The Indianapolis Colts were trending toward breaking from the norm this season. The team started 7-1 and seemed certain to make the playoffs. The team would only win once more, however. The issue was multi-fold, and included injuries, turnovers, and tougher competition in the second half of the season.
One of the more glaring issues defensively was the lack of athleticism with the inside linebacker group. Zaire Franklin was the only consistent part of the duo, while the other player rotated from Joe Bachie and others to Germaine Pratt. None of the linebackers were good in coverage.
Moreover, while Franklin and Pratt could tackle decently well, they lacked elite speed to run sideline-to-sideline with ease. Even while their position is devalued in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's system, the off-ball linebacker duo still needs to help shut down the run while making sure there is not a gaping hole over the middle of the field in which passes can be completed.
Pro Football Focus believes Jaguars' Devin Lloyd would fix the Indianapolis Colts defense
In other words, one of the parts of the Colts that has to be fixed this offseason is getting better, and far more athletic, at inside linebacker. Thankfully, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) offers an easy fix, and one that would hurt Indy's longtime nemesis, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In free agency, Indianapolis should sign Jags linebacker Devin Lloyd. The issue would be money, of course. According to Spotrac, Lloyd could fetch as much as $20 million a season from whichever team he signs with. The site sees the LB getting a three-year deal worth a total of $60,432,399.
Indy might not be able to afford that. This is especially true if the Colts can re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce, each of whom could get more than $20 million a season themselves. Indianapolis has a projected (again, according to Spotrac) $34,952,488 in cap room this offseason, not enough to sign Jones, Pierce, and Lloyd.
Still, a Colts fan can dream. Lloyd, along with the presumed health of cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward, and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, would create a defense talented enough to give any team issues. Assuming the offense is good again once Daniel Jones is healthy, Indianapolis would have something close to a complete team.
While Lloyd has always been great against the run, he was at his career-best in coverage and when pressuring quarterbacks this season. He had a career-high 28 total QB pressures and had five interceptions while allowing just one touchdown pass. He was everything the Indianapolis Colts needed this season, and everything the team will need in the future, too.
If his signing comes at the same time that the Colts cripple the Jacksonville Jaguars, excellent. That is what one would call a win-win.