First let's start with the Colts' free agent list: Pat McAfee, Adam Vinatieri, Vontae Davis, Donald Brown, Joe Reitz, Kavell Conner, Ahmad Bradshaw, Josh Gordy, Fili Moala, Lawrence Sidbury, Deoin Branch, Sergio Brown, Aubrayo Franklin, Antoine Bethea, Cassius Vaughn, Jeff Linkenbach, Ricardo Mathews, Pat Angerer, Darrius Heward-Bey, and Mike McGlynn.
Shew, that's a lot.
So, which players should the Colts re-sign? Let's take a look.
Pat McAfee- McAfee has been one of the best punters in the game (though he has repeatedly been snubbed from the Pro Bowl) and offers more than just a monstrous leg on 4th downs. He's waiting for his turn to kick FG's in the NFL (can nail 75 yarders--seen it in person) and also is a lifesaver on kickoffs when our kickoff coverage fails to tackle the returner; just ask Trindon Holliday of the Denver Broncos. According to PFF, McAfee was the 3rd best punter in the league in 2013, only behind Shane Lechler and Johnny Hekker. I think McAfee should receive a 4-year deal worth $16 million.
Adam Vinatieri- Vinatieri is the oldest player in the league and still believes he has a couple of years left. "Money" as Colts fans like to call him has been clutch since coming to Indy, and as long as he can still kick, let him kick! The only thing I wish the Colts would do different is use McAfee in long-distance situations--you know, the ones that are out of Vinatieri's range. Vinatieri should receive a 2-year deal worth $6 million.
Vontae Davis- When Grigson traded for Davis last year everybody was beyond excited. Davis was known as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, and rightfully so. He's been the lock-down corner the Colts have been looking for, and the Colts need to lock-down a deal with him right away. Don't allow him to test free agency, just show him the money! We cannot afford to lose the best cornerback we've had in years, and with that the Colts should throw a 3-year deal worth $20.5 million at him.
Ahmad Bradshaw- Bradshaw was brought in in 2012 on a $2 million deal for one year. Let's not forget, Colts fans, that Bradshaw looked to be our hardest runner early in the season until a neck injury that placed him on IR. Though he is injury prone, if we give him an incentive based contract for the same $2 million on one year, if he can stay healthy, he would help the Colts create a dangerous running game. At first I wasn't too sure about re-signing him, but there isn't a lot out there for RB's in this years' free agent class, so it's worth another shot.
As you can tell, the list of the Colts' free agents that we should sign is fairly small compared to the ones we shouldn't, but no worries, it's for the best!
Moving on, there are some players on the Colts' roster that have INSANELY RIDICULOUS contracts! Those players are the following: Samson Satele, Greg Toler, and Matt Hasselbeck.
Samson Satele- After Jeff Saturday wasn't re-signed, the Colts knew they had to find a good center and thought they had the guy when the signed Satele. They were wrong...horribly wrong! PFF's grading scale had him at -10.4, which doesn't help the Colts out much when they're trying to run the ball. His run blocking grade was actually -12.1, to be exact. Satele's contract is the WORST contract the Colts have, and it should be terminated. The center is due to make $5,066,668 this year, which can be spent a lot more wisely on somebody that can actually do the job (Alex Mack). If the Colts do cut Satele (which is likely), they'll save $4,000,000.
Greg Toler- When signed, Colts' fans had high expectations for Toler. Though injury prone, his speed/coverage skills seems to match well with Davis', so everybody thought our cornerback positions were very good. And they were, until Toler got hurt in the game against Denver. Toler sat out the remainder of the season, but came back against KC and got burnt time after time, eventually being benched after re-injuring his groin. After that game, he was placed on IR. Due to make $4,833,333 this year, the Colts cannot afford to pay this kind of money to a player that has a big history of injuries. I like the guy, but he needs cut. This is a business, unfortunately, and it should be handled as such. If cut (which is doubtful), the Colts would save $4,166,666.
Matt Hasselbeck- Hasselbeck was brought in in 2012 to be a mentor for Andrew Luck. It was Luck's rookie year, and though he was said to be the smartest QB coming out of college ever, a little guidance from a veteran can never be a bad thing...until this year. This year Hasselbeck is set to make $3,750,000. For what? To sit on the bench. Luck (IMO) is passed needing guidance, and we could spend $3.7 million elsewhere. The Colts should cut him and use Harnish as their backup; he isn't too bad for a second year QB either! If they did decide to cut Hasselbeck, they would save $2,250,000.
