The Indianapolis Colts wanted to get younger and more athletic on the defensive front seven this offseason, and they have done a lot of that. But now with the NFL draft over, Indy might want to rethink that strategy to get one veteran who would be an immediate starter. That player is free agent Bobby Wagner.
General manager Chris Ballard chose inside linebacker CJ Allen in the draft in the second round, and he has the football IQ needed to not only start in Week 1, but also be the green dot of Lou Anarumo's defense. His sidekick isn't obviously clear.
The team could go with free agent acquisition Akeem Davis-Gaither or rookie Bryce Boettcher, but Wagner, even at his advanced age for an NFL player and an area in which he struggled greatly, would be an upgrade over those two, as well as 2025 starters Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt.
Indianapolis Colts have a great opportunity to add a team leader in Bobby Wagner
The future Pro Football Hall of Famer isn't good in coverage, an area that Franklin and every other inside linebacker for the Colts in recent memory have struggled with. While he shouldn't be rotated off the field on obvious passing downs, Anarumo could be a bit creative with what he does in those situations.
Otherwise, Wagner has the smarts to understand what the offense is trying to do before it unfolds, and is a beast of a tackler, arguably one of the best in NFL history. He can also still provide a solid pass rush when asked to do so, though Anarumo's system doesn't require much of that.
For the Indianapolis Colts to have a successful defense, they need off-ball linebackers who can stop the run and be decent in coverage. Wagner is a master of the first part.
Bobby Wagner also would be a great leader in the locker room, having reached high-level success on the field (he won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in the 2013 season), and is a fantastic human being off it. In a young inside linebacker room, Wagner would be a wise voice that the players need to learn how to be productive in the league.
He also isn't going to cost very much. According to Over the Cap, the Colts have nearly $32 million to spend this offseason, seventh-most in the NFL. That is more than enough to add Wagner, who might sign for only $6-7 million wherever he plays.
He needs a home to finish out his career, and Indianapolis might be just good enough to entice him to join the team. Plus, adding Wagner would provide the quality leadership that the Colts have lacked a bit over the last few seasons.
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