Safety Nick Cross will reportedly sign with the Washington Commanders. So, what’s next for the Indianapolis Colts at the safety position?
Cross has been a starter for the Colts the past two seasons, primarily at safety, playing closer to the line of scrimmage. Always at his best as a running back, Cross was very effective when given the chance to blitz last season.
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Colts’ safety option after losing Cross
The obvious replacement for Cross is already on the roster in sophomore guard Hunter Waller.
A seventh-round pick by the Colts last April, Waller played safety at Wisconsin, but he could be the best player at the NFL level in plays in or around the zone. Last summer, Waller performed well in training camp, but then suffered a season-ending injury.
“The ball just found him in training camp,” Sean Steichen said at the NFL combine. “He has a great feel and feels great in coverage where we’re playing, but he’s always in the right place at the right time. He’s had a hell of a training camp.”
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However, counting on Waller to assume a starting role also comes with risks. He’s still an inexperienced late Day 3 pick who missed his entire rookie season due to injury.
Other safeties currently signed include Daniel Scott, Trey Washington, Reuben Lowry and Ben Nickell.
What about free agency or the NFL Draft?
The Colts currently have significant salary cap space and could still look to address that in free agency. JaQuen Brisk and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson are the two top safety options still available on Greg Rosenthal’s free-agent roster.
It also can’t be ignored that while the paint presence is a good match for Cam Bynum’s skill set, Lou Anarumo’s defense is hungry for the versatility of its secondary.
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Addressing safety issues in the draft can be a challenge. The Colts only have two picks in the top 100 and have bigger needs on the roster than safety, such as defensive end and linebacker. ESPN’s Ben Solak also recently wrote that while this is a good year for a free safety, this is a bad year for a strong safety.
Adding a safety position won’t be at the top of the to-do list, but it’s an item Chris Ballard must focus on.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL Free Agency: Nick Cross to GM; What are the Colts doing at safety?
