Current roster

Including ERFAs. If anyone has any fixes, changes or comments, please post. To be updated throughout the offseason.

QB

Andrew Luck QB 6’4 234 9/12/1989 23

Chandler Harnish QB 6’2 219 7/28/1988 24

HB

Vick Ballard HB 5’10 219 7/16/1990 22

Donald Brown HB 5’10 210 4/11/1987 25

Delone Carter HB 5’9 225 6/22/1987 25

Deji Karim HB 5’8 209 11/18/1986 26

Alvester Alexander HB 5’11 204 10/17/1990 22

Davin Meggett HB 5’9 215 3/22/1990 22

WR

Reggie Wayne WR 6’0 198 11/17/1978 34

T.Y. Hilton WR 5’10 183 11/14/1989 23

LaVon Brazill WR 5’11 192 3/15/1989 23

Griff Whalen WR 6’1 185 3/1/1990 22

Nathan Palmer WR 5’11 195 4/14/1989 23

Jeremy Kelley WR 6’6 223 6/9/1988 24

Jabin Sambrano WR 5’11 175 3/15/1990 22

TE/FB

Dwayne Allen TE 6’3 255 2/24/1990 22

Coby Fleener TE 6’6 247 9/20/1988 24

Weslye Saunders TE 6’5 270 1/16/1989 24

Dominique Jones TE 6’3 255 8/15/1987 25

Robert Hughes FB 5’11 235 6/21/1989 23

T

Anthony Castonzo T 6’7 305 8/9/1988 24

Jeff Linkenbach T 6’6 311 6/9/1987 25

Bradley Sowell T 6’7 316 6/6/1989 23

Lee Ziemba T 6’6 318 3/29/1989 23

G

Mike McGlynn G 6’4 320 3/8/1985 27

Joe Reitz G 6’7 320 6/9/1985 27

Seth Olsen G 6’5 308 12/17/1985 27

Ben Ijalana G 6’4 317 8/6/1989 23

Robert T. Griffin G 6’6 335 11/22/1989 23

Justin Anderson G 6’4 335 4/15/1988 24

C

Samson Satele C 6’3 300 11/29/1984 28

*AQ Shipley C 6’1 309 5/22/1986 26

DE

Cory Redding DE 6’4 298 11/15/1980 32

Drake Nevis DE 6’1 294 5/8/1989 23

Ricardo Mathews DE 6’3 294 7/30/1987 25

Clifton Geathers DE 6’7 320 12/11/1987 25

Lawrence Guy DE 6’4 304 3/17/1990 22

NT

Josh Chapman NT 6’1 316 6/10/1989 23

Brandon McKinney NT 6’2 345 8/24/1983 29

Martin Tevaseu NT 6’2 325 10/7/1987 25

Kellen Heard NT 6’6 346 10/17/1985 27

OLB

Robert Mathis LB 6’2 245 2/26/1981 31

Jerry Hughes LB 6’2 255 8/13/1988 24

Justin Hickman LB 6’2 265 7/20/1985 27

Jake Killeen LB 6’4 240 2/15/1986 27

Quinton Spears LB 6’4 234 5/11/1988 24

Monte Simmons LB 6’3 226 1/29/1989 24

ILB

Kavell Conner LB 6’0 242 2/23/1987 25

Jerrell Freeman LB 6’0 234 5/1/1986 26

Pat Angerer LB 6’0 235 1/31/1987 26

Mario Harvey LB 6’0 250 8/10/1987 25

A.J. Edds LB 6’4 246 9/18/1987 25

Scott Lutrus LB 6’3 241 4/23/1988 24

Shawn Loiseau LB 6’1 240 10/10/1989 23

CB

Vontae Davis CB 5’11 203 5/27/1988 24

Josh Gordy CB 5’11 195 2/9/1987 26

Marshay Green CB 5’10 175 1/14/1986 27

Teddy Williams CB 6’3 200 7/3/1988 24

S

Antoine Bethea S 5’11 203 7/27/1984 28

Tom Zbikowski S 5’11 200 5/22/1985 27

Joe Lefeged S 6’0 205 6/2/1988 24

Sergio Brown S 6’2 210 5/22/1988 24

Larry Asante S 6’0 210 3/7/1988 24

Delano Howell S 5’11 189 1/1/1900 113

ST

Matt Overton LS 6’0 254 7/6/1985 27

Adam Vinatieri K 6’0 202 12/28/1972 40

* I'm not entirely sure if Shipley is signed or an RFA

A nose tackle in the first round?

