Indianapolis Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke will be one of the NFL’s top free agents this offseason. What teams are likely to go after Okereke?
For the last four seasons, Bobby Okereke has been a really good linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts. He started 49 of the 64 games he played in and racked up 420 tackles, 15 for a loss, two sacks, four forced fumbles, 17 pass deflections, and three interceptions. Okereke has really established himself as one of the better linebackers in football and now he’s set to become a free agent this offseason.
The Colts are lucky to have several really good linebackers on the roster, but unfortunately, there aren’t enough starting spots or money for all of them. That’s why Indianapolis is going to allow Okereke to enter free agency while the team moves forward with Shaq Leonard and Zaire Franklin as the two starting linebackers.
Fortunately for Okereke, he’s expected to have a big market of interested teams in free agency. He will be able to find a nice contract on a team that will offer him the role to lead a defense and thrive. Let’s take a look at some of the teams that will likely go after Bobby Okereke in free agency.
4. Carolina Panthers will likely go after Bobby Okereke
The Carolina Panthers are one of the teams that make a lot of sense. They’re a young team with a lot of talent and could be competitive in an underwhelming NFC South with a few additions at key positions. The team’s future at quarterback is the big discussion, and Carolina could jump Indy in the draft to select a quarterback, but linebacker is also a position the Panthers likely want to add to.
Carolina’s chances of landing Okereke are strengthened by the fact that Frank Reich is the new head coach for the Panthers. Reich coached Okereke in Indianapolis from the time Okereke was drafted, up until Reich was fired. Obviously, Okereke is a linebacker and Reich worked on the offensive side of the ball, but Reich likely still built a relationship with Okereke as his head coach.
That sense of familiarity good lead to Okereke joining a Panthers defense that has several young and talented pieces. Placing Okereke into the middle of that defense can help Carolina get things rolling.
3. Chicago Bears will likely go after Bobby Okereke
The only team besides the Colts that Okereke will find more familiar than the Panthers is the Chicago Bears. Chicago’s head coach is Matt Eberflus, the former defensive coordinator for the Colts and also the coordinator that Bobby Okereke played his first three years under. Additionally, much of the Bears’ defensive staff are former Indianapolis coaches that have already coached Okereke.
For that reason, people are already penciling Okereke onto Chicago’s roster. Why wouldn’t he go return to the system and coaches that helped him become a quality linebacker in this league? It makes a ton of sense, especially since the Bears will be interested in signing him.
Talked with Bobby about F.A. a bunch at the end of the season. Will take his time working through his options, and won't just jump at the most $$$. Wants a really good fit. He loves Eberflus, so Chicago makes sense. https://t.co/EdVJmFhdhS
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) March 7, 2023
Beyond the familiarity, the Bears have a need for an inside linebacker. Last season, Chicago traded away Pro Bowl linebacker Roquan Smith. That left an opening in the middle of the defense that Okereke can fill. It should be an easy transition for him as well since he’s already familiar with the system that Eberflus is running.
In addition the role, the Bears have $94.6 million in cap space, by far the most in the NFL. They can offer Okereke the competitive contract that he’s deserving of. If the Bears can add Okereke, draft a top defensive prospect like Will Anderson, and pick up a few more valuable pieces, they could have a good defense as soon as next season.
2. Seattle Seahawks will likely go after Bobby Okereke
If there’s any team in the NFL desperate for inside help on the defense, it’s the Seattle Seahawks. Rush defense was a big struggle for the Seahawks during the 2022 season and the linebacker position was a big reason why. Upgrading at linebacker is likely one of Seattle’s top priorities this offseason.
This past season, the Seahawks allowed 150.2 yards a game on the ground. That’s 30th in the NFL. The only two teams that were worse are the two teams with the top two picks in the NFL Draft: the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans. If Seattle’s defensive front was as competent as it’s defensive backfield, the Seahawks would’ve won more games, because Geno Smith and the offense had a surprisingly good season.
This was Seattle’s first season without future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner, and it showed. Additionally, Seattle’s top linebacker, Jordyn Brooks, just had ACL surgery in January, and the other starter, Cody Barton, is entering free agency. Maybe the Seahawks will turn to another linebacker named Bobby, in hopes that Okereke could make Seattle a dominant defense again.
The Seahawks should surely be interested in signing Okereke but it will be interesting to see where a team like Seattle ranks on Okereke’s list. Could the Seahawks make themselves a more intriguing option than the Bears, who many expect Okereke to sign with?
1. Miami Dolphins will likely go after Bobby Okereke
The Miami Dolphins are a promising team but they’ve had some health issues and also problems on the defensive side of the ball. When Tua Tagovailoa was healthy last season, first-year head coach Mike McDaniel had the offense rolling. However, the Dolphins defense struggled in 2022, and even with an explosive offense, it’s hard to win a lot of games with a mediocre defense.
Miami was pretty solid against the run, but they allowed 234.8 passing yards a game, 27th in the NFL. While some of that had to do with defensive back injuries, the linebackers were also underwhelming in coverage. As the Dolphins work to turn things around defensively, they added longtime defensive guru Vic Fangio as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Like many defenses, Fangio’s defenses can really thrive when there’s a good inside linebacker running things. Miami will certainly be looking to upgrade at linebacker this offseason, so exploring the possibility of signing Bobby Okereke makes a lot of sense. Pairing Okereke with Fangio will give the Dolphins a chance to turn their defense around.
The biggest problem in all of this is Miami’s cap situation. The Dolphins started the offseason roughly $15 million over the cap. However, they’ll surely make several moves to help get some cap space. Will it be enough to sign Okereke though?
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