The Indianapolis Colts are quickly finding out that replacing departed starting inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman may not be as easy as the team initially planned.
While there are conflicting reports on why the two sides’ contract negotiations ultimately broke down this past March, the 30 year old inside linebacker eventually signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent for 3-years, $12 million with $6 million guaranteed (and another $2 million available in incentives).
According to the Indianapolis Star’s Stephen Holder, the Colts actually prioritized signing a new starting cornerback opposite Vontae Davis over retaining Freeman with their limited cap space–having a looming mega-deal with Andrew Luck already hanging over the franchise’s financials:
"Jan 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman (50) reacts after a sack of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (not pictured) during the third quarter in the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports“The Colts weren’t willing to go beyond their initial three-year, $12 million offer to Freeman in February,” writes Holder. “But why? Because the Colts had set aside money specifically for a No. 2 cornerback behind their top corner, Vontae Davis. It was one of the team’s primary offseason needs and, because their style of defense is so heavily dependent on solid cornerback play, the Colts placed that need well above their desire to retain Freeman.”"
That No. 2 cornerback eventually became Patrick Robinson, who has actually held his own when healthy, but has been limited to just 2 games (1 start) because of a concussion, recording 8 tackles and a pass defensed.
To be fair to the front office, last year’s starter Greg Toler had been the weak link in the Colts secondary for years, and the defense was well-overdue for a significant upgrade. It’s just tough that it had to come at the expense of Freeman in free agency of almost all of the high-priced players on their defense.
Last season with the Colts, Freeman finished 2nd on the team with 112 total tackles. He had a ‘breakout season‘ with the Colts, as he was among the league’s best players at his position–especially with his considerable improvement in run defense.
So far, the Colts haven’t been able to successfully replace Freeman this season, as the team has gone through two projected replacements at inside linebacker already with Nate Irving and Sio Moore since his departure–both of whom are no longer even with the team.
This week serves as a particularly painful reminder of Freeman’s loss, as the 5th-year linebacker returns to Indianapolis this weekend–only this time in a Chicago Bears uniform to face his former longtime team.
Right now, Freeman is the Bears leading tackler with 41 total tackles and has been a bargain at his recently signed contract with his new team.
Per Pro Football Focus (subscription), Freeman is the league’s 6th best rated inside linebacker overall with an +88.7 grade overall–including a +90.9 grade in coverage which is the 2nd best among all players at his position.
With the Colts inside linebackers currently struggling to make tackles and cover receivers over the middle, there’s no question that Freeman would be a significant upgrade at the position for their defense if he were still donning ‘Horseshoe Blue’.
Instead, the Colts will now turn to the likes of Josh McNary, Antonio Morrison, Edwin Jackson, and even Trevor Bates for their latest attempt in replacing Freeman’s play and production–all young players who are largely unproven at the position with McNary being the group’s most senior member as a 3rd-year pro.
To be fair though, the Colts have had a history of letting some of their talented linebackers go. Specifically, even their Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian once upon a time allowed a handful of Pro Bowl linebackers in their prime to walk in free agency including Mike Peterson (1999-02), Marcus Washington (2000-03), and Cato June (2003-06) due to salary cap constraints respectively. .
Not to mention, one of their defensive leaders, outside linebacker David Thornton (2002-05), who is now the team’s Director of Player Engagement, is also on that highly regarded linebacker list. A high character and sure-tackling linebacker (sounding similar to Freeman), who Polian once said was one of his former players he most regretted letting leave through free agency–which was still evolving to what it is today at the time.
The point being that it’s not an unprecedented move for the Colts franchise to allow their talented linebackers in their prime to eventually depart through free agency.
That being said, it raises the question of whether given the age and production, the Colts wouldn’t have been better served releasing 33-year old veteran D’Qwell Jackson in favor of Freeman, which would’ve saved the team $5.5M this season–allowing them to bring back the younger and more productive inside linebacker in Freeman, while still signing Robinson.
Jackson is widely regarded as one of the veteran leaders of this Colts defense like Freeman once was. However, Freeman appears to be the more complete player at this point of their careers, while also bringing his own leadership qualities.
Regardless, it’s a moot point because the Colts can’t go back in time. Instead, the franchise must move forward, which means that they’ll now have to start game-planning for Freeman as a ‘Monster of the Midway’ instead of having their old #50 man the middle of their defense like he used to at such a seemingly high level.