A healthy number of mock drafts on the internet are predicting the Colts will draft a nose tackle in the first round. It makes some sense as the incumbent nose tackle, Mookie Johnson, is an unrestricted free agent (and not all that good anyway). To make a 3-4 front work, a quality nose tackle is more than important, it's essential.

But many believe the Colts already have the answer on their roster. They drafted Alabama's Josh Chapman in the fifth round last season, fully aware that he was recovering from a major injury. In fact, he missed his entire rookie season. He's obviously a talent, but is he the answer?

Injury aside, Chapman certainly was capable in college. Like a stone wall against the run, Chapman used his immense strength to dominate blockers, often challenging two at once. Although he was surprisingly quick off the snap, he won't get behind blockers often (he recorded just 2.5 sacks in four years at Bama). In the passing game, his primary purpose is to occupy blockers to let someone else supply pressure. Of course, the usual liabilities with definitive-style nose tackles apply: Chapman won't make many tackles outside the interior line, will rarely stunt effectively, will only fall into sacks and will always be battling his weight.

His technique is good, and he's a selfless player who relishes his role as a wrestler. His experiences at Bama were similar to what the Colts would ask him to do -- spend most of his time as a two-gap nose tackle, shift over to a more traditional one-gap defensive tackle on occasion and get plenty of rest on passing downs.

So if we take out the injury question, Chapman would appear to be a solid nose tackle prospect. There's no doubt he's limited, but in the role he'd be asked to perform, he represents an upgrade over Johnson.

But you can't take away the injury question. It's been well documented that in his third season with the Crimson Tide, he played with a severe labrum injury, and in his fourth, he actually played (at a consistently high level) on a torn ACL.

While that indicates that he is remarkably tough, it also hints that he's injury prone and perhaps that he's damaged goods. A torn ACL is not like Tommy John surgery, you don't heal stronger than you were before. Still, it's not like he's a halfback, making quick cuts.

But he did have the surgery, performed by the justifiably famous Dr James Andrews, more than a year ago (January 2012), and the Colts activated him late last year, hoping he'd be ready to play. He wasn't, but he seems upbeat and his Twitter feed indicates that he fully expects to take the starting job next season.

For insurance, the Colts have Brandon McKinney and Martin Tevaseu. McKinney was signed from the Ravens last offseason, and was expected to be the starter, but he tore his ACL. If he is back to where he was before, he's a similar type of player to Chapman, but bigger and stronger, but even less mobile and not nearly as explosive. Tevaseu is not in the same class as Chapman or McKinney, but is strong for his size. He played extensively as Johnson's backup last season, but was uninspiring. Oh, and there's Kellen Heard.

I think that the Colts will probably be fine, at least capable, at nose tackle when Chapman and McKinney return. Since both have wonky knees, it's a bit of a risk, but what isn't in the NFL?

Unless a Vince Wolfork-level prospect falls to them at No. 24, and they have solutions in hand at more pressing areas like pass rusher and guard, I would recommend the Colts do not invest their first-round pick in a nose tackle.

***

More recent veteran cuts:

Steve Breaston: I used to really like this guy, and he did have a huge season (77-1,006-3) in 2008. He's fallen off since, and I don't see the Colts having much interest in another skinny receiver who, at his best, avoids the middle and is not much help in the red zone. If they wanted that, it'd be easier to re-sign Donnie Avery.

Kevin Boss: Great player a few years back, but concussions have made him unsignable. Not unlike Austin Collie.

