Indianapolis Colts free agency 2020: Top 5 targets
By John Buhler
Pick Analysis. DE. player. 36. Scouting Report. Seattle Seahawks. Jadeveon Clowney. 1
It might cost the Colts a ton, but they have the resources to spend big this offseason. They’ve seen first-hand what he can do from playing for the division-rival Houston Texans for years. Now, it’s time for the Colts to pay a ridiculous premium to bring Jadeveon Clowney to Indianapolis. The former No. 1 overall pick back in 2014 will only be entering his age-27 year in 2020.
Admittedly, Clowney never quite lived up to lofty expectations during his first five years in the league in Houston. Though he has never had a 10-sack season, Clowney did make it to the Pro Bowl in his last three years playing for the Texans. While his most recent season with the Seattle Seahawks wasn’t spectacular, Clowney is a prime candidate for a bounce-back year in 2020.
The Colts have a great history with tremendous pass-rushers in Indianapolis. However, it has been a while since Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis starred for the Colts in the trenches. While the Colts shouldn’t expect Clowney to lead the league in sacks, his raw athleticism and knack for making the big play should be a welcomed addition on the Indianapolis defense.
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Ultimately, signing Clowney gives the Colts the spark they need in the trenches going forward. Since things didn’t end smoothly for him in Houston, one would think that Clowney would be fired up about playing his former team twice annually for the next few years. It’s a big home-run cut for the Colts to sign Clowney, but this feels like a situation where the Colts can manage the risk.