Colts GM alludes to heavy spending in free agency

Reeling from a 45-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, the Indianapolis Colts know they have to improve if they're to make a serious run at the Super Bowl.

Many have criticized the Colts for being too dependent on the fortunes of star quarterback Andrew Luck, and the team is still a far cry away from catching the incumbent champion Patriots.

Indianapolis remains in an enviable position, however, boasting $42.3 million in cap space entering free agency, according to Spotrac.

General manager Ryan Grigson alluded to an aggressive plan, including exploring free agency for players that can help the Colts reach their first Super Bowl since 2009.

"I think you have to be aggressive no matter what avenue you are going down to acquire players," Grigson said to ESPN's Mike Wells at the NFL Scouting Combine. "But you can't just do it for the sake of being aggressive and just get a name, or whomever. It has to be a name that you collectively feel will better your team.

"You don't always bat a thousand obviously. It's a case-by-case basis with each position group, but again, at each spot we are going to try and get guys that play at championship level."

Indianapolis has missed on a couple of key players in years' past, with Hakeem Nicks and Ricky Jean-Francois providing disappointing returns on value, the latter of whom was released Monday.

The Colts have a couple of areas of weakness - namely its front seven - that was exposed twice by the Patriots last season. If Indianapolis can spent its money wisely, they'll be breathing down the Patriots' necks in hopes of winning the first Super Bowl title in the Luck era.