With another season in the books for the Indianapolis Colts, General Manager Chris Ballard will have his options for free agency in 2024. Ballard will have $71 million in cap space this offseason but will have his hands full with impending Colts free agents. Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart and Kenny Moore are key Colts players that are set up for big contracts. However, Ballard will have to look to the rest of the league to fill holes in the roster. Wide receiver, cornerback, and defensive end are among the biggest needs for this team. There are many attractive free agents on the market this offseason and Ballard will have his pick of the litter.
Depth at Cornerback: Jourdan Lewis
The former Michigan Wolverine third-round pick, Jourdan Lewis, is currently set to become a free agent from the Dallas Cowboys. Lewis played 16 games and started in eight of them in a highly-competitive and deep cornerback room in Dallas. Lewis had a solid 2023-24 season as he collected one interception, 52 tackles, three forced fumbles, and five passes deflected. Dan Quinn’s Cowboys defense isn’t dissimilar to Gus Bradley’s defensive scheme on the Colts. Both the Colts and Cowboys often called cover-3 and were lower in the league in man-coverage. Adding Lewis to a cornerback core with Juju Brents and Kenny Moore would allow for more rotation and depth at the position.
Solidifying The Defensive End Position: Brian Burns
Defensive end may end up being a need for the Colts’ roster after free agency because Tyquan Lewis is due for an extension. The Colts had an excellent year in the pass rush game as they had the most sacks since the team moved to Indianapolis in 1984. Samson Ebukam and Dayo Odeyingbo both had their career high in sacks in 2023-24. Kwity Paye also reached a new career high with 9.5 sacks this season. However, as good as Paye was in the pass rush, his biggest weakness was versus the run.
Carolina Panthers free agent, Brian Burns fills a particular need for the Colts as he had 16 TFL this season. Burns success against the run should allure Ballard to throw some money his way but his pass rush is also appealing. Burns had 50 tackles, eight sacks, and 18 QB hits this season. However, his move to outside linebacker may have contributed to less production in 2023. Panther’s former defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero ran a 3-4 defense this season. Under Steve Wilks’ 4-3 defense in 2022-23, Burns flourished with 12.5 sacks and earned a Pro Bowl appearance. Putting Burns in Bradley’s defensive scheme will not only help his pass rush production, but will cement a reliable pass rusher for the Colts on an already impressive defensive line.
Colts’ Locking Down a WR2: Tee Higgins
The search for a long-term wide receiver to pair with Michael Pittman has been going on since the exit of T.Y. Hilton in 2021. Since then, Parris Campbell and Isaiah McKenzie have tried and failed to be a reliable WR2. The arrival of rookie Josh Downs started promising as he broke the rookie franchise record for receptions this season. However, given Downs’ height and play style, the Colts are still in need of a tall, versatile receiver like Tee Higgins to put on the other side of Pittman Jr.
Higgins is coming off of a disappointing 2023-24 season with the Cincinnati Bengals dealing with a handful of injuries. The former second-round pick missed five games this season and finished with 656 receiving yards, 42 receptions, and five touchdowns. This season was particularly unexpected because he has had over 900 yards in every season up until this one. Given that Higgins is healthy for the 2024-25 season, it would make sense for Ballard to sign him. Adding Higgins’ route running and speed to a receiving corps made up of Pittman Jr., Downs, and Alec Pierce would surely cause problems for opposing defenses.
Dynamic Ballhawk: Sean Murphy-Bunting
Another cornerback that Ballard should have his eye on is Sean Murphy-Bunting. The former Tennessee Titans’ cornerback had a successful 2023-24 campaign where he racked up two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and 57 tackles in 14 games. Murphy-Bunting would be a fitting addition the Bradley’s defense. He played an impressive 81.4 percent of the defensive snaps this season, even with missing two games due to a knee injury. However, his biggest weakness is his play in man coverage. He gave up a 63percent completion percentage and over nine yards a target. Luckily for Murphy-Bunting, the Colts mostly play zone coverage. This change in play-calling could lead to Murphy-Bunting having more opportunities to play the ball rather than the pressure of man coverage.
The Colts’ Hail Mary: Mike Evans
In the frightening scenario that Chris Ballard is unable to keep Pittman Jr. in Indianapolis, Mike Evans would be a sure fire pick to replace him. The free agent Tampa Bay Buccaneer is one of the most popular free agent targets this offseason. His incredibly consistent play over his eight-year career will draw many suitors. Of course, Evans would require a substantial pay day to land him in Indianapolis. However, the idea of playing with Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor and possibly Pittman Jr., could persuade him. Evans capped off a strong 2023-34 season with 13 touchdowns, 1,255 yards, and almost 16 yards a reception. Adding a weapon like Evans with his height and down-the-field presence can help a Colts receiving corps that struggled with separation this past season.
While these potential free agents all are primed for big roles next season and can help the Colts immediately, Ballard still needs to address the possible extensions for key Colts players. For more details on the five Colts free agents that should be a priority for Ballard, check out Derek Hutton’s article.