The moment the final pick is announced in the NFL Draft, general managers from across the league are on the phone trying to lock down undrafted free agents who might still help their teams. The Indianapolis Colts are no exception. Chris Ballard has already signed a few UDFAs, and we can expect plenty more to come.
This UDFA frenzy is the final section of the three-pronged offseason apparatus GMs use to retool rosters. The first wave of free agency comes in mid-March and features plenty of big names. The NFL Draft is the centerpiece of the league’s offseason. UDFAs fill in the gaps.
And yet, there is even more tinkering at hand. There are still plenty of older free agents on the market. They may be coming off an injury or considering retirement. They may simply be waiting for the right deal. With rare exceptions, these are not big-name players. But every year, veterans scooped up in May, June, and even later, can and do make positive contributions.
Five free agents the Indianapolis Colts should seriously consider
Ballard has patched some holes in the draft, but Indianapolis’ roster is far from complete. These veterans could play a key role in 2026. Some could be valuable players for multiple years to come.
Juaun Jennings, wide receiver
Jennings is probably the best overall prospect remaining on the market. He is still only 28 years old. The 2020 seventh-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers has over 200 catches on his resume to go with his 22 touchdowns. 15 of those scores have come in the last two years, while he also managed more than 1,500 receiving yards.
At 6’3”, 218 pounds, Jennings is a virtual plug-and-play fill-in for Michael Pittman Jr. He has insanely strong hands and would be a perfect complement for the speedier Alec Pierce and Josh Downs.
Jennings may be holding out for a bigger contract, which could explain why he remains unsigned. His maturity issues could also be a factor. He has a fiery temperament. When kept in check, it gives him a strong competitive edge. But it isn’t always kept in check.
Deebo Samuel, wide receiver
At this point in his career, Samuel is a more mature version of Jennings. Now 30, his best seasons may be in the past, but if you are looking for a tough, savvy veteran who can still produce, Deebo Samuel is an ideal fit. He is not quite as big as Jennings or Pittman, but he is as tough as they come, and he will make plays in the middle of the field.
Samuel has not been running the ball out of the backfield the way he did several years ago in San Francisco. That is probably for the best. But that doesn’t mean he still can’t line up at various positions and add in a run from time to time.
Teams looking for a veteran presence with enough talent to make plays as a third or fourth option should be thinking long and hard about Deebo. The Colts seem to be an ideal match.
D.J. Reader, defensive tackle
This one has been speculated over for a while now, thanks to Reader’s ties to Lou Anarumo. The current Colts’ defensive coordinator coached Reader for four seasons in Cincinnati. Reader was moving from a 3-4 end to a more traditional inside tackle who can line up in the A gap or shift outside on occasion, and that is what he would do for the Colts.
The Colts recognize they need to support aging vets DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart inside. They have brought in Jery Tillery and Derrick Nnadi. Reader is a little older, but he is also better, especially as a run stopper in the middle of the field.
Sheldon Day, defensive tackle
Day is also a few years older than Tillery and Nnadi. Physically, he is not as imposing. He just produces whenever he is on the field. Day is a career backup, and his stats will not impress anyone. But he uses his shorter profile – 6’1”, 294 pounds – to his advantage. He has a quick first step and can beat bigger interior linemen at the snap.
Day plays a little bit like Neville Gallimore, the productive backup tackle Indy lost to Chicago this offseason. He will never push the front-line players for a starting role, but he will provide reliable support when Buckner and Stewart need a rest.
Joe Bachie, linebacker
Hear me out on this. I can understand if you question why Indianapolis would want to bring back a journeyman backup they cut a month into the 2025 season. The reason is simple. They were asking Bachie – a career backup and special teams stalwart – to log major minutes as a starter. Then he got hurt, and the Colts moved on.
But were he to return this year, he could slot into the role that was initially envisioned for him. A special teams ace. A decent situational backup. And, maybe best of all, a go-between who can offer practical mentorship to Indy’s three new linebackers – rookies CJ Allen and Bryce Boettcher, as well as young vet Akeem Gaither-Davis.
None has played in Lou Anarumo’s defense. Bachie has been with the Bengals, and he will essentially be a player-coach. That role – unlike starting linebacker – makes all the sense in the world.
One hidden benefit of not having a first-round pick this season is that Ballard will not have to devote as much money to signing his new batch of draft picks. That frees up a bit more cap space to add another veteran or two.
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