Of all the positional needs, what's the Colts' biggest this offseason?
General manager Chris Ballard mentioned in his season-ending press conference that the emphasis this offseason was going to be on infusing competition throughout the roster.
As we evaluate which positions could use an added boost in either free agency, the draft, or even both, there are a lot of options for this Colts team.
However, in terms of the biggest, The Athletic's beat reporters recently answered that question for the respective teams that they cover. For the Colts, James Boyd would select the safety group, and for good reason.
The need for the Colts at the safety position is more than just about getting better play from the secondary, as Ballard said. Although that is an important factor, for sure.
Last season, the Colts' pass defense ranked in the bottom 10 of the NFL in completion rate, pass deflections, yards per pass attempt, and passer rating, according to Pro Football Reference.
But in addition to that, depth and that aforementioned competition is a massive need as well currently under contract for the Colts in 2025 are Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas, and Marcel Dabo–that's it.
Lastly, in new Lou Anarumo's defensive scheme, versatility is critical as is the ability to disguise coverages, with both elements helping to keep opposing offenses off-balanced and guessing. However, that also can put a lot on the safety's plate.
'New Indy DC Lou Anarumo puts a lot of pressure on the backend, and when analyzing the success his defenses previously had in Cincinnati — when the Bengals went to back-to-back AFC Championship Games — it coincided with having a high-IQ and experienced safety,' wrote Boyd.
Boyd also adds that because the safety is asked handle a lot in Anarumo's defense, the Colts may be better off filling this role in free agency with an experienced presence rather than the draft. Also, with Cross playing strong safety last season, the Colts need to fill the free safety role specifically.
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