Good news: The Indianapolis Colts are ready to sign an edge rusher ahead of…
The Indianapolis Colts earned 51 sacks in the previous season, which is a record for them.
The team effort from their committee method at edge rusher was responsible for a significant amount of those sacks.
The Colts have been looking for regular productivity ever since Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis terrorized quarterbacks in Indianapolis together, and last season was a definite step in the right direction. However, others felt that last year’s performance was insufficient, and they continue to advocate for the team to target an edge rusher.
This offseason, will the Colts add an edge rusher?
I’ve been informed that the Colts’ decision to hire a new defensive line coach this offseason was largely motivated by their confidence in Dayo Odeyingbo, Samson Ebukam, and Kwity Paye and their expectation that, with the appropriate coach in place, all three will continue to improve. This has made me think that the Colts won’t be able to make a move this offseason without a spectacular talent. That response is probably going to annoy some of you, but don’t click away just yet—I have more to say.
Although I believe the Colts would only look at a narrow pool of edge rushers, two players who are now set to become unrestricted free agents may be suitable candidates. Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings is the first person who springs to mind. The 29-year-old edge rusher just finished with 16.5 sacks, which was sixth highest in the NFL. There’s a good chance Hunter escapes the franchise tag this time around since the Vikings plan to rebuild. Thus, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Colts to take a large risk and sign a top-tier pass rusher in the NFL.
Brian Burns of the Carolina Panthers is an additional choice. Burns is only 25 years old, and it is extremely uncommon to see a young edge rusher with such a high draft position become a free agent. However, others believe there is a chance he enters the open market, given that the Panthers squad needs a total makeover. Burns wouldn’t have that issue with the Colts, as he only had eight sacks in the previous season and had little support from the Panthers’ offensive line to help draw some double teams away from him. Naturally, it takes two to tango, so it will be interesting to see if the Colts are prepared to participate in the high-stakes bidding process necessary to get Hunter or Burns.
The Colts may be able to wait for a prospect to grow into one of the NFL’s top pass rushers by selecting one of the three strong edge rushers in this year’s NFL Draft class. These three players are Jared Verse of Florida State, Dallas Turner of Alabama, and Laiatu Latu of UCLA. Though it takes time, I believe all three of them have the potential to become elite pass rushers. The Colts would have to use their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft if they chose to go this route. I also find it difficult to envision them selecting a guy this early in the draft just to fall behind the current trio, who are highly regarded by the Colts, given all the other factors at play.
Even though the Colts have a few excellent choices to choose from, I believe that Odeyingbo, Ebukam, and Paye will be the team’s three main edge rushers in 2024. A team in search of one of the best pass rushers in the league is one that doesn’t have one. However, it’s actually easier said than done to discover one.