Colts Floated as Landing Spot for 'Versatile Talent' at Safety
With NFL free agency beginning in two and a half weeks, rumors have begun to heat up that the Indianapolis Colts could make an addition to their secondary this offseason.
On February 23, ESPN's Aaron Schatz connected the Colts to a few different free agent options at defensive back, including veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
"The Colts need to bring in some other teams' free agents," Schatz wrote. "With $59 million in cap space, they have room to spend."
Schatz proposed the Colts sign Gardner-Johnson to start opposite Nick Cross next season.
Gardner-Johnson, though,, has positional versatility. In addition to safety, he could play slot cornerback, making him a potential replacement for Kenny Moore II, who is a free agent for the Colts this offseason.
SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit’s Erik Schlitt called Gardner-Johnson a “positional versatile talent with Pro Bowl upside.” In 2022, the veteran safety finished tied for the NFL lead with 6 interceptions.
It's important to note, though, that Schatz did not propose the Colts using Gardner-Johnson as a possible replacement for Moore. The ESPN analyst urged the Colts to re-sign Moore and then also add Gardner-Johnson.
On top of those two moves, Schatz also encouraged the Colts to target an elite cornerback in free agency.
Those three moves will require a lot of money, but Indianapolis has the salary cap space to do it. The NFL announced on February 23 that the league is increasing the cap by a record $30 million for the 2024 season.
Spotrac reported that the Colts now have more than $79 million to spend in free agency. That ranks as the sixth-most among all NFL teams.
Pro Football Network's Dallas Robinson projected Gardner-Johnson to receive a 1-year contract in the $6-8 million range. Last offseason, he signed a 1-year contract worth $6.5 million with the Detroit Lions.
Gardner-Johnson missed 14 games in 2023 because of a pectoral injury. In five NFL seasons, he's posted 245 combined tackles, including 20 tackles for loss, and 14 quarterback hits. He's also recorded 39 pass defenses and 12 interceptions.
