7 free agents with ties to Gus Bradley the Colts could target

The Indianapolis Colts may have an advantage with some free agents thanks to the hiring of Gus Bradley.

When the Indianapolis Colts lost Matt Eberflus to the Chicago Bears, we thought about what Colts players could possibly go with Eberflus to Chicago.

That’s the way the NFL works. Players build relationships with coaches and they are more likely to join teams where they have a sense of familiarity.

Now, Indianapolis has hired a new defensive coordinator, Gus Bradley. Bradley has been coaching in the NFL since 2006 and has been a part of five different organizations before joining Indy.

That means that he has created a lot of good relationships with players. So just as Indy could lose players with Eberflus leaving, the Colts may also be able to sign players because of Bradley.

Let’s take a look at six pending free agents with a connection to Gus Bradley that the Colts could target.

Colts can target CB Casey Hayward

Casey Hayward is a veteran cornerback that has played his last five seasons with Gus Bradley as his defensive coordinator. The two spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and one year with the Las Vegas Raiders last season.

Hayward was a free agent last offseason and chose to sign with Bradley and the Raiders. This offseason, Hayward will once again be a free agent and can go wherever he likes.

If he wants to follow his defensive coordinator once again, there’s a great likelihood that he will be able to. Hayward will be 33 at the start of next season but he started all 17 games this year and had a solid season.

With the Colts likely losing Xavier Rhodes, Indy could sign Hayward to a one-year deal and allow him to contribute in the secondary. This will allow the younger corners time to continue their development and also give the secondary depth.

Colts can target DE Melvin Ingram

Melvin Ingram entered the NFL in 2012 with the Chargers. In his 10-year career, he has been selected to three Pro Bowls, 2017, 2018, and 2019. In those three seasons, his defensive coordinator was Gus Bradley.

Both Ingram and Bradley left Los Angeles after 2020. Bradley went to Vegas to coach and Ingram signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It turned out that Ingram and the Steelers were a bad fit. His snap count was low, his production was down, and he ultimately just played six games with Pittsburgh.

Some felt that maybe Ingram was just no longer a productive player but he quickly proved that wrong. In the middle of the season, Ingram was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs and had an immediate impact.

He played in nine games, started six, and provided a pass rushing presence for Kansas City during its playoff run. He recorded a sack in two of the three Chiefs playoff games and was viewed as one of the best mid-season acquisitions.

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Now, Ingram will once again enter free agency. Although he was great for Kansas City, the Chiefs may have a hard time re-signing him considering the depth and talent on the roster.

Indianapolis could be a great fit for Melvin Ingram. Not only do the Colts have a need for a pass-rushing defensive end, but Ingram can return to the coordinator that he had his most decorated seasons as a pro with.

Additionally, Indy could probably offer him a contract and the playing time that Kansas City can’t.

Colts can target DE Solomon Thomas

Solomon Thomas was the third pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, selected by the San Francisco 49ers. However, his career with San Francisco didn’t pan out how many hoped.

In his first two seasons with the 49ers, Thomas recorded just four total sacks. In year three, Thomas was no longer a starter and contributed two sacks as a rotational piece.

Thomas did start the first two games of his fourth season with San Francisco but he, unfortunately, tore his ACL in the second week. The injury essentially ended his time with the 49ers.

In 2021, Thomas joined Gus Bradley and the Raiders on a one-year deal. He rotated a lot on the defensive line and had a career-high 3.5 sacks in the season.

With Indianapolis’ needs on the defensive line, Thomas could be a great piece to target this offseason. He has familiarity with Bradley’s system and was able to find some success.

Thomas also played with Pro Bowl defensive tackle, DeForest Buckner, during their time with the 49ers, so that could be another reason for him to join.

He could come to Indy on an affordable deal and provide the Colts with better depth along the defensive line.

Colts can target DE Carl Nassib

Carl Nassib has been with the Las Vegas Raiders for two seasons and while he hasn’t played multiple years coached by Gus Bradley, he did play last season with him.

