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2016 NFL Free Agency: 5 teams who should sign Doug Martin

By John Buhler

Dec 27, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) takes a handoff from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston during the second half of a football game at Raymond James Stadium. The Bears won 26-12. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) takes a handoff from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston during the second half of a football game at Raymond James Stadium. The Bears won 26-12. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 29, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) is pursued by Indianapolis Colts corner back Darius Butler (20) in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) is pursued by Indianapolis Colts corner back Darius Butler (20) in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /

4. player. 46. . AFC. South. Indianapolis Colts

The 2015 Indianapolis Colts under the direction of general manager Ryan Grigson opted to surround face of the franchise quarterback Andrew Luck with several veterans who were past their prime on offense to shoot for a trip to Super Bowl 50.

Those pieces proved antiquated, Luck got hurt, Matt Hasselbeck had to play quarterback, and the Colts missed the AFC Playoffs with an 8-8 record after playing in the 2014 AFC Championship the year before.

With Grigson, owner Jim Irsay, and head coach Chuck Pagano all supposedly on the same page heading into 2016’s free agency period, one player they should look to sign in free agency to bolster their rushing attack is Martin.

The Colts have struggled running the football for close to a decade now, really since the days that Peyton Manning was under center and he was handing off the rock to Joseph Addai in the late 2000s. Indianapolis finished with the fourth fewest rushing yards in the NFL in 2015 with only 1,438. That’s about how many yards Martin could generate on his own on a developing offense in 16 games with Tampa Bay last season.

Getting to play in the AFC South would mean that Martin would have his best chance to make the playoffs, something he had been unable to do with the Buccaneers. Pairing him with fellow 2012 first-round pick in Luck would likely give the Colts balance on offense that they haven’t had in years.

With a healthy Luck, creative play calling by new full-time offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinksi, Martin in the backfield, and a newly reunited front office in play in 2016, the Colts could again make it back to the AFC Playoffs and orchestrate a deep run with their new luck offense.

Next: 3. Baltimore Ravens

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