The rest of the Colts players that should be cut (some are obvious) are the following: Corey Lynch, Tashard Choice, Weslye Saunders, Dan Herron, Aaron Morgan, Thomas Austin, Mario Harvey, Justin Anderson, Jeris Pendleton, Justin Anderson, Marcus Burley, Alan Baxter, Jake McDonough, Sheldon Price, and Martell Webb.
For shits and giggles, let's say everybody that I think should get cut, gets cut. With that in mind, let's take a look at what the Colts salary cap situation would look like.
Cap Savings- $18,311,666
Dead Money- $4,003, 067
Practice Squad- $816,000
Draft- $2,100,000
Projected Salary Cap- $71,602,647
Projected NFL Salary Cap- $126,300,000
Colts Cap Space- $48,941,243
Yes, you see that right. If the Colts cut a few big names that aren't really helping us anyway, plus the rest of the players listed (and half of them won't make the final roster as it is), they would save almost FORTY-NINE MILLION DOLLARS!
Just let that sink in.
Now the fun part beings...
WHICH FREE AGENTS SHOULD THE COLTS SIGN?
Alex Mack- Mack was the 4th best center last year, and that was with the Cleveland Browns. Granted the Browns have a pretty stout offensive line, that's still a pretty solid ranking and should be treated as such. As previously mentioned, if the Colts were smart they would cut Satele and save $4 million. And if they continued to be smart they would sign Mack for a 4-year deal worth $22 million, meaning his cap hit would be $5.5 million. For $1.5 million more, that's one hell of an upgrade. The interior of the offensive line was a nightmare for the Colts this year, and signing Mack be a quick/enormous upgrade.
Jairus Byrd- I highly doubt the Bills will let this young and upcoming safety go, but if they do, the Colts need to jump on it quick. Bethea, who has been with the Colts since 2006, is a free agent this year and though it pains me to say it, they shouldn't re-sign him. He is slowing down, his coverage skills are becoming average, and he will want a large paycheck. Though Landry didn't pan out the way the Colts wanted him to in 2013, with time, he'll be there. With that said, the Colts will need another safety back there with Landry, and Byrd (the 8th best S according to PFF) is the answer. The only downfall is he's seeking to become the highest paid safety in the NFL, but the Colts should pay him, and pay him big. A 4-year/$38 million contract is what I had in mind, but boy would those two safeties create quite the duo.
Corey Graham- As a cornerback that's spent most of his time with the Chicago Bears, but the last couple with the Baltimore Ravens, Corey Graham handles business. He played in 16 games this season, starting 5, but the biggest key to this sentence is the number 16. Durability is what the Colts need at the CB position, and Graham provides that. This season he had 12 passes defensed and 4 INT's, and sheesh, we all love INTs! I'm thinking a 2-year deal worth $6 million would lock up this cornerback, and that's a big saving/upgrade from the injury prone Greg Toler.
Arthur Jones- The defensive line need one thing this year--PUSH! Cory Redding did an exceptional job this year, but the newly acquired Ricky Jean-Francois wasn't spectacular. Jones was in on 53 tackles this year including 4 sacks, and may just be the DE the Colts need. Not to mention Pagano and Manusky are familiar with Jones, as he has spent the last 4 years (whole career) with the Baltimore Ravens. Jones should receive a a 3-year deal worth $12 million.
Jason Hatcher- Jason Hatcher is the last FA I think the Colts should look at. Hatcher, who has been in the NFL for 8 years, is a DT that has turned on the jets the last few years. He's a "late bloomer" as some would say. At 32 years of age, Hatcher still made the Pro Bowl this year, as he should have after recording 11 sacks. Granted he played in the 4-3 this year under Kiffen, the year prior he still put up Redding-like numbers, which every Colts fan should take. If Hatcher was willing to leave the Cowboys (or if the Cowboys decide they don't/can't re-sign him), he should look into coming to Indy. His chance to win a Super Bowl is here, and I think the Colts could bring him in on a 3-year deal worth $7.5 million.
After all of the free agents (including current Colts free agents) are signed, that would put the Colts' free agent spending at a whopping $40,250,000. That's a lot of money, but luckily after the cuts that I had previously mentioned should happen, that would still leave the Colts with $8,691,243 left to spend on un-drafted free agents.
As I said before, this is a huge offseason for the Colts as they are still trying to "Build the Monster". It's not built yet, folks, but it's very close! I think with the moves I've mentioned, this would put them in the position they needed to be to go to the Super Bowl.
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