To think the Indianapolis Colts might be able to draft someone who appeared to be a franchise-caliber defender over a perennial Super Bowl contender seems ridiculous, but Bleacher Report believes so be a reasonable couple during the 2025 offseason.
San Francisco 49ers All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga will be a free agent after the end of the 2024 campaign, and he has spent all but two games this season on injured reserve with ligament damage in his wrist.
The 49ers may not be willing to commit to Hufanga long-term, however, any team that has the chance to sign the USC alum should jump at the chance.
“There are a lot of questions about Talanoa Hufanga’s durability. He was knocked out of the 2023 season due to a torn ACL. Now he is on injured reserve due to a wrist injury “That being said, he’s a playmaker who brings exactly what the Colts are missing in the back half right now,” wrote Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report.
Hufunga also missed seven games during the 2023 season due to a torn ACL, but in his only full campaign he collected four interceptions, forced two fumbles, sacked the quarterback twice and deflected nine passes.
At the security position, these plays are invaluable. Even in his limited 2023 seasonHufunga threw three interceptions, deflected three passes, allowed just one touchdown and allowed a passer rating below 73.
Hufunga was essential to the 49ers’ Super Bowl appearance at the end of the 2022 season, but consecutive injury-riddled seasons have significantly hurt his free agency value.
With current Colts safety Julian Blackmon set to hit the free agency market this offseason, Indianapolis could do more than replace him, they could replace him.
This would go a long way toward resolving a safety situation that Bleacher Report called Indianapolis’ biggest weakness in Week 12. The Colts secondary allowed 2,719 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and just eight interceptions after the first 11 games of the year.
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