Breaking: Colts Agree Deal To Sign $33 Million Veteran Safety
NFL reporter Howard Balzer reports that veteran free agent safety Kareem Jackson of the Houston Texans visited the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday
The veteran safety, who was originally selected by Houston in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, is coming off a 2023 season with both the Texans and the Denver Broncos in which he finished with 53 tackles (37 solo), 2 interceptions, and 3 passes defensed in 10 games (8 starts).
Jackson is 35 years old, so his finest pro football days are probably behind him, but as a seasoned depth option with a ton of verified NFL experience—193 career starts—he could be able to benefit a team. He started off as a cornerback before switching to safety in 2018, getting closer to his thirty-first birthday.
Jackson was their 52nd-best ranked safety this past season, according to PFF (subscription), with a +66.4 overall grade that included a +75.4 coverage mark.
The Colts could definitely use some assistance with safety. Julian Blackmon, in particular, is still a free agent.Although he has apparently resumed contract talks with the Colts, he has recently visited as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers, so his return to Indianapolis is not yet assured.
Otherwise, because they were both far from reliable enough in coverage, neither Rodney Thomas II nor Nick Cross could claim the starting safety spot next to Blackmon.
Jackson could be a solid depth option, and the Colts have had some success with veteran safeties in the past—including former 2x NFL Pro Bowler Mike Adams and more recently, Rodney McLeod. That being said, if that’s the only ‘big’ offseason addition at the safety position for Indianapolis, it leaves a lot to be desired, all things considered.
