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Colts Should Strongly Consider These Top 7 Free Agents

By Luke Schultheis

Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) reacts after a tackle in the third quarter during Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) reacts after a tackle in the third quarter during Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 27, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley (90) tackles Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) for a loss during the fourth quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Rams 49-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley (90) tackles Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) for a loss during the fourth quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Rams 49-21. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Nick Fairley, Defensive Tackle, New Orleans Saints

Whether the 6’4″, 308 pound defensive lineman would play nose tackle or Art Jones‘ presumed soon-to-be old role at defensive tackle is unclear, but either way, Nick Fairley would significantly strengthen the Colts defensive line next season.

The former 13th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions has quietly put together consecutive solid, if unspectacular seasons with both the New Orleans Saints and the St. Louis Rams respectively.

Last season, Fairley started in all 16 games for the Saints, recording 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks, showing consistent flashes of the player that once made him such a highly touted defensive lineman coming out of Auburn–having battled weight and conditioning issues earlier in his career.

Per Pro Football Focus (subscription), Fairley was rated as their 34th best ‘interior defender’ with a +76.9 grade overall–including a +77.6 pass rush grade (13th best). Still, Fairley graded out poorly as a run defender with just a +47.5 run defense grade on what was once again a really bad Saints defense.

That being said, Fairley would be a significant upgrade to either starting nose tackle David Parry or Jones regardless of where he lines up along the defensive line. The big man has the ability to really push the pocket from the interior of the defensive line as a pass rusher.

He could also be a much cheaper alternative to more heralded interior defensive lineman such as the Baltimore Ravens Brandon Williams or Kansas City Chiefs Dontari Poe respectively.

There’s no question that the Colts have to get stronger in the trenches defensively and signing the 29 year old Fairley would be a positive step in the right direction.

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