David Thomas: The Colts don't go looking for 30-year-old spare parts very often, but Thomas has value as a versatile tight end who can also play slot or even fullback. Thomas is a good route runner with reliable hands, but not a guy who'll split the safeties anymore. A better run blocker than pass blocker, he's more than passable at both. I can't see the Colts inviting him to camp, but I could see them calling him if injuries hit or their other backup options at tight end do not work out.

Johnny Patrick: A third-round pick just a few years back, Patrick was the worst in a bad set of corners in New Orleans last year. On those grounds, I wouldn't touch him (although he would look better in the Colts' scheme than he did in the Saints'). But, considering his tackling ability and skills in zone coverage, I would definitely grab him on the cheap and try to mold him into a free safety. Ah, but that's me. The Colts will probably pass. Late note: Patrick was claimed by the Chargers, whose personnel department is headed by former Colts guy Tom Telesco.

Bart Scott: He was quietly effective last season as an inside linebacker for the Jets, and would probably be the same with the Colts. But I don't see them bringing in a 33-year-old veteran, especially one who's made it clear he'd prefer to return to the Meadowlands.

Josh Baker: Marginal guy with ACL problems, pass.

Jason Smith: Considered one of the biggest busts in draft history, Smith's value now is as a jumbo tight end (extra blocker in short-yardage situations) and, perhaps, as a reclamation project at right tackle. If Joe Gilbert thinks he can bring out the fire in this reluctant dragon, he could be worth a low-cost flyer.

Calvin Pace: The Colts could use a pass rusher, but Pace's glory days are long over.

Eric Smith: Never more than a spot starter and special-teams guy, Smith has some intriguing qualities, but is on the downside of his career. The only scenario I could see him joining the Colts under would be as an injury replacement.

***

Other thoughts:

• I'd be surprised if Nate Palmer does not make the team. A legitimate speedster, he's raw, but has a gift.

Colts fans should check out the 2011 MAC championship in which NIU edged Ohio. Palmer was the MVP with 4-115-2 receiving and 4-17-0 rushing. On the opposing side, LaVon Brazill chipped in 8-124-0 receiving and 1-6-0 rushing. And Palmer was getting his passes from fellow Colt Chandler Harnish, who went 26-16-250-3-1 passing and 13-31-0 rushing.

Oh, and Palmer also sang the anthem before NIU games.

With him, Brazill, Reggie Wayne, TY Hilton and Griff Whalen, it may be difficult for a rookie or free agent to crack the roster. Still, the group lacks size. If a big target who can make yards after the catch appears on the horizon, I could see the team making room for him.

• After writing about the danger of high-buck free agents, a case study of sorts occurred to me. Jake Long is a star player (a former No. 1 pick) who plays at a position of need for the Colts. Not only are the Dolphins not putting a franchise tag ($15.4 million) on him, but they are low-balling him with an offer in the $6 million-$7 million range. If he's right and in the right scheme, he's worth close to double that.

If he's right. Long toughed out an injury-plagued 2012 season (finishing on injured reserve), and there has been some talk that he's already breaking down even though he'll be just 28 at the start of next season. That the Dolphins are not aggressively pursuing him is an indication that they are, at best, taking a wait-and-see strategy with him.

And in the right scheme. Long is a power-forward style tackle, and struggled to adjust when the Dolphins moved to a more movement-oriented approach. That style is a lot closer to what the Colts are likely to play in 2013.

Long will find a home this season, just not likely in Indy.

• So Peyton Manning is trying to sell Dwight Freeney on Denver. Could be a nice match. Another good fit would be the Giants. He's from the area, and would thrive in their defense. There are also rumblings Freeney might end up in Atlanta. It would be a good fit football-wise. Any of the three would give him another chance at a Super Bowl.

The dangers of signing veteran free agents

There seems to be a feeling among Colts fans that because they have a huge amount of money under the cap, they should sign everyone they can as though the NFL was a giant game of Madden. But there are dangers associated with signing free agents, especially older ones, that can manifest themselves down the line. Many a team has been crippled by throwing a huge contract at a guy, and having it not work out. Besides, bringing in an outside player for huge money can not only affect the teams' salary structure, but it can breed resentment.

