Ranking Indianapolis Colts' Best Remaining Free-Agency Options

The Indianapolis Colts' heavy work is done in free agency.

By bringing in veterans like Trent Cole, Andre Johnson and Frank Gore in the first week of free agency, the Colts made it clear that they aren't looking to commit long-term money in free agency this year. That's likely due to the need for veteran pieces at certain positions and the looming contract extensions of Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton and Anthony Castonzo.

But the Colts still have plenty of room on the roster for competing bodies, and the draft won't fill every hole.

With the recent cuts of Trent Richardson and Michael Hill, the Colts could see a few signings in the next week. Though the big names are gone, there are still more than a few veterans out on the market looking for a landing spot.

So, who could the Colts have their eye on during the upcoming week?

5. LB Brandon Spikes

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The issue with Brandon Spikes was always going to be his role.

In a rotational role used mainly as a run-stuffer, Spikes can excel. After all, he's spent most of his five-year career in that role, both with the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills. In the process, he's racked up a positive-56.7 grade from Pro Football Focus.

In this kind of role, the Colts could really use a player like Spikes. The Colts lacked a downhill, physical linebacker last season, and the Patriots exposed that twice. Spikes was basically the third linebacker in Buffalo last year, and he likely would be in Indianapolis as well.

But according to ESPN.com's Mike Reiss, Spikes is "looking for a club to give him a shot as a full-time linebacker."

With D'Qwell Jackson and Jerrell Freeman in place, Indianapolis might not be Spikes' ideal location. If he's willing to be part of a rotation, the Colts could certainly use the depth, with just Jackson, Henoc Muamba and Shawn Loiseau on the roster (with Freeman tendered).

Spikes would need to be willing to earn his keep—and take a smaller contract—to make a situation in Indianapolis work, but it would be worth it against teams that wanted to test the Colts inside.

4. S Bernard Pollard

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A personal favorite of mine, Bernard Pollard would bring a hard-hitting, physical presence to the Colts secondary—what they expected to get with LaRon Landry.

Pollard was cut by the Tennessee Titans last week after requesting a release this offseason, having a few issues with the front office and coaching staff, as Jim Wyatt of The Tennesseean first reported. Pollard wants to join a contender, and the Colts could be the place for Pollard. It certainly would fit the "veterans joining the Colts to get a ring" theme that's been present so far this offseason.

While Pollard did tear his Achilles tendon this past season, he's still effective as an in-the box safety, racking up a career-high 142 tackles for the Titans in 2013, according to The Associated Press (via Fox Sports.com). If he's healthy, Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated thinks he'd be one of the top free-agent safeties, and I agree.

Of course, Pollard can be a liability in coverage, although not as much as his reputation may lead you to believe. Still, a Pollard-to-Indianapolis move would only work if the Colts were willing to give the safeties more traditional strong and free safety roles, which is certainly no guarantee. But with Mike Adams better suited as a free safety anyway, this isn't all that far-fetched.

Having Pollard and Adams as starting safeties isn't ideal, as both are over 30 and potentially susceptible to injury, but the Colts are running out of options.

3. NT Kenrick Ellis

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The Colts could still use some help on the defensive line, particularly at nose tackle.

With Dan Williams off the market early and many of the other free-agent interior linemen coming from 4-3 schemes, the nose tackle market has dried up quickly in free agency.

But one player that's still available is former New York Jets nose tackle Kenrick Ellis, a player that should have been on the Colts' radar from the get-go. Ellis is a 6'4", 346-pound behemoth in the middle of the line and has been a stout run-stuffer in New York for the last four years.

With Damon Harrison playing as well as he has in New York, Ellis has been reduced to a backup nose tackle role, but the Colts don't have someone like Harrison to keep Ellis down. At the very least, he could be a cheap option to come in and push Josh Chapman in competition.

In 2013, Ellis posted a positive-11.3 grade from Pro Football Focus, and that is something the Colts could really benefit from. He would fit in the Colts' 3-4 hybrid system, which is very similar to the Jets' system in many ways, and depth is always a necessity in the trenches.

2. NT Vince Wilfork

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If the Colts are really looking for a nose tackle prospect in free agency, former rival Vince Wilfork may make the most sense. While his impact on the field may be limited, he could bring valuable intangibles. And no, it's not just because of the University of Miami reunion going on amid the Colts roster this offseason.

Wilfork is turning 34 in November, and 325-pound men don't age well in this business. Wilfork was injured for almost all of 2013, and really faded down the stretch in 2014, earning a negative-6.0 grade from Pro Football Focus in the playoffs.

At the same time, Wilfork finished with a positive-8.9 grade during the regular season, including a positive-14.0 run defense grade. However, Wilfork wasn't always a traditional nose tackle for New England, instead lining up as a defensive end in the Patriots' 3-4 defense during most of 2014. Of course, Wilfork has plenty of experience as a nose tackle, and he could certainly play that role for the Colts.

Wilfork also brings in certain intangibles to Indianapolis, having been around a winning football culture in New England for 11 years. A captain in New England, Wilfork could be a good mentor for guys like Josh Chapman, Montori Hughes and Zach Kerr in Indianapolis.

If it's a short-term deal for reasonably cheap money, the Colts should make a hard run at Wilfork. Because of his age, they should be careful about overpaying, but Wilfork and the Colts would still make a strong match.

1. S Dawan Landry

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It's hard to imagine the Colts bringing in another Landry, especially the brother of recently released LaRon Landry, but former Jets safety Dawan Landry is the older brother that best fits the Colts' needs right now.

The Colts simply still need a safety. Currently on the roster are Mike Adams (turning 34 next week), Dewey McDonald (undrafted free agent who was a special teams player in 2014), Winston Guy (practice squad) and Colt Anderson (career special teamer).

Going into offseason activities with those four as your only options is a terrifying prospect. While the Colts could draft a safety, there is a slim chance that they have an opportunity to actually draft one that would be able to make an impact and start right away.

Landry reminds me of the 2014 Adams signing in a lot of ways. Like Adams, Landry has experience in a variety of systems and had a very strong year in 2014 with the Jets. Like the Colts, the Jets have a disguised 3-4 hybrid that relies on multiple coverages and versatility with the defensive backs, making it an easy transition for Landry.

Putting up a positive-10.9 Pro Football Focus grade this last year in New York, Landry may be looking for one last big payment. But if it's a situation like Adams last year, where his age (32) deters signings, the Colts should be kicking the tires.