After the Indianapolis Colts traded away veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore, it opened a fair larger gap on the place for the entrance workplace to deal with this offseason.
Two of the projected starters in Isaiah Rodgers Sr. and Kenny Moore II are each in contract years. In the meantime, Moore has been the topic of commerce rumors as a result of the Colts can save $8 million in opposition to the cap by shifting him.
So whereas the cornerback place was already a necessity even with Gilmore on the roster, it turn into arguably the second-biggest want behind the quarterback place.
There aren’t many choices to offer the Colts high quality starters, however there are just a few who may intrigue the entrance workplace, together with a well-known face. We additionally took a have a look at just a few prospects the Colts may draft on the finish of April.
Listed here are 4 free-agent cornerbacks the Colts may signal to exchange Gilmore:
AP Picture/Eric Christian Smith
This might be the best signing. Ya-Sin may re-sign with the group that drafted him within the second spherical of the 2019 NFL draft after which traded him final offseason. He matches precisely the kind of boundary cornerback who may thrive in Gus Bradley’s zone-heavy scheme. In 2022, Ya-Sin allowed a 58.5% completion price and 82.5 passer score in protection, proving that he continues to get higher with age.
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If there’s one space Chris Ballard has discovered success in free company, it’s discovering veteran cornerbacks who can fill a starter’s void on the surface throughout a short-term contract. The likes of Rashaan Melvin, Pierre Desir, Xavier Rhodes and Stephon Gilmore are all examples of veterans who thrived when given the prospect. Peters could possibly be subsequent on the listing even when it’s simply on a one-year deal. Coming off a torn ACL, he definitely didn’t play as much as expectation in 2022. In line with Professional Soccer Focus, he allowed a 71% completion price on 62 targets and a 116.3 passer score. However that falls in keeping with the narrative of largely the earlier veteran choices who went on to seek out success with the Colts.
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Griffin has proven flashes all through his profession since being chosen within the third spherical of the 2017 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks, and it’s doubtless a return to Gus Bradley’s kind of zone-heavy, Cowl 3 scheme would profit his profession. Griffin signed a three-year take care of the Jacksonville Jaguars final offseason however suffered a again damage and missed the remainder of the 2022 marketing campaign after simply six video games. The group then launched him in March. He wasn’t enjoying notably nicely earlier than the damage, however he’s a pleasant match for the protection and could possibly be a low-risk possibility with reasonable upside.
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The previous fifth-round decide matches the dimensions and athleticism mildew that the Colts need for Gus Bradley’s protection. He’s coming off a reasonably tough season through which he allowed a 75% completion price, 4 touchdowns and a 130.6 passer score on 52 targets, in line with Professional Soccer Focus. Nonetheless, the season earlier than that, he allowed only a 60.2 passer score on 69 targets in 2021. The Colts wouldn’t want him to be a star cornerback, however it’s potential he may enhance along with his eyes within the backfield whereas utilizing his athleticism to make performs on the ball in a zone-heavy scheme.
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