Analyzing Colts draft needs: safety
- NFL draft%2C 8 p.m. Thursday%2C ESPN%2C NFL Network
In anticipation of this weekend's NFL draft, which begins with the first round Thursday night (8 p.m., ESPN, NFL Network), we'll dive into the areas of greatest need for the Indianapolis Colts.
First up: Safety.
Back from last season: Mike Adams, Winston Guy, Dewey McDonald, Colt Anderson
Key additions: Dwight Lowery
Key losses: LaRon Landry, Sergio Brown
Where they stand: When it comes to safety, the Colts found themselves very fortunate last season. Adams, picked up for pennies on the dollar in June, wound up delivering more than anyone could have reasonably asked: The veteran started every game at free safety, tied for the league-lead in takeaways (seven) and hauled in a career-high five interceptions. He made his first Pro Bowl and, along with All-Pro corner Vontae Davis, piloted a secondary that dominated in the Colts' 24-13 divisional playoff win at Denver.
There was also Brown, who admirably plugged the gap at strong safety while Landry served a four-game suspension for PED use early in the season. Landry returned to his starting role but never lived up to the weighty contract he signed before the 2013 campaign. He was cut shortly after the season. Brown signed with Jacksonville.
All of which means one thing: Indianapolis needs to address this position, and do so this week.
What they seek: Talent. Preferably young talent. Beyond Adams – who is 34 years old – it's a thin group. The team signed Lowery, a former fourth-round pick who has bounced around with three NFL teams since 2008, earlier this month. He could compete for a starting job. But even with Adams on a two-year deal, the Colts have no long-term solution at the position. Guy, signed to the Colts' practice squad in the middle of last season after being cut by the Jaguars, could fill in as a serviceable backup, but both McDonald and Anderson figure more as special teams than starting safety material.
Which is why landing a young, top-flight player in this year's draft has to be a high priority for this team. Few areas on the field – the defensive line comes to mind – scream upgrade more than the safety spot.
General manager Ryan Grigson made it clear last week that he and his staff have been taking a look.
"We've been digging and going through every single player," he said. "The further down you get on the board, the more warts appear with those spots. There might be a guy who plays his tail off and you love the film, but then you look at the height, weight, speed and he ran 4.9 (in the 40-yard dash) so you're like, 'How am I going to draft a 4.9 safety?' There might be a guy that plays lights-out but he's only 185 pounds. You're going to have significant drawbacks in some of those guys later."
Who could help: The safety class this year is described as Landon Collins and everyone else. Collins, an Alabama product, figures to be plucked in the first round. If he falls to the 29th spot, the Colts would be wise to snatch him up. He's described as physical and aggressive with a specialization in stopping the run – always a need in this neck of the woods. Collins' ability in coverage is the question mark, same as Landry, but he appears to be the standout prospect among the Class of '15 safeties.
"A guy like Landon, he can do it all," Grigson said. "There's only so many of those guys in the draft."
The question is whether or not Collins will be available, or — if Collins slides into the 20s, Grigson likes him enough to engineer a trade to move up a few spots.
Other options: Derron Smith (Fresno State), who met with the Colts during February's NFL Combine; Adrian Amos (Penn State); Jaquiski Tartt (Samford); and Gerod Holliman (Louisville), who had 14 interceptions last season, including two off Florida State's Jameis Winston in a game Grigson attended.
Call Star reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134. Follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.