The Indianapolis Colts had a great season, but lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Indy is a team on the rise with Andrew Luck under center, but they still need some pieces to become legitimate championship contenders. However, the wrong signing could send them in the opposite direction. Here are the players they need to avoid in free agency:
RB Ryan Mathews
Indianapolis needs to find a running back since Trent Richardson has proven he can't get it done, and Mathews is one of the bigger names on the market. He has been productive in his young career, but had dealt with numerous injuries and was limited to just six games last season. The injuries will drive the price down for Mathews, but the tag will still be relatively high and the Colts have plenty of other more pressing needs they should spend their money on.
S Nate Allen
Safety is the Colts' biggest priority, but in a weak free agency class at the position, Nate Allen is one of the better options. He should be entering the prime of his career at age 27 that will likely cause a team to overpay for his services even though he’s not that good. Allen allowed a 106.2 passer rating, five touchdowns, and a terrible 17.5 yards per completion for the Eagles last season, making it clear that he’s not a consistent starting-caliber guy.
DE Greg Hardy
Even though his domestic violence charges were settled in a civil suit, investing even a fraction of Hardy’s $13 million franchise tag value from 2014 would come with intense scrutiny and major risk – and Indianapolis doesn’t want to deal with the off-field drama he would bring. The Colts do need help on the defensive line, but Indy will be better off finding 80-85% of his talent with 90% less baggage on the free agent market.
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