The Indianapolis colts have already engaged tons of money in their defense during the first month of the NFL free agency.
The director general of the colts, Chris Ballard, signed security Cam bynum and half of the corner Ward of Charvarius to contracts of a value of up to 60 million dollars each to invest in secondary school. Looking through the defense, the first seven could use a similar investment before the 2025 season.
On the defensive line, the colts lost the starting rusher Dayo Odeyingbo at the Bears in Chicago at the start of the free agency. Odeyingbo has been responsible for 16 bags in the past three seasons and will leave a serious hole on the list.
Stand Kristopher Knox analyst believes that the free defensive winger Za’darius Smith could be an ideal replacement for Odeyingbo.
“Za’darius Smith is one of the upper edge rushers still available and would be an immediate contributor to Indy,” Knox wrote. “Although the Lions of Detroit released him at the start of the offseason, he performed well in half-season with the club. In eight games with the Lions, he collected four bags, three plated for the loss and 10 strokes.”
“We couldn’t afford it.”#Lions GM Brad Holmes said the team had an “amicable” split with Za’darius Smith and stayed in touch with his agent.
“We would have loved being able to keep it … We were simply unable to do it.”https://t.co/jycm9e8azg
– Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) March 31, 2025
Smith begins his 11th year in the League after spending time with the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions last season. His nine bags in total in 2024 show that he is able to be an effective player out of the edge, whatever his age.
In addition to producing high -level numbers, Smith was a coherent starter who has hardly lacked time due to an injury. Smith has started at least 16 games in each of his last three seasons.
Za’darius Smith obtains a bag in his first match with the @Lions!
📺: #Jaxvsdet On CBS / Paramount +
📱: pic.twitter.com/f1bayoiuxo– nfl (@nfl) November 17, 2024
Considering that the colts count on Samson Ebukam To successfully bounce back from the injury, there is a chance that they consider Smith as a reliable option to increase the rush towards the Pass before the draft of the NFL.
Smith had initially signed an agreement of $ 23 million over two years with the Browns which was to expire after this season. Any potential contract would probably be around this $ 10 million bar, a number that would chew almost half of the remaining ceiling space.
If Ballard wants to improve the rush to the passes, Smith could be an achievable veteran option which would provide a quarter-rear pressure at a relatively low price.
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