Indianapolis Colts Slow to Make Moves in Free Agency
By Andrew Ites
The Colts have yet to spend any of their $80 million in cap space this offseason, but that might not be a bad thing.
The Colts have been connected to two free agents this offseason, but neither of them will be playing in Indianapolis in 2018. Guard Andrew Norwell decided to sign with Jacksonville, and running back Dion Lewis will be a Tennessee Titan.
It’d be easy for Colts fans to panic right now as many of the top free agents are flying off the market, but there are still plenty of talented players left in free agency. Josh Sitton, E.J. Gaines, Rashaan Melvin, NaVorro Bowman, T.J. Carrie, Derrick Johnson, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are among the free agents still available and they all play a position that the Colts need to address this offseason.
General manager Chris Ballard did a fantastic job of finding bargain bin free agent deals last offseason, and he may be employing the same strategy this year.
John Simon, Jabaal Sheard, Jon Bostic, Margus Hunt, and Barkevious Mingo were not at the top of anybody’s “top free agent” lists last season, but Ballard signed them to team-friendly deals and they all played well in significant roles in 2017.
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I’m sure Ballard would’ve loved to sign Norwell and Dion Lewis, but the price tag was probably more than he was willing to pay even though the Colts have a ton of cap room to spend.
This may not end up being the home run free agency that many Colts fans were looking for, but the front office could turn it around and end up signing some quality deals before free agency is over.