For Colts, It’s Looking Like ‘Nick Perry or Bust’ to Upgrade Pass Rush in Free Agency

While there were high–perhaps lofty expectations among fans, it appears as though the Indianapolis Colts could strike out on this year’s impact pass rushers before the free agency period even begins.

Through no fault of the Colts own, other teams have already or are close to franchise tagging their respective elite pass rushers in a star-studded group that includes Chandler Jones, Melvin Ingram, and Jason Pierre-Paul–meaning Indianapolis cannot make a play because there’s no such play to even make:

Instead, the Colts could be left with only ‘The Last of the Prolific Pass Rushers’–specifically, the Green Packers Nick Perry to pursue in free agency:

It wouldn’t actually be a bad consolation prize all things considered, as the 26 year old is coming off a career season with the Green Bay Packers in which he recorded 11.0 sacks.

The 6’3″, 265 pound outside linebacker also had 52 tackles and a forced fumble–appearing in 14 games (12 starts) for the Green Bay Packers this past season.

Originally a first round pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, it has taken the 5-year veteran time to develop and come into his own as a pass rusher, as Perry combined for just 12.5 sacks in his first four seasons otherwise–having a career season high sack total of just 4.0 sacks prior to 2016.

However, just like the Los Angeles Chargers Melvin Ingram, who was a former 2012 first round pick and combined for 16.5 sacks in his first four seasons, Perry could be hitting his stride right when’s set to make lucrative dollars on the free agent market.

Currently, Perry is rated as Pro Football Focus’ 15th best free agent among their ‘Top 50 NFL free agents of 2017’:

"15. Nick Perry, EDGE, Green Bay PackersNick Perry is another former first-round edge defender that took some time to get going in the NFL, but has started to look worth the draft status lately. Perry posted career-highs in snaps, sacks, total QB pressures, defensive stops and more or less every other statistical category you choose to mention for the Packers this season. He is a player that might be better suited playing consistently with his hand in the dirt as a 4-3 defensive end. Either way, Perry has the position flexibility to make him an option to any scheme in the league."

Specifically, per Pro Football Focus (subscription), Perry’s overall grade of +82.2 overall was the 19th best among all ‘edge defenders’–which included a pass rush grade of +76.5.

Obviously, the Colts could clearly use at least two impact pass rushers from either/both free agency and the NFL Draft.

Most notably, the team struggled generating pass pressure last season, finishing tied for 19th with 33.0 total sacks–although it felt much worse.

The franchise’s all-time career sack leader Robert Mathis recently retired, while last season’s sack leader, Erik Walden, is set to become a free agent himself. Otherwise, there are no young pass rushers pushing through the Colts pipeline to potentially replace them and jumpstart the defense’s pass rush.

It’s widely expected that the Colts will look long and hard at the top pass rushing prospects in this year’s NFL Draft class early on, a deep group that includes Alabama’s Tim Williams, Tennessee’s Derek Barnett, and UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley among others.

However, the Colts cannot purely rely on ‘one guy’ either next season, as not only could the defense use quality pass rush from both sides, but also because a pass rusher can be susceptible to getting hurt–much like any other player.

Perry could provide the Colts with a proven pass rusher to take some of the pressure and workload off of a presumed rookie pass rusher–while potentially helping to mentor the younger player in the process.

Of course, the Colts clearly don’t have much other choice right now. Unless the team elects to re-sign Walden, the defense is left to either sign Perry or potentially select two pass rushers in the early rounds of the NFL Draft–not just one.

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Should he hit the market, Perry will likely command a lucrative multi-year deal. However, unlike the other top pass rushers, he’ll actually be available–meaning the Colts will at least have an opportunity to make a play.

For a proven pass rusher like Perry, as well as their dire need at the position factored in, it could be clearly worth it for the Colts to make a winning free agency pitch.