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Indianapolis Colts free agency 2021: Top 5 targets

By Russell S. Baxter

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Frank Reich of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 27, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Frank Reich of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 27, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 20: Ronald Darby #23 of the Washington Football Team waits for a play against the Seattle Seahawks at FedExField on December 20, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 20: Ronald Darby #23 of the Washington Football Team waits for a play against the Seattle Seahawks at FedExField on December 20, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Frank Reich’s team has reached the playoffs two of the past three seasons.

It doesn’t take long for things to change in the NFL. In the wild card playoffs, the Indianapolis Colts fell to the Buffalo Bills, 27-24. Since then, veteran quarterback Philip Rivers has announced his retirement, offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni was named the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and he took defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon with him (see Evan Macy of Philly Voice).

The franchise is still seeking its first division title since 2014 but Reich has guided the club to the postseason twice in three years. But now it’s going to be interesting to see what happens in regards the quarterback situation. Jacoby Brissett is a potential free agent but general manager Chris Ballard used a fourth-round pick last April on University of Washington signal-caller Jacob Eason. Could the Colts trade for someone like Matthew Stafford?

In any case, Ballard has plenty of cap room at his disposal. So the team could snare one or two of the top players that potentially may be available.

5. CB Ronald Darby (Washington Football Team)

He was part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl LII championship team in 2017 that dethroned the New England Patriots in Minnesota. And Colts’ head coach Frank Reich was the offensive coordinator of the Birds that year before coming to Indianapolis. So there is some familiarity when it comes to the club’s sideline leader and six-year cornerback Ronald Darby.

While his three-year stay in the City of Brotherly Love was marred by injuries, he was a 16-game starter for the first time in this past season, helping the Washington Football Team win the NFC East and coming up big for the NFL’s second-ranked. He always seems to be around the ball and has eight career interceptions. More significantly, Darby has played in a combined 77 games (including playoffs) with the Bills, Eagles and Washington and has totaled an impressive 88 passes defensed.

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