Indianapolis Colts: Jerrell Freeman the priority but not a must-keep

At the beginning of the season, Indianapolis Colts rookie Henry Anderson took the league by a storm with his excellent run defense as a third-round sleeper out of Stanford, but after he was done for the season, veteran inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman became an even clearer standout.

Jerrell Freeman sure stepped up his game in the final year of a contract that paid him about $2.3 million in the 2015 season, so the Indianapolis Colts definitely got more than what they bargained for from the former CFL star. He and D’Qwell Jackson gave the Colts one of the league’s better 3-4 inside linebacker tandems, and both smart veterans combined to provide this defense with excellent coverage, allowing them to effectively defend opposing running backs in the passing game.

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The Colts don’t have many important impending free agents this offseason, so Freeman has to be the team’s No. 1 priority to re-sign. Ahmad Bradshaw, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen, Dwight Lowery, solid run-stuffer Billy Winn, corner Greg Toler, and kicker Adam Vinatieri are all recognizable names, but none of them- not even Vinatieri- is as important to the Colts.

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Week-to-week consistency is what the Colts received from Freeman in 2015, as he delivered whenever he was healthy. There were times when he didn’t seem dominant due to hamstring and groin issues, which bounced him out of three games after he missed four contests in 2014, but, for the most part, few 3-4 inside linebackers showed up as profoundly in the running game.

Of course, the numbers were undoubtedly there for Freeman, who produced 112 tackles and three sacks. While those stats don’t compare to some of those in his past seasons- such as his 125 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two picks, and six PDs in 2013-he did a much better job of avoiding negative plays in the running game.

In fact, 93 of Freeman’s tackles came when the opponent did not convert a first down, and he was tied for fourth in the NFL with 61 tackles in the running game that came when the opposition gained four yards or less (by the way, Pro Football Reference is awesome).

Freeman has turned into one of the most well-rounded linebackers in the NFL, and he’s in the prime of his career. Set to turn 30 before the start of the 2016 season, Freeman still has a few years of good football left in him, and you only have to look at Jackson’s league-leading 78 tackles in run D with four-or-fewer yards gained to see an example of an ILB excelling at the ripe age of 32.

That said, even though Freeman is one of the centerpiece players of the Colts defense and at the heart of many of their good moves both against the run and pass, Ryan Grigson and the front office will have to tread carefully here. Not only do they have Andrew Luck‘s deal to mull over, but they can’t afford to overpay a 3-4 ILB, even if he is a huge key to their success. Cost will be the issue here, and Freeman could probably pull more money on the open market.

Since the franchise tag doesn’t seem likely in this scenario, this is a contract situation worth keeping an eye on, and teams around the league with holes at inside linebacker will monitor this one. Based on how well he played last season and how instinctive he is, Freeman could also succeed as a 4-3 middle linebacker, and that apparent scheme versatility can only increase the number of potential suitors out there.

I think of Freeman as a player they Colts need to do their best to try and keep, but he isn’t a “re-sign at all costs” type of player, such as Buffalo Bills young left tackle Cordy Glenn, simply because of his age and the relatively low value placed on his position. In fact, it’s a testament to his leadership and emerging star that the Colts should view a 29-year-old ILB with minor, nagging soft-tissue issues as a priority.

Karlos Dansby and Curtis Lofton pulled in about $6 million per year with between $2.2 and $3 million per season in guaranteed money.

I could see Freeman looking for a three-year contract worth $6.5 million overall with $7.8 million in total guarantees (or $2.6 million in guaranteed money in his deal, which means about 40% of the total value in his contract would be guaranteed).

That may be slight overestimate of what his market value is, because, well, Freeman probably isn’t looking to low-ball himself.

I would love to see both sides hammer out a deal before the start of the league year, since Freeman seems like the type of guy who should be a fixture in Indianapolis, especially after he balled out so critically in 2015.

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But if he’s looking to cash in on a real payday in the NFL, his best chance will most likely be to look elsewhere. The Colts have Jackson and more urgent needs at outside linebacker and cornerback (Toler stunk, but his departure only increases that need), so I wonder how those factors will play into negotiations.