INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts started their quest to find two starting safeties when they had former Oakland Raiders safety Tyvon Branch in for a visit Wednesday.

The goal still is for the Colts to re-sign Mike Adams and then pair him with another player. New England's Devin McCourty will be the best safety on the free-agent market next week.

Some of have wondered if there’s something wrong with McCourty since the New England Patriots opted not to use their franchise tag on him.

I checked in with ESPN.com Patriots reporter Mike Reiss on McCourty.

Here’s Reiss’ take on McCourty:

“This isn’t as much about McCourty the player as it is a combination of McCourty, the open market and the Patriots’ other business in free agency. The Patriots would love McCourty back, but their love only extends so far financially. A $9.6 million franchise tag for McCourty was deemed too rich and that’s what this is about. The top of the safety market has players earning an average of $8 million to $10 million per season (e.g. Earl Thomas, Jairus Byrd and Eric Weddle) and it seems safe to say the Patriots are at the low end of that range in how far they’d be willing to extend for McCourty, in part because they have other important business too (like retaining Darrelle Revis). When there is a difference between the team’s view of a player’s financial value, and the going rate on the market, what often happens is the Patriots allow that player to hit the market and then they keep an open dialogue about a possible return based on how the market unfolds. I think those are the dynamics in play here.”

One of the things the Colts prefer is for their safeties to be interchangeable. Branch is predominately a strong safety. Adams played more strong safety last season, but he’s shown the ability to drop back into coverage. He had a team-high five interceptions last season. McCourty is more of a free safety. As you recall, he’s the safety that provided help over top so that Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton couldn’t have big plays down the field against New England.

Here’s Reiss’ take on where McCourty plays on the field:

“He’s a willing tackler (which also shows up on special teams) and can play anywhere in the secondary -- strong safety included -- because he’s smart and understands defensive concepts. You can move him down to corner and he still covers competitively. He’ll occasionally take a bad angle on a play at safety, but overall, McCourty is one of the top safeties in the game and would be an asset to any locker room. Ask almost anyone about McCourty and one of the first things they’ll say is “great guy.”