The activity during the 2024 NFL free agency has been fast and furious. Teams are addressing their needs and signing top players. The Indianapolis Colts are among those active, signing five players already. Regardless of the signings, the team still has a big need at the cornerback position.
To be fair, those seven players (Grover Stewart, Kenny Moore, Michael Pittman Jr., Rigoberto Sanchez, Tyquan Lewis, Ronnie Harrison, and Genard Avery) played on the team last season.
The only new player they signed is 6-foot-7, 327-pound Raekwon Davis to a two-year $14 million deal to play nose tackle. The Colts still need a veteran outside cornerback. Last year, the team decided to go young at the position even after cutting Isaiah Rodgers for breaking an NFL rule. The horseshoe expected to have some bumps on the season. They did.
Dallis Flowers was lost for the season after tearing his Achilles. Rookie JuJu Brents missed a lot of time due to various injuries. And fellow rookie Jaylon Jones played very well considering he was a seventh-round selection. But considering that only three cornerbacks on the Colts’ roster to end the season had more than one year of NFL experience, it’s time for the horseshoe to bring in another veteran.
The Colts have been linked to L’Jarius Sneed’s situation in Kansas City, and a trade could happen. However, if it doesn’t or the horseshoe decides not to pursue the trade here are five free-agent cornerbacks they should sign.
Related: Top NFL free agents of 2024
J.C. Jackson – 28 years old
J.C. Jackson is a 6-foot-1 cornerback who is a seven-year NFL veteran. Last season, he played for the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patiots, but totaled just 10 games between the two teams. Regardless, his resume is one of the better ones you’ll see in the league. Jackson boasts 26 career interceptions, 64 passes defended, and a completion percentage of 55.2%.
Unfortunately, he brings with him a lot of baggage. After having a remarkable start to his career in New England, he signed as a free agent with the Chargers. But he ended up playing only seven games for them and then just two once he returned to New England via trade. There are legitimate concerns about his locker room presence. But the risk is worth the reward as he’s a one-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion.
Related: Indianapolis Colts seen as surprise landing spot for Justin Fields
Fabian Moreau -29 years old
Last season, Fabian Moreau played in Denver and formed one of the better cornerback duos with Patrick Surtain. Moreau had a solid season in Mile High, too. But now the Broncos appear to be focused on reshuffling their roster to better-fit head coach Sean Payton’s desire. So, Moreau finds himself in the free agent market.
- 46 Tkls, 33 solo, 1 Tfl, 7 PD, 1 Int, 65% Cmp%
Of the players on this list, he may not be the best or provide the highest ceiling. However, this Indianapolis Colts defense doesn’t necessarily need a star cornerback. It just needs more consistent play. It’s no secret that Gus Bradley couldn’t make some defensive calls because of the inexperience in the secondary. Adding Moreau should at least alleviate this problem as he has a career completion percentage of 63.7% against.
Related: Indianapolis Colts standing in Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings
Levi Wallace – 28 years old
Outside of his rookie season, Levi Wallace has shown that he can play in the NFL. This is even more impressive when you consider that he was signed as an undrafted free agent by Buffalo in 2018. Before that, he was a walk-on at the University of Alabama. There is no question he has mental toughness.
- 38 Tkls, 32 solo, 11 PD, 2 Int, 53.3% Cmp%
When reading his scouting report and then looking at his stats, it validates how hard it is to be a scout. At this point, Wallace is who he is and there most likely isn’t much development left. However, in his last three seasons in Buffalo, before joining Pittsburgh for the last two, he was a starter. Wallace’s play, and more importantly, his mental toughness would be a welcomed addition to the Colts’ secondary.
Michael Davis – 29 years old
Michael Davis is another former LA Chargers cornerback who would make a good fit for the Colts secondary. The 6-foot-2, 196-pound seven-year veteran has spent his entire career with the Chargers after being an undrafted free agent signing in 2017. After his first season, he got his first taste of being a starter and has been one ever since.
Davis isn’t a ball-hawking cornerback, as he has only eight career interceptions. But he is solid in coverage with a career 58.2% completion percentage. Subsequently, he is a very durable player as he’s only missed nine games in his career. Considering all the injuries that the Colts secondary suffered last season his durability will be welcomed.
Related: Indianapolis Colts among teams interested in L’Jarius Sneed
Tre’Davious White – 29 years old
This might not be a move that pays immediate dividends for the Colts in this upcoming season. Unfortunately, the last three seasons for Tre’Davious White have been impacted by injury. Near the end of the 2021 season, White tore his ACL, which delayed his return to game action in 2022. Therefore, he only played in six games. Then just five games into last season he tore his Achilles.
Now, White, 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, doesn’t fit the desired requirements of a cornerback for Gus Bradley but that hasn’t stopped White from being a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro. The biggest question mark for him is how productive he’ll be upon returning from his injury. It takes about six to nine months for a torn Achilles to heal, which would put his return somewhere between April and July. Plenty of time to be ready for training camp and White has been linked to the Colts. Since he’s coming off injury his cost shouldn’t be as high.