Looking at potential destinations for Kareem Hunt in 2019
By Matt Conner
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Like a few teams on this list, Indianapolis is a small market team in which a player’s troubled past can hide away from the major media spotlight. If Hunt is looking to focus solely on the field and get back to the business of playing football, Indy is one of a few ideal locations to consider. It’s also only a few hours from home in Ohio (a factor which could go either way, actually).
Why Kareem is a fit
The Colts already have a few promising young backs on the roster, but all have been Day 3 picks, and no one brings the complete package and offensive upgrade that Kareem Hunt would represent. Nyheim Hines shows great hands out of the backfield and Jordan Howard and Marlon Mack have looked good in spurts. The addition of Hunt, however, would make this among the NFL’s best overall units—one perfectly suited to deal with the rigors of the long season.
The Colts have been linked with Le’Veon Bell for good reason this season since his big play ability would be a perfect complement with the Colts needs. T.Y. Hilton would love someone to take some of the defensive attention, and Andrew Luck would be that much more effective with a true pillar in the backfield.
Bell is going to have exorbitant demands, while Hunt gives the FA market another option that would likely come on a short-term deal for pennies on the dollar. Forget paying Le’Veon Bell $17 million per season (or whatever his demands will adjust to) and pay Kareem Hunt on a cheap one-year deal to rehab his image.
Even if Hunt comes and goes after one year, the Colts will still have their young trio locked up into 2020 and 2021, giving them more time to find out what they have on hand while getting much better offensively in 2019.
Odds: Medium to High