Jim Irsay’s checkbook is open. The front offices of the Indianapolis Colts organization are buzzing. Free agency, and 2014, has begun for the National Football League.
At first glance, one may think that the Colts need to focus on defense, after giving up 87 points in two playoff games in January.
And they would be right.
However, just as much attention should be placed on the Colts offense. No matter how Reggie Wayne performs in 2014 in his return from ACL surgery, the search for his successor must begin. Not just someone who can compliment T.Y. Hilton’s explosive playmaking, but someone willing to remain a cog in the Colts’ offensive schemes for the long-term. The wide receiver market is an abundant one this year, and a couple established candidates stand out to wear the horseshoe.
Offense
The free agent WR that everyone is talking about this year is Eric Decker, 26, of the Broncos, and rightly so. He is the third in touchdowns over the last three seasons, and in the top 20 in catches and yards in that span. But what we should keep in mind is that two of those seasons were spent catching passes from Peyton Manning. Incidentally, the two season with Manning in a Broncos uniform were much more productive for Decker than the one preceding Manning in Denver. So how much of Decker’s production can he claim? Also, as a side note: one catch for six yards in the Super Bowl.
The name Indy should really be paying attention to is Hakeem Nicks. You may have struggle a bit to remember the Giants WR, as a result of his fairly unimpressive injury-ridden 2013 season with the Giants. Yeah, those Giants, led by a miserable season from that other Manning.
Not really the ideal place for a talent like Nicks to play, huh? Well, you’d be right.
ICYMI: Free agent WR Hakeem Nicks told ESPN he's interested in the #Colts: http://t.co/7UYPzbaaod #NFL
— IndyStar Sports (@IndyStarSports) March 10, 2014
What Nicks, 26, has a distinct advantage over Decker is Super Bowl impact. In his first and only Super Bowl appearance against the Patriots in 2011, Nicks caught ten receptions for 109 yards.
Advantage – Nicks.
Couple his athleticism with his desire to catch passes from Andrew Luck, as well as a motivation to jump-start his reputation, and you have a playmaker who Irsay would do well to shell out some cash for.
Defense
Antoine Bethea is off to San Francisco, but Indy is already making up for him with the additions of LB D’Qwell Jackson and DL Arthur Jones, as well as retaining Sergio Brown and Vontae Davis. A couple more smart moves, and Indy has already improved its defense substantially over last year’s squad.
With Indy showing off its defensive priorities mere hours into the free agency, there is one other player who would complete the secondary transformation: Julius Peppers, cut by the Bears brass just after the beginning of free agency.
Peppers is without a doubt one of the premiere pass-rushers in the NFL, even in his mid-30s. Just imagine seeing him intimidate opposing quarterbacks alongside Robert Mathis, who just came off a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber season. Ware has averaged just under eleven quarterback sacks in eleven seasons, while helping to anchor Chicago and Carolina's secondary fronts.
Playing with a motivated and more experienced Colts defense would be a treat for Peppers. For once, he wouldn’t be doing all the work alone.
And, for the first time, he would be on a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations capabilities.
The Indianapolis Colts are closer to making a Super Bowl run than most realize. Bolstering Andrew Luck’s arsenal, as well as toughening the defense, would make that dream a reality in 2015.
Back to the Indianapolis Colts Newsfeed