas, Miami Dolphins; Ed Dickson, Carolina Panthers; Troy Niklas, Arizona Cardinals; Derek Carrier, Los Angeles Rams; Richard Rodgers, Green Bay Packers; Logan Paulsen, San Francisco 49ers; Lee Smith, Oakland Raiders; Darren Fells, Detroit Lions; Jeff Cumberland, Los Angeles Chargers; Chris Gragg, New York Jets.
What the Colts are thinking: With Jack Doyle and Erik Swoope locked up for at least two more seasons, the Colts have to feel relatively good about the tight end position. They’ll have to make a decision on third-stringer Brandon Williams, but there are too many remaining areas of need for tight end to be a focus.
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Nate Solder, New England Patriots (29): The best left tackle to hit the market, Solder will command a price tag not commensurate with his production. Pro Football Focus ranked him the 32nd best tackle in football despite his reputation as one of the better run-blocking tackles in the game — meaning his pass-blocking often leaves something to be desired. Still, with so many teams needing quality play at a most important position and few quality options available, expect Solder to hit the jackpot.
2. Justin Pugh, New York Giants (27): Though he’s probably better suited as a guard, you can bet Pugh’s agent will flaunt his positional versatility. After Solder and Panthers guard Andrew Norwell, Pugh has a case to be considered the best offensive lineman available, albeit in a weak class. He’s a strong pass-blocker but has had trouble staying on the field. After playing and starting in all but four games in his first three seasons, Pugh has missed 13 games since 2016.
3. Chris Hubbard, Pittsburgh Steelers (26): After starting just four games in three years, Hubbard earned 10 starts at right tackle this year and acquitted himself well as part of a unit that finished sixth in both sacks and QB hits allowed. Hubbard is not a dominant lineman, but his appeal comes in his versatility. He can play servicably at both tackle spots and even guard if needed.
4. Cameron Fleming, New England Patriots (25): A career backup who performed admirably when called upon this season, Fleming comes with a solid pedigree as a former fourth-round pick out of Stanford. However, it does not exactly speak well of Fleming that despite earning starts all four years of his career, he has never been able to lock down a starting spot.
5. LaAdrian Waddle, New England Patriots (26): After missing all of 2015 with a torn ACL, Waddle has served a capable backup who came in handy for New England when right tackle Marcus Cannon went down. He impressed in back-to-back games against Von Miller and Khalil Mack — allowing three QB pressures combined — but he’s slow-footed and with just four starts since 2015, he may not be seen as anything more than a swing tackle.
6. James Hurst, Baltimore Ravens (26): Health and positional versatility are this Danville, Ind. native’s best attributes. In four years, he’s never missed a game and has started at multiple positions. Last season, however, he started 16 games for the Ravens and was somewhat exposed. He received poor grades from PFF, making him more of a quality depth option.
7. Andre Smith, Cincinnati Bengals (31): Smith’s best days are behind him, but he proved valuable to the Bengals this past season, putting out fires across a porous offensive line. Still, he’s coming off an injury and hasn’t started 10-plus games since 2015, so teams would be best served valuing him as a backup.
8. Chris Clark, Houston Texans (32): Before hitting the IR with a high ankle sprain and missing the final six games of the season, Clark started 22 of 26 games for Houston. He received poor grades from PFF but has a wealth of experience (53 career starts) and is an able reserve.
9. Michael Schofield, Los Angeles Chargers: A former third-round pick, Schofield started 29 games between right tackle and right guard for the Broncos before the Chargers claimed him off waivers and used him as depth in 2017. He has a solid locker room reputation and is capable of playing everything but center along the offensive line.
10. Garry Gilliam, San Francisco 49ers: The former undrafted free agent started 30 games for the Seahawks between 2014-16 before lettig him go. That’s not a great sign since Seattle’s offensive line has been atrocious the past few years. He latched on with San Francisco in 2017 and played 38 snaps before hitting the IR with a knee injury.
Best of the rest: Greg Robinson, Detroit Lions; Donald Stephenson, Denver Broncos; Seantrel Henderson, Buffalo Bills; Breno Giacomini, Houston Texans; Austin Pasztor, Atlanta Falcons; Michael Ola, Los Angeles Chargers; Will Beatty, Philadelphia Eagles; Matt Tobin, Seattle Seahawks; Cornelius Lucas, Los Angeles Rams.
What the Colts are thinking: Another offseason of questions for the Colts along the offensive line. The one position the Colts may be content with is left tackle, where seven-year veteran Anthony Casontzo is coming off a quietly-consistent season. But the Colts, again, find themselves in need of a right tackle after neither Le’Raven Clark nor Denzelle Good solidified the spot last season. The right signing in free agency could solve an issue that’s been plaguing this team for years now.
