Will the Indianapolis Colts take a big swing on an edge rusher this offseason?
The Indianapolis Colts recorded 51 sacks last season, the most ever during their tenure in Indianapolis. A large portion of those sacks came from the group effort from their committee approach at edge rusher. Last season was a clear step in the right direction from a position the Colts have been trying to find consistent […]
The Indianapolis Colts recorded 51 sacks last season, the most ever during their tenure in Indianapolis.
A large portion of those sacks came from the group effort from their committee approach at edge rusher.
Last season was a clear step in the right direction from a position the Colts have been trying to find consistent production since the duo of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis were terrorizing QBs together in Indianapolis. But last year's performance wasn't enough for some, and many still want the team to make a move at edge rusher.
Will the Colts add an edge rusher this offseason?
I've been told a significant reason the Colts decided to find a new defensive line coach this offseason was due to their belief in the trio of Dayo Odeyingbo, Samson Ebukam, and Kwity Paye, and felt like with the right coach in place; they could see another jump in production from all three. This has led me to believe it would take a special player for the Colts to make a move at edge this offseason. I'm sure some of you reading this won't be happy with that answer, but don't click off the article just yet; I have more to say.
While I think the list of edge rushers the Colts would consider is small, two players are currently slated to hit free agency that could fit the bill. The first that comes to mind is Minnesota Vikings' Danielle Hunter. The 29-year-old edge rusher is coming off a 16.5 sack season, the fifth most in the NFL last season. With the Vikings looking toward a rebuild, there's a solid chance Hunter avoids the franchise tag this time around. So this could be a unique chance for the Colts to take a big swing and land one of the NFL's elite pass rushers.
Another option could be Carolina Panthers' Brian Burns. Burns is only 25 years old, and very rarely do we see such a highly regarded young edge rusher become a free agent. But with the Panthers roster needing a complete overhaul, some think there is a chance he hits the open market. He only had eight sacks this past season but didn't have much help on the Panthers' line to take some of the double teams off of him; with the Colts, Burns wouldn't have that problem. It takes two to tango, of course, and we will have to see if the Colts are willing to engage in the bidding war it will take to land either Hunter or Burns on the open market.
This year's NFL Draft class has a solid trio of edge rushers that could also be viable options for the Colts if they are willing to wait for a prospect to develop into one of the NFL's best pass rushers. Those three players being Alabama's Dallas Turner, UCLA's Laiatu Latu, and Florida State's Jared Verse. I think all three could develop into top-tier pass rushers, but that takes time. If this is a route the Colts are interested in, they would have to use their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. And with multiple other needs to consider, I have a hard time seeing them draft a player this high just for them to sit behind the current trio that the Colts have a high opinion of.
While there are some quality options for the Colts to consider, I think they are more likely than not going to roll with the trio of Odeyingbo, Ebukam, and Paye as their lead edge rushers for 2024. Any team that doesn't have one of the elite pass rushers in the league is searching for it. But actually, finding one is easier said than done.
3 options to be the Colts’ backup QB in 2024
Three QBs that the Colts should consider signing as Anthony Richardson’s backup in 2024.
Will the Colts re-sign Julian Blackmon?
Predicting how this offseason will end for Colts S Julian Blackmon.