I'm not against signing free agents, I just think wisdom, even frugality should be applied.

Since the Patriots say they are unwilling to put a franchise tag on Wes Welker, their super slot man of so many years, some Colts fans will be clamoring for their team to sign him. But there are two big red flags and one smaller, sort of yellow-ish one.

The first and most important of the mitigating factors is that Welker has a ton of wear and tear on him. In 140 NFL regular-season games, he has caught 768 passes, ran the ball 19 times and returned 241 punts and 183 kicks. Factor in that the Patriots usually go quite deep into the playoffs and you're looking at a guy who has run a lot of routes and taken a lot of hits. While Welker is certainly tough and has a Franco Harris-like ability to avoid big hits, he's not a big man and hardly a young one.

The other major stumbling block is that, although I would not say that he's the product of the Patriots' system, I would say that he's been very comfortable in it. As a Charger and Dolphin, he was "that Welker kid," not the undisputed king of the slot. Maybe it was just maturity or being given a chance, but it seems to me that Welker would have a hard time recreating that comfort level in another uniform.

And the third, perhaps minor factor is that I think he might not want to come to Indy. He has a bikini model for a wife, he hangs out with 50 Cent, he vacations in Aspen. I'm not sure he'd be excited about relocating to the Midwest (although he is originally from OKC).

Although I'm sure there is some GM willing to open up the vaults for Welker, I don't think it'll be Ryan Grigson. Even so, I think Welker would take a plus-sized pay cut to stay in Foxboro.

The franchise number on Welker is about $11.4M. He won't make that, but is almost certain to eclipse Reggie Wayne's $5.8M annual salary by a wide margin. How do you explain that to a young team whose primary strength is unity?

It's a similar scenario with Ed Reed. The guy's had a stellar, maybe Hall of Fame, career. He's a leader, an athlete and a good guy. So why not?

Well, he's old. Very old by football standards. He'll be 35 in the second week of the 2013 regular season. He's played in 160 games (starting 159) at one of the most grueling and body-destroying positions in football. Although he played well in 2012, Reed began to show his age. Still a whiz in coverage because of his placement, anticipation and encyclopedic knowledge, Reed was flagged more often than usual and made a  habit of missing tackles, particularly in the run game. I would not be surprised if it represented the beginning of a very rapid end to Reed's playing days.

And he's a free safety. The Colts actually have a younger, more effective free safety on their roster in Antoine Bethea. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2013 season. Obviously, Colts fans don't see Reed as a long-term replacement for Bethea (at least I hope not), so I guess they think he'll play strong safety. It can be argued that the difference is not great, but it still would require a transition on Reed's part. And you have to wonder, would signing Reed push Bethea's price up?

Reed reminds me of Jeff Saturday. After a long and distinguished career as a Colt, he spent one decent but realistically superfluous season with the Packers and has come back to retire with the Colts. Besides the risks of breakdown, erosion of talent and profound salary-structure ramifications, there's one other huge reason not to sign veteran star free agents -- there heart will always belong to another team.

***

Some late-round prospects to discuss:

David Bass OLB Missouri Western D2 sackmaster
Micah Hyde CB Iowa Tough guy who knows zones
David Bakhtiari G Colorado Short, scrappy tackle
Cobi Hamilton WR Arkansas Strong deep threat
Shamarko Thomas SS Syracuse Depth at position pushes him down
Travis Johnson OLB San Jose State Quick sack guy, may be overvalued at this point
Aaron Mellette WR Elon Big kid makes his own yards
Jordan Mills G Louisiana Tech May be drafted higher
JC Tretter G Cornell Small-school standout
Quanterus Smith OLB Western Kentucky Sun Belt sack machine recovering from ACL tear

Freeney, Collie and the Colts

It's all over the internet that the Colts "cut" Dwight Freeney and Austin Collie. The truth is only slightly different: The team has decided not to offer either unrestricted free agent a contract, even though both have publicly stated that they would have preferred to return to the team.