GUARDS/CENTERS
1. Andrew Norwell, Carolina Panthers (26): Teams looking for elite young talent will find it in Norwell, who is coming off a first-team All-Pro season. He is a solid run-blocker but will make his money as a pass-blocker. Credit to PFF for this telling statistic: “Norwell was also the only lineman to log at least 500 pass-blocking snaps without allowing either a sack or a quarterback hit, which makes him one of only four guards who have achieved this feat since PFF started collecting data back in 2006.”
2. Josh Sitton, Chicago Bears (30): Sitton falls into the If he’s so good, why did he get released? category of free agents. It’s a fair question, but as per usual, money is the answer. The Bears want to get younger and deemed paying the aging ex-All-Pro $8 million untenable. However, Sitton remains an excellent pass-protector and still graded out as one of PFF’s top guards in 2017. He’d be a wise addition for a contender in need.
3. Weston Richburg, New York Giants (26): Despite playing just four games this season before hitting injured reserve (concussion), the young center will be highly sought after due to his standout 2015 season and notable pass-protection skills. According to PFF, he allowed just 23 pressures between 2015 and 2016, though his run-blockings skills are considered merely average.
4. Jack Mewhort, Indianapolis Colts: Colts fans know the scouting report on Mewhort: The former second round pick out of Ohio State is a solid guard when he plays, but staying on the field has been a major issue. Mewhort has missed 17 games the past two seasons because of recurring knee problems. He’s still just 26 but may have to sign a one-year prove-it pact to ensure teams he can stay healthy.
5. Ryan Jensen, Baltimore Ravens (26): After starting just nine games in his first four seasons, Jensen took a mammoth leap forward in his fifth season, starting all 16 games at center for a Ravens offense that finished 7th in rushing DVOA. He graded out ninth among all centers by PFF standards after allowing pressure on less than two percent of drop-backs.
6. Josh Kline, Tennessee Titans (28): There are much more heralded names on the Titans’ smashmouth offensive line, but Kline performed admirably alongside them as PFF’s 22nd ranked guard. He’s not the road-grader others at his position are, but he holds up well in pass protection and is dependable, having started 30 of 32 games the past two seasons.
7. John Sullivan, Los Angeles Rams (32): A key cog in helping unlock the Rams offense and unleash Todd Gurley, Sullivan was perhaps just as valuable to Los Angeles as the much more celebrated offensive line addition of Andrew Whitworth. Sullivan’s age will keep him from scoring a big payday, but his high IQ and grading out as PFF’s 10th-ranked center should earn him more than the $900,000 he signed for last offseason.
8. Brandon Fusco, San Francisco 49ers (29): Cast off from Minnesota, Fusco was expected to provide nothing more than depth for the 49ers. However, following a preseason injury to starter Joshua Garnett, a seemingly rejuvenated Fusco stepped in and played his best football in years. He graded out as PFF’s 21st-ranked guard and hits the open market with the ability to reliably play all three interior line positions.
9. Spencer Long, Washington (27): Long is regarded as an average pass blocker who has the ability to play both guard spots as well as center, where he lined up for Washington last year. One potential knock against him: He missed 10 games over the past two years and has never played 16 games in a season.
10. Zach Fulton, Kansas City Chiefs (26): Fulton has been a pillar for one of the most consistent offenses in football. For four straight years, Kansas City has finished in the top 15 in offensive DVOA. Meanwhile Fulton has started 46 of their 64 regular season games. He’s not a bulldozer or a star pass protector, but he has held up well in both areas while shifting all over the Chiefs’ interior offensive line.
Best of the rest: Matt Slauson, Los Angeles Chargers; Shawn Lauvao, Washington; D.J. Fluker, New York Giants; Jonathan Cooper, Dallas Cowboys; Kevin Pamphile, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Senio Kelemete, New Orleans Saints; Travis Swanson, Detroit Lions; Luke Joeckel, Seattle Seahawks; Russell Bodine, Cincinnati Bengals; Alex Boone, Arizona Cardinals.
What the Colts are thinking: This is definitely an area the Colts need to address this spring, and free agency might be the team’s best bet. Offensive linemen, especially those playing in no-huddle offenses in college, are entering the league less polished than ever before. They need work. Lots of it. Finding a four- or five-year veteran, still young but acclimated to the rigors of the pro game, would help stabilize the Colts’ interior. The good news for Indianapolis? They have the money to spend. And Andrew Luck needs someone to keep him on his feet.
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