Reassessing Colts' Offseason Plan and Breaking Down What's Left to Address

With free agency largely complete, the Indianapolis Colts have addressed much of their offseason to-do list, so to speak.

But the biggest and most important part of the offseason is yet to come: The NFL draft.

The easiest place to start in preparing for the draft is to set a list of needs for each team. We've looked at plenty of the Colts' needs in the past, but free agency and Indianapolis' exploits there have changed the outlook headed into the draft.

Some people have loved what the Colts have done, even asking if the Colts are now the favorites in the AFC. But while the Colts have done well in the first part of the offseason, there is still much to be done.

As we look ahead to the draft and what the Colts still need to address in order to be a favorite in the AFC, let's look back at the Colts' offseason needs to address what remains undone.

To understand what the Colts' priorities were to start the offseason, I went back to a piece I wrote in February about the Colts' top offseason priorities. Each of these priorities is multifaceted, and much of the list has been partially fulfilled:

• Acquire offensive line depth
• Upgrade Andrew Luck's weapons
• Plan for the future in the secondary
• Add playmakers to the defensive front seven

Now, let's run by this point-by-point.

Offensive Line Depth

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

With developmental interior linemen complementing the starting tackles and Jack Mewhort, it was imperative that the Colts add depth to the offensive line in the offseason to guard against injury collapse.

The team did address that, re-signging Joe Reitz, signing CFL standout Ben Heenan and acquiring former Philadelphia Eagle Todd Herremans in free agency.

Bringing Reitz back was an underrated move that could pay big dividends for Indianapolis. Reitz is a glue guy for the Colts, a sort of sixth man on the offensive line that can play both guard and tackle. He's not an ideal starter at tackle by any means, but he can start with high effectiveness on the interior if need be.

He's best described by Ben Gundy of Colts Academy:

"

Reitz is by no means a superstar. He’s subpar as a run blocker and just OK as a tackle; Rob Ninkovich gave him fits in the AFC Championship Game. But he’s an outstanding pass protector at guard who can hold his own at either tackle spot, and he doesn’t seem to mind being a backup. His remarkable athleticism makes him one of my favorite Colts offensive linemen to watch, and he’s usually good for one or two jaw-dropping displays of athleticism overcoming poor technique in every game he plays. With questions about Gosder Cherilus’ health lingering, Reitz represents a strong insurance plan.

"

Alongside Reitz is Todd Herremans, a similar player with superior run-blocking abilities. Herremans can also swing out to tackle if need be, although he's a more natural guard and his tackle skills are quickly diminishing.

Heenan is a wild card, a potential long-term option at guard but a complete unknown at the NFL level. If he turns out to be something worth holding onto, we'll find out in training camp.

The only thing left that the Colts really need is a long-term tackle option. This player would likely sit in 2015, but would be an option to start in place of Gosder Cherilus in 2016 and beyond. The Colts could spend a first-round pick on a tackle in order to get that player, but given the needs remaining on the defensive side of the ball, that's not where the Colts will get the most value.

Still, it is a need the Colts have to fill, and if Indianapolis uses an early pick there, it's certainly an explainable move.

Upgrade Offensive Weapons

By trading Trent Richardson and the corpse of Reggie Wayne for Frank Gore and Andre Johnson, the Colts have already checked off this box.

The team needed players at both running back and wide receiver that could add a veteran presence in a young offensive locker room as well as give the team a stable presence on the field.

Sure, both players are aging, but both have still been productive in their 30s and the Colts think they have plenty left. According to head coach Chuck Pagano, Gore is everything the Colts want in a back, per Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee:

"

You just put the tape on and you still see the production. He's a tough, hard-nosed, every-down back. He can play all three downs. He's tough as nails. He's one of the toughest guys we've seen play this game. We still feel that obviously he's a guy with a lot left.

"

As for Johnson, his numbers as a 33-year-old with a bad quarterback last season are extremely similar to Reggie Wayne's numbers as a 33-year-old with a bad quarterback in 2011:

Player	Year	Age	QBs	Catches	Catch Rate	Yards	TDs
Reggie Wayne	2011	33	Kerry Collins, Curtis Painter, Dan Orlovsky	75	56.8%	960	4
Andre Johnson	2014	33	Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum, Ryan Mallett	85	58.2%	936	3

Wayne went on to have a historic season in 2012, catching 106 passes for over 1,300 yards and going to the Pro Bowl. Johnson likely won't have that kind of season since the Colts have a stable of other weapons that weren't ready in 2012, but he should be prepared for a 1,000-yard season.

But even with those additions, the Colts have needs for more. The team did sign receiver Vincent Brown at the end of March, giving them some depth, but the talented 2015 class of receivers may still call for one to be drafted in the later rounds.

More importantly, the skilled class of running backs begs for the Colts to take one in the early-to-mid rounds.

Gore is a good addition for Indianapolis, but his production will decline sooner rather than later, no matter what Pagano says. The Colts need a contingency plan, and Dan Herron is better off as a backup than as the running back of the future. 

