The Colts have a lot of impending free agents but these three guys need to be taken care of.
It’s never fun to look ahead to the future when you’re team is 7-3 and battling for prime playoff positioning in Week 12 against a division rival, but the fact of the matter is that the Indianapolis Colts face a ton of offseason questions, and some need to be addressed sooner than later.
We also have an ample body of work to judge players on and determine if they’re a fit with the 2021 roster. In the case of the Colts, they have a ton of impending free agents in addition to having to (likely) fill a colossal gap at quarterback assuming Philip Rivers leaves and general manager Chris Ballard wants a signal caller of the future.
But the sexier positions can’t force the front office to overlook other areas of need. The Colts need to make sure they keep a number of their current players on the roster beyond the 2020 season and it won’t be easy. The good news? Indy will have a plethora of cap space and room to work with in terms of negotiating.
Here are three players Ballard needs to make sure are Colts for the foreseeable future.
3. Xavier Rhodes
The Colts’ secondary has been among the best in the league thanks to Xavier Rhodes.
Xavier Rhodes was supposed to be a sort of reclamation project for the Colts when he was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason. After being cut by the Minnesota Vikings thanks to one of the worst 2019 seasons you’ll ever see from a cornerback, Ballard got his hands on a promising talent who was perhaps just falling out of favor on a declining (and much more complicated) Vikes’ defense.
It’s been an entirely different story for Rhodes in 2020. His veteran experience, alongside TJ Carrie, has provided a sense of security in the secondary, which is also seeing productive campaigns from rookie Julian Blackmon, Rock Ya-Sin and Kenny Moore II. Additionally, Indy’s zone scheme has helped mask Rhodes’ deficiencies. After all, he’s not getting any younger.
But he still has tremendous athleticism and instincts. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has done a great job putting Rhodes and his strengths in the best position possible, and the 30-year-old has delivered. He’s got 22 tackles, 10 passes defended and two picks across 10 starts.
The Colts could also lose Carrie and Tremon Smith as well as safeties George Odum and Tavon Wilson. Carrie and Wilson will be unrestricted free agents while Smith and Odum will be restricted. But one could argue keeping Rhodes alongside Ya-Sin and Moore is the winning formula.
2. Justin Houston
Justin Houston has been nothing short of awesome for the Colts.
When Ballard signed Justin Houston to a two-year deal before the start of 2019, it’s safe to say he didn’t expect such efficient play from the veteran, especially since he was released by the Chiefs due to injury woes. Houston missed 20 games from 2015-2018 and it appeared he could be in store for a major decline.
Welp, not at all. He’s played 26 games in Indy, during which he has produced 26 QB hits, 58 tackles (18 for a loss), 15.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries and two safeties. He hasn’t missed any action. He’ll be entering his age-32 season in 2021, but why not give him another two-year deal? He’s clearly flourished in Eberflus’ system and his job has only gotten easier with the addition of DeForest Buckner and the continued ascension of Darius Leonard.
His presence alone is enough to justify a longer stay in Indy. He’s been a handful for opposing teams’ left tackles, which has opened up more opportunities for guys like Denico Autry, Tyquan Lewis … and one other guy we’re about to discuss. Assuming he can simply set the edge for another few years, that’s enough to create a valuable disruption.
There’s no doubt Houston’s veteran voice has helped this young defense as well. That’s got a price tag on it and it’s one Ballard should pay for.
1. Grover Stewart
Grover Stewart is one of the most underrated defensive linemen in the NFL.
If there’s one “overpay” the Colts should make, some would argue Grover Stewart is the man they should open up the checkbook for. And it’s likely he won’t even be that expensive. How much could he cost with just 24 career starts and 55% of the defensive snaps (in 2020) under his belt?
Regardless of the financial aspect, Stewart’s stock has exploded, especially after the addition of Buckner. Those two up the middle have been the reason the Colts allow just 89.2 rushing yards per game, which is good for third in the NFL. Stewart’s value isn’t really seen in the box score, however.
Though in 2019 he logged career-highs in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and QB hits, he’s either surpassed or will surpass all of those in 2020 with the exception of his sack count. The numbers don’t jump off the page because a lot of his contributions come in the form of helping collapse the pocket, blow up holes, and stuff the run.
The man is 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds and has improved upon his speed and explosiveness after losing over 30 pounds since he was drafted (fourth round in 2017). He’s only showed marked improvement over the last four years, culminating in a career year right before the first time he can test the open market.
We’re not saying Buckner won’t be able to hold down the fort in the event Stewart leaves in free agency, but this defense will continue to be one of the best in the league as long as they’re both working as the engine up the middle. Stewart’s a Tier 2 core player and giving him a little extra money to convince him to stay is probably the answer to maintaining the force that is this defensive line.
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