Nassib doesn’t go into free agency until the 2023 offseason, but if he hits the market, Indianapolis makes a great home for the defensive end.

Nassib didn’t have the strongest season in terms of quarterback sacks, only recording 1.5, but he was a great rotational piece for the Raiders.

In two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2018 and 2019, Nassib recorded a combined 12.5 sacks. Although he wasn’t as successful this past season, he did flash his pass-rushing ability.

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It’s yet to be determined who the Colts will add on the defensive line this offseason but if they struggle next year like they did this season, Nassib would be a good target for Indy in 2023.

He’d be able to consistently see the field more in Indianapolis and may be able to return his production to the levels he showed earlier in his career.

Colts can target DE Maxx Crosby

One of the reasons Carl Nassib wasn’t able to get a lot of sacks this year is because he was on a team with Maxx Crosby. Crosby, in his third season, had a career year with the Las Vegas Raiders.

He finished the season playing 17 games and recording eight sacks, 56 tackles, 30 quarterback hits, and was selected to the first Pro Bowl of his young career.

Crosby has been good since he was drafted to the Raiders in 2019. In his career, he’s played 49 games and recorded 25 sacks, 142 tackles, four forced fumbles and seven pass deflections.

Even with the early success, he was finally able to put everything together and get league recognition in his first season with Gus Bradley.

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Bradley is now in Indianapolis and Crosby will play the final season of his contract with yet another coaching staff. When he enters free agency in 2023, the Colts should make a real push.

Crosby is an elite defensive end, something Indianapolis needs, and he already has experience playing under Gus Bradley. If Crosby doesn’t sign an extension with Las Vegas, the Colts will have a serious chance of finding a long-term solution at end.

Colts can target LB Denzel Perryman

Denzel Perryman is another Pro Bowl defender from last season’s Las Vegas Raiders team. However, he has more than one year of experience with Gus Bradley.

Perryman started his career with the Chargers and played four seasons in Los Angeles under Bradley, before being traded to Las Vegas this past season.

In 15 games with the Raiders, Perryman had a career year, recording 154 tackles, five for a loss, and making his first Pro Bowl. His comfort in Bradley’s scheme had to be a factor in his breakout.

This may not seem like a realistic target since the Colts are set at linebacker with Darius Leonard and Bobby Okereke, but Perryman isn’t a free agent until next offseason, the same time as Okereke.

Okereke was drafted by Indianapolis and has developed nicely into a starting linebacker and while it would make sense for him to be extended, nothing is guaranteed in the NFL.

If the Colts are unable to re-sign Okereke in 2023, Bradley and the front office should make a run at Perryman. Pairing Darius Leonard and Denzel Perryman would give Indianapolis one of the best linebacker duos in the league.

Colts can target WR Allen Robinson

Yes, Gus Bradley is Indy’s defensive coordinator and Allen Robinson is a wide receiver, but they do have a relationship. Back when Bradley was the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Robinson was his star receiver.

In Jacksonville, Robinson’s first three seasons were played under Bradley and that’s when he established himself as a dominant receiver in the NFL.

In just his second year, Robinson caught 80 passes for 1,400 yards, 14 touchdowns and was selected to the only Pro Bowl of his career.

Things ultimately didn’t work out for either Bradley or Robinson in Jacksonville and they both moved on to different franchises. However, when Bradley received the coordinator position with the Raiders, Allen Robinson was extremely happy for him.

Now, Robinson will enter free agency this offseason. Things weren’t great with the Chicago Bears last season, so returning is no guarantee.

The Colts desperately need to add another talented receiver this offseason, so maybe Bradley can leverage his relationship with Robinson to get him to come to Indianapolis.

Obviously, Bradley won’t be coaching Robinson directly, so this is different from the six defenders in this list, but Bradley can vouch for the franchise and the offense.

If Indy is able to sign any of these players in the next two offseasons, it would improve the team’s chances at winning a Super Bowl in the coming years.

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