Cathleen Allison/Associated Press

By drafting a back now, the youngster can learn and adapt to the NFL while sharing the load with Gore, which will also help limit the wear and tear on the veteran back, keeping him fresh for a playoff run. No matter who the Colts end up taking in the draft, however, it's paramount that they're a strong pass-catching back out of the backfield in order to most efficiently contribute in the Colts offense.

Among the top pass-catching backs in this year's class that could be available at the end of the second round or later are Jay Ajayi, Ameer Abdullah, Duke Johnson, David Johnson and Mike Davis.

Plan for the Future in the Secondary

This is one area that the Colts have yet to address this offseason, and hopefully that results in multiple picks in the NFL draft.

The secondary, along with a strong pass rush, is the most important part of the defense in today's NFL. It's no coincidence that this year's two Super Bowl teams were loaded with young defensive back stars.

Richard Sherman, Darrelle Revis, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Devin McCourty, Brandon Browner, Byron Maxwell.

Having those kind of players makes scheming an effective defense so much easier. If you're going to beat the conference's best teams, you have to have the secondary to slow down the quarterbacks. Tom Brady in New England, Peyton Manning in Denver, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Philip Rivers.

The Colts secondary has been solid, but they have to plan for the future by adding young, premium talent. The team did address the weak safety position by signing Dwight Lowery, a spot starter who has been on three different teams in his seven-year career. Lowery will likely start in the beginning of 2015 and is a decent stop-gap solution. Re-signing 2014 Pro Bowler Mike Adams was another good short-term move.

But the team still needs long-term options there, as well as at cornerback. After the strong trio of Vontae Davis, Greg Toler and Darius Butler, the Colts have virtually zero depth. With Greg Toler's contract expiring after the 2015 season and the group having suffered through injuries before, the Colts would do well to add a cornerback sooner rather than later.

At safety, there are multiple options despite the class' weak reputation. Landon Collins is a first-round option as a strong safety type, while Derron Smith or a number of converted cornerbacks could make for free safety options later in the draft.

According to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, the Colts love Arizona State's Damarious Randall, a playmaking coverage safety that could go in the first two rounds.

For cornerbacks, this class has both top-end talent and depth. Marcus Peters is arguably one of the top 10 talents in this draft, but character concerns could push him down to the late 20s after he was kicked off the Washington team in 2014.

Peters is my favorite fit for the Colts because his size and length translate so well to his press-man coverage, but there are other options that will be available later in the draft as well, like Quinten Rollins, Doran Grant, Ronald Darby, P.J. Williams and Quandre Diggs.

Add Playmakers to the Front Seven

Another to-do item that has to be taken care of in the draft, namely in the first three or four rounds.

The Colts chose not to sign one of the top defensive linemen in free agency, like Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley or Terrance Knighton, instead choosing the more prudent route to save money for upcoming contract extensions.

It was the smart route for Indianapolis, but it does mean that the Colts need to make that front seven a priority in the 2015 draft.

It's not necessarily about stopping the run, despite the high-profile struggles against New England. It's not necessarily about adding pass-rushers, although that's a concern with Robert Mathis and Trent Cole being closer to retirement than to All-Pro performances. It's not about dropping linebackers into coverage, although D'Qwell Jackson proved that a weak link can be exploited week after week in that area.

No, while all of those are concerns to be addressed, what it comes down to is simply having playmakers in the front seven that offenses have to game-plan for. The Colts have had one such player in Robert Mathis in recent years, but that's about it.

The team needs to add core talent in that front seven, whether it be an interior lineman, an edge-rusher for the future or an inside linebacker to potentially start down the road. The team added depth and rotational pieces in free agency, with Nate Irving and Kendall Langford each having some value, but neither are the blue-chip talents the Colts so desperately need.

As far as the draft goes, their are a number of options that could be available.

I have been a big proponent of inside linebacker Eric Kendricks, who is the best coverage linebacker in the draft by a wide margin, but if a top edge-rusher like Bud Dupree or Randy Gregory drops into the late 20s, the Colts could take the value pick.

Eli Harold, Owamagbe Odighizuwa and Danielle Hunter represent the top second-tier edge players that the Colts could be looking at early as well. Meanwhile, Shaq Thompson and Stephone Anthony are athletic prospects that could fit as inside linebackers for Indianapolis.

Then there are the interior linemen, where players like Danny Shelton, Malcom Brown, Michael Bennett, Preston Smith, Jordan Phillips and Eddie Goldman should be floating around the first and second round.

The Colts will have plenty of options, but the team simply must hit on at least one of them.

Indianapolis is primed for a potential Super Bowl run in 2015, but it goes beyond that. The team is primed for a 10-year run as the class of the AFC with the most impressive young quarterback at the helm. If they truly want to be a Super Bowl contender for years to come, a playmaker in the front seven is crucial.