INDIANAPOLIS -- Alex Mack is exactly what the Indianapolis Colts need.
Mack is a Pro Bowl center who has started every game he's appeared in and he's been relatively healthy, having only missed 11 games in his six-year NFL career. He’s also on his way to hitting the free-agent market after he decided to opt out of the final three years of his contract with the Cleveland Browns.
Quarterback Andrew Luck is headed into his fifth NFL season and the Colts are still searching for a center to pair him with. It’s not supposed to be that way when you have a franchise quarterback. Peyton Manning had Jeff Saturday. The Colts need to stop the revolving door at center for Luck. Coach Chuck Pagano said during the combine last week that the interior part of the offensive line needs to improve, which gives you the indication that the Colts want to upgrade their center position.
Here’s the list of centers the Colts have used since selecting Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in 2012:
Samson Satele
Holmes is the only player on that list that the Colts have drafted.
The issue the Colts have is that they are financially strapped. They have about $25 million in salary-cap space and Mack will not come with a cheap price tag, especially since he voided the final three years of his contract that was going to pay him $24 million.
If Mack were to sign with the Colts it would be because owner Jim Irsay, general manager Ryan Grigson and Pagano meet with Mack and convince him to take less money for a chance to win after consistently losing in Cleveland.
It's a long shot to land Mack, but the Colts should at least make a run at him.
