4 free-agent safeties to consider signing

The Indianapolis Colts lost a key member of their secondary this week when Khari Willis announced his surprise retirement from the NFL after just three seasons.

The Colts already have a long-term plan in place to take over the strong safety role. Looking back on it, the trade-up for Nick Cross in the 2022 NFL draft appears better and better every day. But it still wouldn’t be a surprise if the Colts looked to add some veteran depth in free agency.

They did so earlier this offseason by bringing in Rodney McLeod and Armani Watts. The latter, however, is likely to play mostly on special teams in the “George Odum role.” McLeod could certainly see time at strong safety until the Colts feel Cross is ready to take over the starting role.

But if the front office felt the need to add another enforcer in the safety room, there are some options to consider in free agency. None of them are all that exciting—they are still free agents for a reason. But depth is necessary in order to avoid situations like bringing Andrew Sendejo off the street in 2021.

So while Cross and McLeod are likely to handle the bulk of the work, here are four free-agent safeties the Colts could sign:

1
Landon Collins

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Let’s get this out of the way. This is unlikely to happen. Collins is probably too expensive for a rotational role, and his skill set probably isn’t worth the money he’s seeking. However, he’s the biggest name on the market at the position. The former New York Giant and Washington Commander is still a fine enforcer near the line of scrimmage. He recorded 15 run stops in 2021, good for 10th-most among safeties, according to Pro Football Focus. Collins is likely past his prime, and using him in coverage is a risk. However, he’s probably the best option if the Colts wanted an enforcer to work near the line of scrimmage.

2
Tashaun Gipson

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