How does the Indianapolis Colts’ free agent class compare to the rest of the NFL?
ESPN’s Ben Solak recently ranked how every NFL team fared during the free agency period. And while the Colts were quite active, Solak isn’t a big fan of how things have unfolded.
Out of the 32 NFL teams, the Colts are No. 27 in Solak’s rankings.
Two of the moves that Solak liked were the Colts being able to retain Alec Pierce and using the transition tag on Daniel Jones.
“The Colts rightfully prioritized the young rising star wide receiver and let the injured mercenary quarterback “test the market” on the transition tag,” Solak wrote. “Although Pierce’s $28.5 million per year has some sticker shock at first, it will quickly be outstripped by an ever-rising wide receiver market.”
He continued, “Jones’ two-year deal is extremely cuttable after one season, giving the Colts the flexibility they need as they navigate his Achilles recovery.”
Pierce is known for his big-play abilities, but he has developed into a more well-rounded wide receiver over the years. With Jones, the Colts made it clear since the offseason began that their intention was to re-sign him. The belief is that the success he had prior to his injury can be replicated.
As far as what Solak does not like about the Colts’ free agency approach, it is their plan — or lack thereof — at the linebacker and safety positions.
“This is about as thin of a linebacker and safety room as I’ve seen in the post-free agency, predraft space,” Solak wrote. “The current projected starters at linebacker are Austin Ajiake, Jaylon Carlies and Davis-Gaither. At safety, Hunter Wohler will replace Nick Cross. The Colts have tried to find viable starters on minimum contracts in Juanyeh Thomas and Jonathan Owens, but it’s a bleak outlook in the back seven for Indianapolis. Without a first-round pick, the Colts will struggle to fill all of their current gaps.”
Beyond those two positions, the depth at wide receiver and along the offensive line isn’t in great shape either.
GM Chris Ballard also hasn’t found that high-impact presence at defensive end to pair with Laiatu Latu. Rather, he has instead added two defenders in Arden Key and Micheal Clemons, who would be better suited for more rotational roles.
Relative to the rest of the NFL, the Colts have a good amount of cap space, but we are well past the point of finding a true difference-maker. Then, as Solak notes, the Colts are without a first-round pick and have just two selections in the top 100.
So while Ballard has been active, it’s fair to wonder how much — if at all — the Colts have actually improved over the last few weeks; hence their position in Solak’s rankings.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts 2026 free agency class not ranked highly by one NFL analyst
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