Freeney's exit will create a huge hole for the team. Athough much was made of his measly five sacks in 2012 (Colts fans usually expect 12-16 from him), I would argue that he was the team's best pass rusher last season. While Robert Mathis (and I am here to praise Freeney, not dis Mathis, who is an excellent player) had more sacks (eight), he had fewer QB hits (five to nine) and fewer than half the all-important QB hurries (16 to 33). Looking at it that way, Freeney got behind his man 47 times, while Mathis did just 29 times. That Mathis had more sacks seems to me just the luck of the draw. Keep in mind, though, that Freeney did almost nothing but rush the passer (414 rushes in 436 passing plays), while Mathis had more diverse duties (283 of 351).

It's unlikely the Colts can replace Freeney's production (not to mention leadership, charisma and community value) with a player currently on the roster. The outlaw Jerry Hughes showed great improvement last season (four sacks, six hits and 17 hurries in 304 rushes), but I would be surprised if the Colts think he's what they need at the position. The other guys on the roster are just guys until they prove something.

In free agency, it's all about Paul Kruger for me. I know I have been (rightfully) criticized for being a little too impressed by his performances against the Colts and in the playoffs, but his regular-season numbers are strong. In 359 pass rushes, he netted 10 sacks, 12 hits and 33 hurries. You don't have to run that through a mainframe to know those are good numbers. People have pointed out that: a) Kruger benefited from having Terrell Suggs on the other side, and b) that he never did much until his contract year. I'd respond that: a) he'd have Mathis on the other side in basically the same scheme with the Colts, and b) he was playing behind Jarrett Johnson before last season, and often out-performing him. Even better, the Ravens probably won't have the cap space to keep him, and they have Courtney Upshaw waiting in the wings. Kruger's not Freeney as an overall talent, but is younger and might be a better fit.

As for the draft, I'm holding off too many comments on this most volatile of positions until I see more.

Even if they do adequately replace him on the field, there can't be a single Colt fan who will not miss Freeney.

As for Collie, the shock won't be as great. The Grigson regime seems to have taken his absence into account right from the start. Last year's draftees TY Hilton and LaVon Brazill appear ready to take big steps in their second seasons, as does undrafted rookie slot guy Griff Whalen.

There's been widespread speculation that Collie will join his old pal Peyton Manning in Denver. It wouldn't surprise me at all. Still, I'd prefer if he moved on from the game with his health still mostly intact.

***

It would be an utter tragedy if the Colts let Pat McAfee go. Not only is he about the best at what he does, he is also the fun-loving face of the franchise. While it may be all about Andrew Luck, which would you invite to a party?

The options would be a long-term deal or the franchise tag. Don't be too surprised if the team tags his as a precaution while they work out a deal. The tag would cost about $2.9 million, so even if it came down to that, I think think he's worth it.

***

I don't think the Colts would mount a serious pursuit of Charles Woodson, even though he's still a very good player, because of his age and likely contract demands. And they wouldn't touch Titus Young with a 20-foot pole. He's just not a Colt.

I gotta come up with better headlines

It was interesting to hear was Pep had to say. As far as trick plays and formations are concerned, I wouldn't put too much stock it in. Like the Wildcat. Do you really want to take the ball out of Andrew Luck's hands? Maybe have Vick Ballard tossing it out there? I don't remember that sort of thing happening too often at Stanford.

The last time I remember the Colts doing anything like that was in 1988 when they ran the Wishbone a few times, wisely preferring to let Eric Dickerson and Albert Bentley do their stuff than just to let Chris Chandler, Gary Hogeboom and Jack Trudeau have all the fun.

