5 Free Agents Indianapolis Colts Should Avoid This Offseason

The Indianapolis Colts have money to spend on key players in free agency this offseason, but there are a few names that the team will need to avoid in order to become a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2015 and beyond.

That's not to say that these free agents are bad players. In most cases, it's quite the contrary. However, because of either a poor scheme fit or an expensive price tag, the Colts would be better off looking at other options in free agency.

It will be a big offseason for the Colts to find upgrades at positions on both sides of the ball. Along with having draft picks in every round this year, the Colts also have an estimated $33.5 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap.

That sounds like a lot of money, but the Colts will have to be careful in how they spend it. Players like Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton, Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener will be in need of extensions after the 2015 season, and they'll all be looking for some pretty big paydays.

With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the free agents that the Colts should try to avoid bringing in this offseason.

DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys

It's clear that the Colts need to make changes at running back. They might be able to bring Ahmad Bradshaw back, but they're going to need more of a workhorse back in front of the veteran to keep him healthy.

That will make it tempting for the Colts to try to sign a big name at running back in free agency like DeMarco Murray. However, that is the last thing the Colts should do.

Running backs have one of the shorter shelf lives in the league because of the amount of hits they take on a weekly basis. Murray is a great back, but he's already 26 years old and coming off a season where he carried the ball over 430 times. He might not have missed any games for the first time in his four-year career, but he was dealing with injuries during the final stretch.

At the same time, Murray is going to ask for a massive contract. Bleacher Report's Jason Cole suggests in the video above that Murray could make anywhere between $7 and $10 million per year in his new deal, and that's something that the Colts can't afford.

Instead, the Colts should try to find their future franchise running back early in the draft. Not only will a rookie be significantly cheaper, but he'll also likely be an asset for much longer if he turns into a successful back in the pros.

Brian Orakpo, OLB, Washington

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Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky did the best job he could of manufacturing pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but the Colts need pass-rushers who can handle one-on-one matchups. Even with the return of Robert Mathis next season, the Colts may still want to add some more talent at outside linebacker.

Fortunately for the Colts, there are some options at outside linebacker that could fit in a 3-4 scheme. At the same time, they need to be careful about which, if any, they try to bring in.

Brian Orakpo might look like an appealing option, but the Colts should steer clear of him.

At 28 years old, Orakpo has struggled to stay healthy as of late, missing 24 games over the past three seasons. When healthy, he can be effective, picking up 10 sacks in 15 games back in 2013. However, it looks like Orakpo's best days are behind him, and he'll still be looking for a big payday.

The Colts have a developing pass-rusher in Jonathan Newsome, but they need more security with the future of Mathis up in the air. If they're serious about adding another outside linebacker, they'll either need to draft one with one of their first picks or spend big money on a player like Justin Houston.

Jasper Brinkley, ILB, Minnesota Vikings

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Inside linebacker is a position where the Colts might want to hold off on signing a free agent altogether. It's still a position where the Colts need an upgrade, but unless they can bring in a big name like Brandon Spikes or Rolando McClain, it might be best to try to find someone in the draft.

If the Colts want another inside linebacker but don't want to dump a lot of money on someone, they're probably going to look at Jasper Brinkley. There's a lot to like about the 29-year-old who can stop the run and bring down ball-carriers, but there's a concern about how he'd fit with the other current linebackers on the team.

Pass coverage from the inside linebackers was one of the biggest weaknesses on the Colts defense last year. According to Football Outsiders, they ranked 27th and 31st, respectively, in covering opposing tight ends and running backs, the two positions inside linebackers tend to cover.

The Colts need to find someone who can drop back effectively in pass coverage, and unfortunately, Brinkley isn't that guy. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked 50th among eligible inside linebackers in pass coverage.

Chuck Pagano and the rest of the coaching staff seem to have faith in D'Qwell Jackson, but they may want to find a long-term solution at the position in the draft.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants

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Jason Pierre-Paul has had a volatile career, at times looking like a premier pass-rusher and at other times seeming to disappear. The 26-year-old is coming off his second double-digit sack season in his five-year career, picking up 12.5 sacks.

It looks like Pierre-Paul might be ready to re-establish himself as one of the better pass-rushers in the league, but judging from his previous experience and size, he'll want to do so in a similar scheme to what the New York Giants have.

At 6'5'' and 278 pounds, Pierre-Paul has been playing as a 4-3 defensive end in New York. Because of his frame, it's hard to see him thriving as either a defensive end or outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

The Colts are going to need pass-rushers, but they'll need players who can adjust to playing in a 3-4 scheme. Pierre-Paul might be a productive pass-rusher, but it would be too risky to bring him in on a likely expensive deal only to watch him possibly struggle to make the transition.

Just ask Bjoern Werner how that worked out coming out of college.

Brian De La Puente, C, Chicago Bears

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No one knows what's going to happen at center for the Colts. Three different players in A.Q. Shipley, Jonotthan Harrison and Khaled Holmes took turns starting in the middle of the offensive line, but the Colts could never seem to make up their mind.

They might want to bring in another veteran to hold down the starting center spot, but with all of the injuries on the offensive line over the past few years, they need to find someone at the position who can stay healthy.

Unfortunately, Brian de la Puente may not be that guy. He was able to start every game in his last three seasons with the New Orleans Saints but missed eight games this past year with the Chicago Bears. De la Puente will also be 30 years old before the start of the 2015 season, although he still likely has a few more good years left in him.

Since Jeff Saturday left, the Colts haven't had a long-term solution at center. De la Puente might be able to help the Colts right now, but the franchise should focus on trying to find a younger player who could hold down the position for the majority of Andrew Luck's career.