The only thing worse than not doing much in free agency is watching other teams in the division get better. That might be the case with the Indianapolis Colts, who have watched the Houston Texans strengthen their ranks this offseason.
Not much has been said of Reed Blankenship's arrival in Houston, most likely due to his subpar season in 2025. However, he's the type of guy who can thrive under DeMeco Ryans, and he would've been a perfect addition to Lou Anarumo's defense at a position of need.
The Colts lost Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas in free agency. They did sign Jonathan Owens and Juanyeh Thomas, but neither might move the needle much, and Blankenship has shown the ability to be a difference-maker in the past.
The Indianapolis Colts should've signed Reed Blankenship
The Texans gave Blankenship a three-year deal that pays him $8.25 million annually. That may have been a little more than what general manager Chris Ballard was willing to pay, given that he got two safeties for nearly one-fourth of that. That decision may come back to bite them.
Blankenship had a down year last season. His Pro Football Focus (subscription required) grade of 46.5 was the worst of his career and the seventh-lowest among 98 eligible strong safeties, and he was particularly bad in coverage (32.7, 97th). That said, the Eagles' secondary as a whole underperformed, except for Quinyon Mitchell.
He entered the league as an undrafted free agent, and he played with a chip on his shoulder on every down. He was an absolute menace in 2023, posting a career-best 113 tackles (79 solo), two tackles for loss, one QB hit, three interceptions, one fumble recovery, and eleven passes defensed.
Blankenship struggled to adapt to Vic Fangio's defensive schemes, and his production, tape, and PFF grade steadily declined. Now, he has a clean slate to go back to doing what he does best: Hitting guys and knocking them to the ground. No disguised coverages, no fancy blitz schemes, just pure, old-school, hard-hitting football.
The Colts will now roll with Juanyeh Thomas at the position, and he offers little to no guarantees.
He made just seven appearances (three starts) for the Dallas Cowboys' ailing defense last season, and the fact that he couldn't even get on the field for the league's worst defense should raise some concerns. They could've had a true workhorse at the position, and they'll now get to face him twice a year instead.