***

Speaking of the Stanford offense, I see a lot of Colts fans are hoping for a "speed back" to complement Ballard. Again, I don't see it happening. Modern NFL offenses are built with very specific tasks for halfbacks that require certain strengths. In what I like to call the Luck offense, backs must be able to pass block, contribute as receivers and get hard yards on the ground. Those backs are very strong, sometimes at the expense of speed. Let's compare forties of the Colts halfbacks from last season: Vick Ballard 4.52, Donald Brown 4.46, Mewelde Moore 4.65, Delone Carter 4.54 and Deji Karim 4.40. None are true speedsters, though Karim plays fast (and saw a total of zero downs on offense in 2012), and Brown appears to be on his ways out (so does Moore, but it's not related to speed because he never had any).

The primary halfbacks who played in the Luck offense at Stanford fit the same mold: Toby Gerhart (4.50) and Stepfan Taylor (hasn't offically run yet, but I'd peg him at 4.55-4.58). Gerhart is coming off a down season in Minnesota, but is very valuable as Adrian Peterson's backup and as a third-down specialist, so it's unlikely the Vikings would want to part with him in a trade. He is in a contract year, though. Taylor is an excellent fit for the offense, but his stock is rising fast, and it would not surprise me if he's gone before the Colts third-round pick rolls around.

***
Pep's talk led many to believe that the fullback question is answered because he nominated Dwayne Allen (Pro Bowl tight end Dwayne Allen, that is) for the job. Allen is definitely up to it, but I wouldn't mind seeing a  genuine fullback on the roster as well.

A lot of people have mentioned Owen Marecic, a former Stanford Cardinal who has worn out his welcome in Cleveland. I guess it could happen, but I don't think he is a good enough receiver -- he actually dropped all four passes directed at him in 2012 -- to be a Colt. He is a pretty good blocker and special teamer, though.

***

Looking at recent NFL cuts, I see cornerback Terrence McGee. He's pretty old, injury-prone and slow, but is smart and a very good tackler. If his knee checks out okay, he may be able to extend his career as a free safety, but that's a longshot at best.

The Bills also cut safety George Wilson and linebacker Nick Barnett. Wilson's a very good box safety with some coverage skills. He's drawing lots of interest around the league despite being 32. Although he would work well in the Colts' defense, he would not represent an upgrade over incumbent Tom Zbikowki, so the team would be unwise to enter a bidding war for his services. Barnett, a former first-round pick, has been a solid player for years, but failed his physical with the Bills (who just happened to gain $3M in cap space by cutting him). He played well last season, but is a bit light for the Colts. If they have any interest in him at all, they would be wise to check him over thoroughly.

Also available is former Titans linebacker Kevin Malast. More athlete than football player, I don't see how he would fit in Indy.

The biggest name cut recently is receiver Johnny Knox. But he has rather wisely decided to retire.

***

Bleacher Report has a seven-round mock draft. Here's what they have the Colts getting:

1. Alex Okafor LB Texas
3. Sean Porter LB Texas A&M
4. Aaron Dobson WR Marshall
6. Reid Fragel OT Ohio State

I like Okafor, certainly, and pass rusher is a top need. Porter could be a fit inside, but it's really not a need and he's not special enough to transcend that. Dobson is an oustanding pick. Big and strong, he's a great red-zone target and has great YAC ability. Plus he's a great guy. Love this pick. As much as I like Fragel and think the former tight end would be a bargain in the sixth, I think the Colts need an offensive lineman before then.

If you replace Porter with someone like Cal center Brian Schwenke, it'd be a great draft.

More offseason thoughts

I like that the media is giving Drew Stanton some love by claiming Bruce Arians wants to take him to the desert with him. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but after the years of bad quarterbackery there, fans really don't want to see a guy with a 2-2 record in a possible 96 games brought in as anything more than a backup.

The old adage that if you have two quarterbacks, you have none applies here except that the Cards would just be throwing Stanton on a pile that already includes Kevin Kolb (9-12), John Skelton (8-9), Ryan Lindley (1-3) and, perhaps, Brian Hoyer (0-1). The Cards are looking to restructure Kolb's massive deal, and could easily and cheaply cut ties with Skelton and Hoyer. Kolb's a better fit in Arians' offense than he was in the previous one, but the problem with him has always been his durabilty. The Cards could go into the season with him as the starter, Stanton as the backup and Lindley as the baseball cap guy.

