With free agency and the NFL draft behind us, what position does PFF consider the Colts’ biggest remaining position of need?
With free agency and the NFL draft behind us, what would you consider the Indianapolis Colts’ biggest remaining position of need?
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus answered this question for each team, and when it came to the Colts, he selected linebacker.
“Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed started at linebacker for the Colts last season, each playing more than 1,000 snaps,” wrote Sikkema. “Franklin earned a 60.3 PFF overall grade, while Speed recorded a 56.3 mark. Speed is no longer in Indianapolis, so in steps Jaylon Carlies, who earned a higher 70.0 PFF overall grade, but on just over 200 snaps. The second level remains an area of concern for the Colts’ defense.”
The need for the Colts at this position heading into the NFL draft was twofold: after losing EJ Speed and Grant Stuard in free agency, more depth was needed. In addition to that, in a perfect world, there would be some competition for Jaylon Carlies for that starting spot next to Zaire Franklin. As Sikkema mentions, Carlies has just over 200 career defensive snaps.
While the Colts did add Hunter Wohler in the seventh round of this year’s draft, it sounds like he will handle some linebacker and safety responsibilities, and what Indianapolis wants to be mindful of is not putting too much on his plate early on. Also, this addition bolsters the depth but likely doesn’t add starting competition–at least not at this time.
But with all that said, there’s a reason the Colts didn’t spend heavily in free agency on this unit or make an early round pick–Ballard likes the group they already have, but in addition to that, in Lou Anarumo’s defense, there is going to be more reliance on the defensive back position than there is on the linebacker spot.
“It’s a position we’ve been pretty good drafting and developing. I give our coaches and scouts a lot of credit for that,” Ballard said before the NFL draft. “Don’t forget now, E.J. Speed, it wasn’t like he came on right away. No, it took him a little time. Zaire Franklin did not come on right away. Great special team player but eventually became a linebacker that was a good player.”
I understand the selection, and I’ve talked quite a bit this offseason about the need at linebacker. However, if I were making this pick, linebacker would be No. 3 on my list.
Safety depth is a far greater concern. Behind Cam Bynum and Nick Cross, currently on the depth chart, are Rodney Thomas, Marcel Dabo, and Daniel Scott.
In addition to that, what I would consider the biggest positional unknown right now is at right guard. It looks like that job belongs to Matt Goncalves, but he is making a position change after playing just about every one of his college and first-year NFL snaps at tackle.
This isn’t to say that this won’t be a smooth transition for Goncalves, but the point is we don’t know, so bringing in competition feels like the prudent move here. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who the Colts’ starting quarterback is if the offensive line play isn’t good enough.