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INDIANAPOLIS -- The overall record for Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson in his first three seasons can't be denied. Three straight 11-win seasons. Three straight playoff appearances. A step further in the playoffs in each of those seasons, including reaching the AFC Championship Game last season. The same can’t be said about Grigson’s free-agent signing record. He hasn't been as successful in that area.  There will be some misses when it comes to free agency. That's the nature of the business.
Grigson has a chance to improve his success rate when free agency opens March 10. The Colts will have about $40 million in salary-cap space to try to find a running back, pass-rusher, two safeties, defensive linemen and a receiver. Here’s a look at the free-agent moves Grigson made in his first three offseasons: 2014 DL Art Jones, WR Hakeem Nicks, S Colt Anderson, S Mike Adams Note: Adams, whom the Colts didn’t sign until the middle of June, was the best player of this group last season. He was the Colts’ second-best defensive player behind cornerback Vontae Davis, tying for the NFL lead in takeaways with seven. He also made his first Pro Bowl. The Colts were better at stopping the run when Jones was on the field, but a high ankle sprain caused him to miss seven games. Nicks never found his role as the Colts' No. 3 receiver, which led to the worst season of his six-year career. 2013 OT Gosder Cherilus, DT Aubrayo Franklin, DT Ricky Jean Francois, S LaRon Landry, LB Lawrence Sidbury, G Donald Thomas, CB Greg Toler, LB Erik Walden Note: Injuries and disappointing play were the themes of the 2013 free-agent class. Francois and Landry were both released in the past three weeks. Landry was the bigger disappointment. The Colts gave him a four-year, $24 million contract hoping he would be an enforcer at safety. Landry didn’t come close to those expectations. He was suspended for four games for using performance-enhancing drugs last season, and it took until the end of the season for him to get his starting job back. Thomas has played only two games in his two seasons with the team because of injuries. Cherilus spent the majority of last season trying to play through injuries, which ended up impacting his production. Toler, when healthy, gives the Colts a nice duo at cornerback with Davis. Toler played in 15 games last season after playing in only nine during his first season with the team. Walden finished second on the team in sacks with 6.0 last season. 2012 WR Donnie Avery, OL Mike McGlynn, DT Brandon McKinney, DL Cory Redding, C Samson Satele, S Tom Zbikowski. Note: Satele made it only two seasons as quarterback Andrew Luck's center. Avery, who spent just one season with Indianapolis, was third on the Colts in receiving yards (781) and receptions (60) in 2012. Redding, who is considering retirement, started all 16 games and finished with 3.5 sacks last season. He was also one of the Colts’ locker room leaders.
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