The Colts could be looking to add a playmaker to new veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s secondary.
Per NFL.com’s Kevin Pantra, the Indianapolis Colts adding a safety is “the one move the Horseshoe should make this offseason,” on his list of needs for each AFC team:
Indianapolis Colts
2024 record: 8-9
Add free safety for Lou Anarumo’s defense.
Anarumo’s defenses are at their best when they have a talented deep safety patrolling the middle of single-high looks — think Jessie Bates. Nick Cross is coming off a career year at strong safety, but there is a void in the free safety spot. Julian Blackmon struggled through 2024 and will be a free agent. Indy could use a coverage linebacker and CB depth to aid its new DC’s arrival, but upgrading with a rangy playmaker at safety is a must if the Colts want to turn things around swiftly. Someone like Jevon Holland would fit swimmingly if the Dolphins let him hit the open market. Another name to watch: Tre’von Moehrig, from Vegas, who might not be as well-known, but his tape was excellent in 2024.
Along with tight end, safety is arguably one of the biggest offseason needs for the Colts, and it’s easily the greatest glaring deficiency on the defensive side of the football right now.
While still only 23-year-old Nick Cross had a breakout 2024 campaign of sorts—with a career year as a full-time starter, featuring 146 total tackles, the Colts may be seeking an upgrade at free safety alongside him—as pending free agent Julian Blackmon disappointed.
New veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has shown that he can coach when ‘given the horses,’ but now it’s a matter of longtime Colts general manager Chris Ballard upgrading the talent on the backend of the Indianapolis secondary—with a more dynamic playmaker.
Whether that’s the aforementioned Jevon Holland or Tre’von Moehrig as coveted free agents remains unclear, but it’s also possible the Colts could try to land a top safety prospect early on in either the first or second round of this year’s upcoming NFL Draft.
