After much speculation on where he might end up, the starting safety is returning to Indianapolis for the 2019 season.
Clayton Geathers is still a Colt. According to multiple sources, the Colts are re-signing Geathers to come back on a one-year deal. Geathers had been a player of interest to multiple other teams, having visited the Cowboys and the Buccaneers in recent days.
Geathers has been a solid player for the Colts when he has been healthy. But health has been the biggest problem in his career. He has yet to play 16 games in a single season, and has only played 26 games in the last three years. There is significant concern there.
That could be the reason Geathers is only coming back on a one-year deal. Chris Ballard loves signing these “prove it” deals that allow the player to prove they can stay healthy and productive and earn themselves a long-term deal the following season.
There is very little risk in this signing for the Colts. They can cut ties with him next year if he can’t prove to stay healthy, or they can extend him to a long-term deal if he does. It’s as simple as that. They also aren’t spending a ton of money for this one-year deal either.
This move might have been necessitated by other safeties not being available. There have been several other big names already move this offseason, most notably Earl Thomas and Landon Collins. Geathers might have been the best option left on the board besides Eric Berry.
With this signing, it seems the Colts have answered the question of who will start at strong safety this season. It is to be determined whether or not that lasts beyond 2019.