Two Colts Free Agents Whose Fate Could be Determined by Gus Bradley

Whatever happens with Gus Bradley will determine whether these two Indianapolis Colts free agents return.
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The Indianapolis Colts are nearing the conclusion of their head coaching search. With that being said, the head coach isn’t the subject of today's discussion. 

Instead, we’ll be talking about Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Bradley was one of the bright spots for a horrific season the Colts endured. 

However, there are two big-name free agents that the Colts must decide to re-sign or let go. Those names are linebacker Bobby Okereke and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. With this in mind, would the Colts re-sign Okereke and Ngakoue if Bradley is retained?

It was reported that the Colts were blocking Bradley from interviewing for other defensive coordinator positions. Many found this a bit “abrasive” from the organization. 

However, this is standard practice in the NFL so that the head coach who is hired can decide whether they want to keep the defensive coordinator on the current staff or not. This information also was tied to the Colts purportedly whittling down the list of four head-coaching finalists, all of whom had told GM Chris Ballard and owner Jim Irsay that they would keep Bradley in that position.

If Bradley is kept, there could be a higher chance that both Okereke and Ngakoue would get re-signed to stay in his defense. Okereke had the best season of his career with Bradley orchestrating, putting together 151 total tackles (career-high), five passes defended, and forcing two fumbles (t-career high), showing that he is a serious talent that is still very young. 

Indeed, Okereke would likely command a four-year, $50-plus million deal, but it could be worth the pricetag with how talented he is and how well he played without superstar Shaquille Leonard being injured. 

Meanwhile, Ngakoue was so good, he led the Colts in sacks. He has been in the NFL for eight seasons, but three of those (including 2022) have been under Bradley’s defense (2016 with the Jacksonville Jaguars and 2021 with Las Vegas Raiders). 

Bradley’s presence was one of the biggest reasons Ngaukoue was traded to the Colts for then-cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. It makes sense that Ngakoue would get another contract and stay with Indianapolis under the current defensive scheme. In his three seasons with Bradley, Ngakoue has a total of 27.5 sacks (eight in 2016, 10 in 2021, and 9.5 in 2022), so Bradley gets the best out of the pass-rushing specialist.

With a lengthy offseason still ahead, something still needs to be confirmed with Bradley, Ngakoue, or Okereke. But, even with Leonard’s large contract (five years/$98.5M through 2026), the Colts could still give Okereke and Ngakoue a deal if Bradley stays with the next head-coaching hire, giving the defensive mind the entire arsenal of weapons that the team should have had 2022. 

Will this happen? Maybe, but it’s just speculation until the dust settles and a new coach is hired in Indianapolis.


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Drake Wally
DRAKE WALLY

Drake Wally covers the Indianapolis Colts at Horseshoe Huddle and co-hosts the Horseshoe Huddle Podcast.