The Indianapolis Colts’ defense had its ups and downs during Gus Bradley’s final season as coordinator. Now, with former Cincinnati Bengals defensive leader Lou Anarumo in charge, general manager Chris Ballard must bring in fresh talent to improve the defense.Pro Football Focus suggests the Colts could target San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw in free agency.
In 2024, the Colts had a top-10 defense, largely thanks to Zaire Franklin’s strong play in the middle. However, the linebacker coverage could have been better, as both Franklin and his partner E.J. Speed (a free agent this offseason) had coverage grades under 48.0.
As noted by Mason Cameron, Franklin had a standout year with 173 tackles (leading the NFL), two interceptions, five forced fumbles, and 3.5 sacks, but his coverage was inconsistent. This is where a player like Greenlaw could make a difference. Greenlaw was a reliable coverage linebacker in 2023 and also excelled in stopping the run.
With the possibility of losing Speed in free agency, adding Greenlaw would provide an upgrade to the Colts’ linebacker corps, giving them a better coverage option who can also stop the run. Greenlaw’s 2022 and 2023 seasons saw him accumulate 247 tackles (eight for loss), 10 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and an interception. His coverage grades were solid as well, with ratings of 82.6 and 79.5 in those seasons.
The main concern with Greenlaw is his injury history, having torn his Achilles in Super Bowl LVIII and missed most of the 2024 season due to calf issues. However, if healthy, Greenlaw could be a valuable addition to Anarumo’s defense.
With Franklin, Jaylon Carlies, and Greenlaw, the Colts would have a solid linebacker trio. Greenlaw is unlikely to command a high price given his recent injuries, making this a potential bargain for Indianapolis. A healthy Greenlaw would provide the coverage boost the Colts’ defense needs, and they should consider making a move for him at the right price.