The Detroit Lions have exactly five days to lock up Ndamukong Suh to a new contract. After that, the dominant defensive tackle will officially be on the open market. Suh will not lack for suitors, with 16 teams boasting at least $20 million in salary cap space. One team in particular, though, has been rumored to be preparing a hard push to land the four-time All-Pro.
The Indianapolis Colts will have more than $67 million in projected cap space when free agency opens on Tuesday. Last season, Indy finished 18th in rushing defense (113.4 yards allowed per game) and none of their players recorded more than 6.5 sacks. Suh would change all that in an instant, and as a contender, the Colts should be viewed as a favorite to sign him. However, that may not actually be the case.
"[B]ased on what I've seen and heard as the Colts formulate their free agency strategy, I would not place too big a bet on Suh landing in Indianapolis," Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star wrote. "And, believe it or not, the reason is loosely related to the huge financial commitment it would take.
"Suh is certainly intriguing to the Colts. But they aren't entirely sold on whether he's an ideal fit for their defense.
"After spending his entire career in a 4-3 defense, playing the classing 'three-technique' defensive tackle position, joining a team like the Colts [3-4 defense] would entail a significant change in style for Suh. It's so significant that it's enough to give the Colts reason for pause."
Typically, defensive tackles do struggle when they transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 because each defense requires different attributes from the position. However, Suh may be the type of elite talent that succeeds regardless of what defensive scheme he is in. That's how ESPN NFL Insider Matt Williamson sees it.
"He can fit any scheme," Williamson wrote. "You can use him like J.J. Watt as a 3-4 attacking defensive end or certainly as a tackle in the 4-3. He's the type of player that anyone who runs any scheme would want."
So are the Colts just posturing when Holder says they are reluctant to chase Suh, or are they actually concerned with how well Suh's skill set will translate to a new system?
"Suh fits any scheme and can be used in a variety of ways," Williamson wrote. "He's an every-down player, and although it has gotten him into trouble in the past, he brings an aggression like few others in the NFL. We know the Colts and Browns aren't afraid to make big splashes with signings or draft picks, and the Colts, being a contender, could be a very attractive landing spot for Suh."