2015 Colts - Free Agency

INDIANAPOLIS - The Colts dove into free agency and became one of the most active teams this year. New GM Phil Emery did his best to throw a hay maker at all of their roster problems, mostly focusing on the defense that let the team down so often last season.

PRE-FREE AGENCY NEGOTIATIONS

The Colts declined to re-sign a few starters and contributors, letting Corey Redding, Jurrell Freeman, and Ahmad Bradshaw test free agency. The team opted to bring back Reggie Wayne and Darius Butler on one-year contracts and focus the bulk of their spending on LT Anthony Castonzo. Castonzo agreed to a 5-year $32.5 million deal which will keep him protecting Andrew Luck's blindside for some time. Emery also inked FB Stanley Havili, P Pat McAfee, and MLB Kelvin Sheppard to multi-year deals.

Castonzo should finish his career in Indianapolis.

It wouldn't be free agency without a little drama as WR Da'Rick Rogers rejected the Colts' initial offer and decided to test the market. Rogers, who was seen as a key replacement for the aging Wayne, put the Colts in a bad position regarding WR depth. The Colts were then forced to look at free agent receivers with only three on the current roster.

FREE AGENCY

Indianapolis went into free agency with numerous positions of need; WR, FS, SS, RG, RT, LE, DT, and LB. Emery basically managed to nail all of these with some bargain deals and one blockbuster. Surprised to see the 24 year old OLB Vontaze Burfict hit the market, the Colts threw the kitchen sink at him and landed a potential superstar. The Colts were missing a powerful pass rusher after the trade of Robert Mathis, and inking Burfict to a 7-year $100 million deal filling that need for quite some time.

Burfict hitting the market was a huge surprise.

The Colts loaded up on reasonable 4-year offers to strengthen the offensive line, WR corps, and defense. WR Cecil Shorts III ($12 million), RG Brandon Fusco ($36 million), RT Chris Hairston ($25 million), and MLB Akeem Dent ($15 million) fill some serious roster holes. Da'Rick Rogers, probably wishing he had accepted the Colts initial offer of 4-years for $20 million agreed to the same length at $16 million after failing to generate much interest.

Free Agency did not go well for Rogers.

Shorter term deals for SS William Moore and HB Justin Forsett made preparing for the draft even easier. With 9 picks in the draft thanks to trades, the team would have plenty of opportunities to paper over the roster cracks.