This offseason, the Indianapolis Colts will need to address the quality and depth of the defensive line.
One of the weaknesses this season for the Indianapolis Colts was the pass defense. While the secondary can be better, the struggles against the pass started up front with Indy’s inability to rush the passer.
After 17 regular season games, the Indianapolis defense only tallied 33 sacks, seventh-lowest in the league. That’s something the team needs to improve to become contenders next season.
General manager, Chris Ballard, made this known during his end-of-season presser. Throughout the hour-long conversation with the media, Ballard repeated the phrase “we need eight.”
By eight, Ballard meant eight quality defensive linemen that can rotate and get after the quarterback. While he was excited about the young pass rushers on the team, Ballard admitted that they didn’t have the necessary eight this season.
With an aggressive offseason, that can change. There are a number of defensive linemen that will hit the market once free agency begins. Here’s 5 defensive lineman the Colts can sign to improve the pass rush.
Colts can sign Larry Ogunjobi
Larry Ogunjobi is in his fifth season in the league and just finished his best year as a professional with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Starting at defensive tackle for Cincinnati, Ogunjobi played 16 games, recording 49 tackles, seven sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 16 quarterback hits.
Unfortunately for Ogunjobi, he sustained a foot injury in the Bengals Wild Card win and will miss the remainder of the playoff run. This means he could have played his last snap with Cincinnati.
Ogunjobi’s one year deal with the Bengals will end and he will enter free agency once again. With his production this season at the defensive tackle position, there will be a market for him.
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With his career year coming in Cincinnati, it makes sense for both parties to work out a new deal, but nothing in free agency is guaranteed.
If the Colts are serious about bolstering the pass rush unit, they have to give Ogunjobi a call. He would be an upgrade as a starter over Grover Stewart, and will do work next to DeForest Buckner.
Additionally, signing Ogunjobi would bump Stewart to the second unit, giving Indy some depth that Ballard desires.
Colts can sign Randy Gregory
Defensive end, Randy Gregory, has found his way back into the NFL and has been a productive member for the Dallas Cowboys this season.
Through Gregory’s first five seasons in the league, he struggled to stay on the field due to numerous substance abuse violations. This led to multiple suspensions, and Gregory missing the entire 2017 and 2019 seasons.
After being reinstated in 2020, Gregory hasn’t committed any violations and has been available for the Cowboys.
In the last two seasons, Gregory played in 22 games, recording 9.5 sacks, 40 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 29 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles and one interception.
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With Gregory entering free agency, it makes sense for him to seek a return to Dallas. However, the Cowboys are a team loaded with stars.
In addition to all of the offensive contracts, Dallas has DeMarcus Lawrence on a large deal. With the emergence of Micah Parsons as a versatile defender, Gregory may ultimately be looking for a new home.
That home can be in Indianapolis with the Colts. He’d be an immediate starter and Indy’s best edge rusher.
Colts can sign Akiem Hicks
Akiem Hicks has been a dominant defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears over the last five years, and although he said he would like to finish his career in Chicago, he and the Bears haven’t been able to agree on an extension.
When Hicks first arrived to Chicago in 2016, he recorded seven or more sacks in three straight seasons as an interior pass rusher.
Since then, Hicks hasn’t played a complete season or been as productive but he still managed 7 sacks over his last 24 games.
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Hicks hasn’t made plans to retire, so he will enter free agency as a 32-year-old defensive tackle on the decline. That means he’ll only be a temporary answer.
While Hicks may not be the most desired choice for the Colts, he’s an affordable veteran, who’s still capable of producing and will be a stop-gap defender for Indianapolis.
Indy can sign Hicks to a one-year deal and benefit from his leadership and whatever he has left in the tank. He’s not the star defensive tackle from 2018, but he’d be a great rotational piece.
Colts can sign Jerry Hughes
In 2010, Indianapolis selected defensive end, Jerry Hughes, with the 31st pick in the NFL Draft. Hughes played three seasons with the Colts before being traded to the Buffalo Bills.
With Buffalo, Hughes has evolved into a quality starting end. In nine seasons with the Bills, Hughes has played 144 games and recorded 53 sacks.
Hughes is now 33, and his yearly sack count has been decreasing as his age rises, but he’s still been a productive pass rusher. This past season he had just two sacks but seven quarterback hits on a loaded Buffalo defense.
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While the Bills may look to stay young, Hughes can return to the place where his professional career started, the Indianapolis Colts.
Like Akiem Hicks, Hughes wouldn’t be a long-term answer for Indy, but can provide leadership and production for maybe a year or two.
While Indianapolis would certainly like to sign a younger pass rusher that could stick around for years to come, settling for Hughes wouldn’t be the worst possibility.
Colts can sign Emmanuel Ogbah
Unlike the last two players on the list, Emmanuel Ogbah would be the perfect signing for Indianapolis.
At 28 years old, Ogbah is coming off a career year with the Miami Dolphins, recording nine sacks, 9 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hits, and 12 pass deflections.
In addition to his age, one of the things that makes Ogbah a coveted free agent is his versatility. Ogbah has the build and skillset to rush the passer from the edge or interior.
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This allows whatever team he signs with to be able to move him around and use Ogbah in a number of packages.
It’ll serve the Colts well if they were the team he signed with. Indy has the capital to sign Ogbah to a multi-year deal and secure him for the duration of his prime.
He brings a versatility that will improve Indianapolis’ pass rush dramatically. Signing a player like Ogbah this offseason will help the Colts take big strides towards their goal of contending for a championship.
3 low-profile free agents Colts should retain
These Indianapolis Colts free agents might not get much spotlight, but the front office would be crazy to let them walk this offseason.