They could, but it wouldn't be an upgrade.

***

A lot of Colts fans are hoping their team drafts huge Alabama tackle DJ Fluker in the first round. Don't count me among them. While there's no doubt Fluker is a first-round talent, he is a bad fit for the Colts. Heavy-footed and slow, his pass blocking is not up to the standard the Colts require at the position, especially when facing speed rushers. Even in the run game, the Colts' offensive scheme requires more motion than I think Fluker is actually capable of. Oklahoma's Lane Johnson, an athletic former quarterback and tight end, would represent a much better choice if he's available. He reminds me a lot of Nate Solder.

A better choice than either would be North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper, if he's available. Fans tend to undervalue guards, but Cooper is a special one.

***

Most mock drafts I've seen have the Colts selecting a nose tackle prospect in the first round. It makes some sense. Last years' starter, Mookie Johnson, didn't do a great job and is scheduled to become a free agent. That would leave the job to 2012 fifth-round pick Josh Chapman and 2012 free agent signing Brandon McKinney. Neither is a top-notch talent, and both missed 2012 with serious knee injuries.

Barring a trade up, I can't see the Colts snagging Georgia's John Jenkins, but Alabama's Jesse Williams (Chapman's replacement with the Tide) is a realistic target. After him, though, the pickings get slim.

***

If the Colts go for a cornerback in the first round, I'd like to suggest Oregon State's Jordan Poyer. I like the way he plays. Seems a good fit for the Colts (but, in all likelihood, never a No.1), and his arrest doesn't bother me.

Of course, any interest in a corner in the first round would be greatly influenced by the Colts' actions regarding their own free-agent corners (Jerraud Powers, Darius Butler and Cassius Vaughn) and any free agents they may pursue, like Malcolm "Possum" Jenkins.

***

Of course, there is still a strong possibility the Colts could go with a pass rusher even if they re-sign Dwight Freeney or attract a free agent like Paul Kruger.

But the pass-rusher market is incredibly volatile. Look at least year's first round. Who, at this time last year, thought Bruce Irvin (who went 15th), Shea McClellin (19th), Chandler Jones (21st) or Nick Perry (28th) were potential first rounders?

Of course, a lot of water's gonna pass under the bridge before the draft, but I think the Colts can forget about Florida State's Bjoern Warner, Georgia's Jarvis Jones, Texas A&M's Demontre Moore, LSU's Barkevious Mingo, Oregon's Dion Jordan and, after his Senior Bowl breakout, BYU's Ezekiel Ahnsah.

That leaves LSU's Sam Montgomery (8 sacks in 2013), Texas' Alex Okafor (12.5) and maybe Southern Mississippi's Jamie Collins (10) as first-round possibilities. Who knows? A dark horse like Florida State's Cornelius Carradine (11) or Ohio State's John Simon (9) could emerge.

Just some thoughts

Don't be surprised if the Colts have a fullback next year. In Andrew Luck's senior year at Stanford (under current Colts' offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton), fullback Ryan Hewitt was a major contributor to the offense. The team's fourth-leading receiver (No. 1 Griff Whalen and No. 3 Coby Fleener are already Colts) with 34 catches for 282 yards and five touchdowns, Hewitt was also a strong block in both the running and passing games. He was never a big-time gainer on the ground, gaining just 67 yards on 22 carries, but he also scored seven touchdowns and has yet to be tackled behind the line of scrimmage in his college career.I say yet because Hewitt is headed back to Stanford for another year.

Before Hewitt, Luck shared the Cardinal backfield with Owen Marecic, now a member of the Cleveland Browns. While Marecic doesn't have ball skills anywhere near Hewitt's, he is a reliable blocker, adept at neutralizing blitzes.

