Colts: 3 big-name defensive free agents Indy should pursue

2. Patrick Peterson

Peterson, a future Hall of Famer, would be a huge help for the Colts.

FanSided’s Matt Verderame is reporting that the Cardinals and Peterson are headed for a split, with the corner’s decade in the desert ending with eight Pro Bowls and three First-Team All-Pro selections. While Peterson will eventually end up with a gold jacket, he has a lot of football left in him, and the Colts could take advantage.

Xavier Rhodes proved last season in Indianapolis that the awful end to his tenure in Minnesota was an anomaly and once again became a lockdown DB. With or without Rhodes, who is also a free agent, Peterson is worth picking up, as he can provide some veteran leadership to a secondary led by greenhorns like Rock Ya-Sin and Julian Blackmon.

Peterson defended eight passes, intercepting three of them, while recording 61 tackles in 2020. While Peterson’s days as a No. 1 shutdown corner are likely in the past, he can still be a reliable No. 2 defensive back. Peterson hasn’t lost the speed, unparalleled instincts on the defensive side of the ball, or athletic ability to contest passes that made him a hyped prospect at LSU.

Peterson will likely be picky in choosing his next destination since he could look to join a championship contender after years without sniffing the postseason in Arizona. If the Colts can sell Peterson on how good this team can be in a very weak division, he could decide that wearing blue and white gives him the best chance at a ring.