Indianapolis Colts signing Ronnie Harrison to one-year contract

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Cleveland Browns v Minnesota Vikings — MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 03: Ronnie Harrison #33 of the Cleveland Browns before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 3, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Preseason game No. 1 is complete for the Indianapolis Colts, facing off against the Buffalo Bills away from home. And after the matchup, the front office decided another piece was needed in the secondary. So, a signing was made, adding an experienced player to be the backend of the unit.

Former Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Harrison will be signing with Indianapolis, it was revealed on Monday afternoon. Harrison is entering his sixth season in the NFL and the Colts will mark the third team of his career. The contract will be for the entirety of the 2023 season as well.

“Colts are signing former Browns’ safety Ronnie Harrison to a one-year contract,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said via Twitter. “The deal has been confirmed by Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey.”

Harrison played his college ball under Nick Saban with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Following his time in Tuscaloosa, the defensive back was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars originally liked the safety but the relationship ended after just two seasons.

Cleveland has been home for Harrison over the past three years. In the 39 games he played with the Browns, he started in 23 of them. The production from Harrison was not too bad either, recording 120 tackles, 4.0 tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks. Harrison was good in coverage too having 11 passes defended and two interceptions — one of which went back for a touchdown during the 2021 season.

Indianapolis looking to improve defensively heading into 2023

Indianapolis was one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season, especially against the run.

From a scoring defense standpoint, just four teams gave up more points than the Colts. An average of 25.1 points per game were given up throughout the 17-game schedule. Predictably, only the Denver Broncos were held to under double digits.

Vs. the run, Indianapolis was just outside the bottom ten of total rushing yards allowed throughout the 2022 season. Opponents ran for over 2,100 yards against the Colts, placing them at No. 21 in the league. Touchdowns were frequent as well, giving up 20 and placing 25th.

Defensive reinforcements are needed. While the turnaround is not fully expected to occur this upcoming year, there does need to be signs of progress. Signing an established veteran such as Harrison can help build up the locker room and maybe bring a few extra wins.