Might we finally see some movement on the free-agent safety market?
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports the Indianapolis Colts are taking a look at a pair of free-agent safeties: Tre Boston and Kenny Vaccaro.
Boston and Vaccaro represent the heretofore stagnant safety market, which has been mostly ignored during free agency.
The 25-year-old Boston spent 2017 with the Los Angeles Chargers after three seasons with the Carolina Panthers. Boston was highly productive last season, compiling 79 tackles, five interceptions and eight passes defended. Pro Football Focus graded the defensive back as the ninth-best coverage safety last season. The Chargers moved on after using their first-round pick on safety Derwin James.
Despite a stellar season, the Colts represent the first sniff Boston has seen on the open market.
Vaccaro, a former New Orleans Saints first-round pick, previously visited the Miami Dolphins. At 27 years old, Vaccaro has the pedigree, compiling 385 tackles, eight interceptions, 30 passes defended and 7.5 sacks in five seasons. He's coming off an injury-plagued campaign that ended after 12 games.
The safety market has been as slow as any in recent memory. Even a top-level talent like Tyrann Mathieu settled for a one-year prove-it deal. If the Colts, who could use playmakers at every level of the defense, snap up one of the veterans, it could cause the dominoes to finally start falling.
Elsewhere in roster move news on Monday:
- The New York Jets claimed offensive lineman Antonio Garcia off of waivers Monday after the second-year roster hopeful was waived by the New England Patriots last week. The O-lineman was waived with an injury designation, but claimed recently that he has been cleared, Rapoport reported. Garcia was selected by New England in the third round of the 2017 draft.
Veteran offensive lineman Byron Bell worked out for New York on Monday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported. Bell last played for Dallas in 2017, and has also appeared in games for Tennessee and Carolina.
- The New York Giants released cornerback C.J. Goodwin on Monday, Rapoport reported.
- The Houston Texans claimed quarterback Stephen Morris off waivers Monday, Rapoport reported. Morris, a fifth-year thrower out of Miami, was waived by Seattle over the weekend.
- It's one and done in Carolina for Russell Shepard. The Panthersreleased the veteran wideout, a source told Rapoport.
