It’s clear that the Indianapolis Colts need help along the defensive line, and Seattle’s Quinton Jefferson could be a great addition at his market value.
Free agency is just over a week away, and for the Indianapolis Colts, it presents an important step in the offseason process. With almost $90 million in cap space, general manager Chris Ballard could be gearing up for a run at a big ticket free agent or two to get the Colts back to the postseason.
However, we know Ballard doesn’t like breaking the bank, and prefers the draft-and-develop method of team building, along with sprinkling in a few budget free agent signings. There’s one free agent that could be a huge help at a position of need. That player is Seahawks defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson.
Jefferson was a fifth round pick back in 2017, and went to the Rams practice squad before returning to Seattle. He put together a solid 2019 season. In 14 games, he had 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, three passes defensed, and a fumble recovery. Those numbers may not jump off the page, but as Pete Carroll talked about in his presser at the combine, Jefferson “had a very, very good year” and exceeded expectations when it came to production.
Jefferson mostly played 3-technique for the Seahawks in 2019, aligning just outside of an offensive guard’s shoulder. That is something Ballard talked about in his year-end presser for the Colts, stating “we’ve got to be able to get some more interior pressure” and “The 3-technique drives this thing”.
Jefferson would be an excellent fit based on all of that, as aligning at the 3-technique is clearly his strength. He brings pass rushing upside to the table, and at just 26 years old, his best football may be ahead of him.
Currently, Spotrac has his market value set at $5.1 million per season. This is a very beneficial signing the Colts can make without breaking the bank, and adds an effective pass rusher in the process. It hardly makes the defensive line a finished product, but signing Jefferson would be a great start for Ballard.