After one of the most surprising 2018 seasons in the NFL, the Indianapolis Colts found themselves in the playoffs. Here are three moves they need to make this offseason to make sure they get back.
The Indianapolis Colts were not supposed to be good in 2018. On paper, they looked as if they were one of the worst teams in the league. With uncertainty regarding Andrew Luck’s shoulder, his offensive line,and the entire defense, no one was predicting it to be a good season. After a 1-5 start, it looked like all those people were right.
After their 1-5 start, the Colts went on to lose just one game the entire rest of the season and finished a shocking 10-6, falling one game short of winning their division. With this surprise finish also came a trip to the playoffs where they were able to advance to the Divisional Round before coming up short to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Colts and their fans should hold their heads high after the season. After all, no one predicted them to even come close to the playoffs. They enter the offseason with the most projected cap space in the entire league (per Over The Cap) and an extra second round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Colts look like they might be one of the top ranked teams entering 2019.
Here are three moves they need to make to build off of a terrific 2018 season.
Draft or sign secondary help
The Indianapolis defense was one of the biggest surprises of this team. With very few difference-makers, their defense looked like it could be one of the league’s worst. The Colts run defense ended up being one of the league’s best instead, but their pass defense was very average. To add to this, they are losing key pieces of their secondary to free agency. This makes it even more critical for them to replace these losses through the draft and free agency.
In free agency, it makes sense to add a safety to play alongside Malik Hooker. Clayton Geathers is set to be a free agent, and given his injury history, I suspect the Colts look elsewhere. Hooker is a free safety who is best when dropped back playing center field. The Colts will likely be looking to add a safety who plays up closer to the line to complement Hooker’s strengths.
If the Houston Texans decide not to re-sign Tyrann Mathieu, he could be a great fit to play alongside Hooker. Landon Collins is another strong safety that the Colts could look at if he is not re-signed by the Giants. Adding either Mathieu or Collins to play alongside Hooker would give opposing offensive coordinators fits.
To address their cornerback need, I think there is a chance they re-sign Pierre Desir, who really emerged for them this year. However, Desir is more of a No. 2 corner, which means the Colts should still be looking to select a cornerback in the draft.
With an extra second round pick, the Colts are set up to take a look at guys like Amani Oruwariye, Julian Love, or maybe someone like Greedy Williams if he falls to the early second round. Adding any of these guys would boost the Colts secondary to slow down guys like DeAndre Hopkins, Corey Davis and Will Fuller, who the Colts see twice a year.
Addressing the secondary will keep the Colts front office busy this offseason. But lucky for them, they are loaded with plenty of ammo to build this up to one of the league’s best secondaries in a very short amount of time.