If the Indianapolis Colts are still going to add to their roster via a free agent addition, who should they bring in?

Pro Football Network recently highlighted one available free agent that each NFL team should sign. For the Colts, PFN chose linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley.

Bentley was a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft by New England, where he had spent his entire career up to this point. His 2024 season was limited to only two games due to a torn pectoral muscle, but in the two seasons prior, he had played over 900 defensive snaps each year.

Over his career, Bentley has been a sound tackler and has found some success as a blitzer. In coverage during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he allowed a completion rate of 78% at 9.4 yards per catch with an interception and three pass breakups, per PFF. Bentley has some special teams experience as well.

“Ja’Whaun Bentley comes with extensive starting experience from his seven seasons with the Patriots, and he will still only turn 29 in August,” wrote PFN. “Bentley wouldn’t even necessarily represent a possible starter over Carlies. Instead, the Colts could ease Carlies into the mix by letting the former college safety play more on passing downs, while allowing the thumping Bentley to play more early-down snaps next to Franklin.”

I do like the line of thinking here from PFN. The Colts clearly think highly of Jaylon Carlies, so this addition wouldn’t be one that is meant to get in the way of him starting next to Zaire Franklin. However, Bentley provides depth and experience at a position group where both of those things are lacking for the Colts.

From a salary cap perspective, this isn’t an addition that is going to break the bank by any means, and as we detailed recently, the Colts are in a good cap situation currently.

Now, if I were making this pick, I would choose to add to the offensive line over linebacker–although both are positions that could be added to. I recently highlighted three free-agent guard options for the Colts and why addressing that unit is still a big need.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL free agency: Colts urged to sign LB Ja’Whaun Bentley