Since the Colts pass protection is weak and Hamilton's offense often employs a blocking/outlet receiving fullback, they could well add one in the offseason. It's an ugly irony that the Colts had a Pro Bowl-quality fullback in Jerome Felton, and let him sign with Minnesota just a few weeks after Ryan Grigson took over as GM (in Grigson's defense, the Bruce Arians-led offense was far less fullback-friendly). Felton's an unrestricted free agent again this year, but it's very unlikely the Vikings will let him go after his excellent showing there. The other free agents are eight guys who can catch and not block, guys who can block but not catch or guys who can't do either.

There are some nice fullback prospects in the draft, but with picks as a premium this year, it's unlikely the team would use one on a fullback. Still, it may be worth a seventh-rounder to grab Wake Forest's Tommy Bohanon, if he falls that far.

Barring that, the Colts could extend the role of Robert Hughes, their incumbent fullback. He was gaining some momentum last year before a knee injury ended his season. He's still an unproven prospect at this point, and is not a thundering blocker, but he could develop -- or hold the spot until Hewitt comes out.

***

On the subject of Stanfordians, expect to see the Colts give Griff Whalen every opportunity to win a role on offense. Luck's favorite target at as a senior at Stanford and in the 2012 preseason, despite a nagging foot injury, Whalen will be headed into a very familiar situation after spending his rookie year on injured reserve.

Every white receiver gets compared to Wes Welker these days, but with Whalen, it's actually apt. Small but strong, Whalen's not fast (forties between 4.55 and 4.62), but is very explosive and has incredible body control and balance.And his experience as a former halfback and punt returner will help him with the coaching staff's determination to wring more yards after the catch.

***

Let's hope this second surgery helps Pat Angerer get over his broken foot better than the first one did. It was tough to watch him play through pain last year (especially because I have a broken foot that never healed correctly). When he's healthy, he's a real asset to the defense.

***

Keep in mind when you're wondering who the Colts will sign in free agency is that player movement is not a simple process. Player usually need a reason or reasons to move, among them:

A big raise
This is very important, and with good players usually only happens when their original team finds itself in salary cap trouble.

Role on team
Nobody wants to go from star to spare part, but they love going the other way. Similarly, if a player is vital to a team, they will work harder to acquire or retain him.

A better team
Football players hate to lose and can usually tell if management isn't going to get them to the promised land soon.

Suitability
A player may want to move to a team that plays a scheme or a philosophy they feel well-suited to.

A better city
It's not as profound in football as it is in basketball or even baseball, but the chance for a young man to move from Cleveland to Miami is pretty strong. Some players want to get closer to home, others want excitement, still others want peace and quiet.

Familiarity
Sometimes a player may want to be reunited with a former coach or teammate.

I always apply those criteria to any potential free agent signee. Let's take Ryan Clady and Paul Kruger as examples.

A big raise
Clady: No, the Broncos are not in salary-cap trouble, and may even franchise him to keep him. Kruger: The Ravens aren't in desperate cap trouble yet, but will have to re-sign quarterback Joe Flacco and soon might be. The Colts could easily offer him more money than the Ravens could afford.

Role on team
Clady: Peyton Manning's blindside protector is no less an honor than Andrew Luck's blindside protector. The Broncos would be in big trouble if he left. Kruger: He would essentially have the same role on either the Ravens or the Colts. He could, however, be effectively replaced by 2012 second-rounder Courtney Upshaw in Baltimore.

A better team
Clady: the Broncos are very good and still improving. Kruger: The Ravens won the Super Bowl.

Suitability
Clady: He could play in any scheme. Kruger: Both defenses are essentially the same.

A better city
Clady: He's an easygoing California guy who seems to enjoy Denver, the team that drafted him. Kruger: Originally from Idaho and into outdoor sports, Kruger would probably not be swayed by moving to Indiana.

Familiarity

Clady: No real ties to Indy. Kruger: Would be reunited with several old coaches and players on the Colts.

So you can see why it's far more likely that the Colts could sign a guy like Kruger than a guy like Clady.