The Indianapolis Colts have plenty of time before the 2025 regular season, but can’t rest with the Senior Bowl, free agency, and NFL draft approaching. Addressing the free agency within Indy’s walls, Pro Football Network‘s Ben Rolfe highlighted five Colts free agents of the top 100 names available.
In this article, we’ll dive into each one (last rank to first) and break down what might go down with each regarding Indianapolis. Starting is an edge rusher with great physical prowess drafted in the second round in 2022.
Dayo Odeyingbo | Edge (#96)
Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo was a solid depth pass-rusher for Indianapolis in 2024. The former Vanderbilt prospect had his best season in 2023 (8.0 sacks, 38 tackles, nine for loss), but fell back in his fourth season to 3.0 sacks, 31 tackles, and seven for loss.
Indianapolis needs depth-edge talent around Laiatu Latu and Kwity Paye. This means Odeyingbo might warrant another contract for the right price. Expect Indy to peruse the free agents and possibly select talent in the draft. But Odeyingbo should be retained for at least depth purposes.
Julian Blackmon | Safety (#74)
Colts’ safety Julian Blackmon had a good year on paper, posting 2024 Pro Football Focus marks of 73.5 coverage and 69.4 pass-rush, but still looked less impactful than last year. This is partly due to the breakout campaign for fellow safety Nick Cross.
The Colts have plenty of draft prospects to consider for the free safety role next to Cross, and it likely leaves Blackmon on the outside looking in due to lingering injury issues. But, behind Cross and Blackmon are Rodney Thomas II and Ronnie Harrison Jr., so it’s not too encouraging if Blackmon isn’t kept.
The right contract must be agreed upon for Blackmon to remain in a Colts uniform. Otherwise, free agency and the draft can more than shore up free safety while Indianapolis saves money from refusing another one-year deal.
