Analyzing the Colts' most notable players set to hit free agency in 2025
During the 2024 NFL offseason, the Indianapolis Colts made their in-house free agents their main priority. The team re-signed 10 of their own free agents and only brought in two players who played for another NFL team last season, Joe Flacco and Raekwon Davis. And with the 2024 season around the corner, I thought we should look […]
During the 2024 NFL offseason, the Indianapolis Colts made their in-house free agents their main priority.
The team re-signed 10 of their own free agents and only brought in two players who played for another NFL team last season, Joe Flacco and Raekwon Davis.
And with the 2024 season around the corner, I thought we should look at the notable Colts players that will be playing out the final year of their current contract.
Notable Colts offensive free agents
- Ryan Kelly, C (32)
- Will Fries, G (27)
- Joe Flacco, QB (40)
The Colts have two starting offensive linemen set to become free agents after the 2024 season. Longtime C Ryan Kelly and RG Will Fries. The Colts already have large contracts on the books for LG Quenton Nelson, and both RT Braden Smith and LT Bernhard Raimann are set to become free agents during the 2026 offseason. So, it seems fair to assume that the Colts will likely only extend one of Kelly or Fries.
The Colts also drafted Matt Goncalves and Tanor Bortolini with their third and fourth-round selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. Goncalves can play tackle and guard, while Bortolini can play guard and center. The Colts could wait and see how these young players look in training camp to decide if one of them is ready to be a starter in 2025. In my opinion, the best-case scenario would be for Bortolini to impress the team at center and take over the job from Kelly next season. And the team extends Fries for a price tag that I expect would be lower than the number Kelly could fetch.
Notable Colts defensive free agents
- Julian Blackmon, S (26)
- E.J. Speed, LB (29)
- Dayo Odeyingbo, Edge (25)
The Colts retained Julian Blackmon late in free agency on a new one-year deal. So, the team and Blackmon will yet again be looking for a new extension after the 2024 season. Blackmon was arguably one of the Colt's best overall defenders last season in his first year as the team's starting SS. If he can put together a fully healthy season this year, I think the team has to do right by him and keep him in Indianapolis long-term.
Next up is LB E.J. Speed, who will be entering the 2024 season as the team's projected starter for the first time in his career. Zaire Franklin and Speed form a reliable duo at the LB spot, and a big 2024 season could catapult him into a solid paycheck. The question, though, is, will the Colts pay both Franklin and Speed in the LB room their fair market value at the same time?
Lastly, Dayo Odeyingbo, who, while he isn't a listed starter for the Colts, was a steady force on the defensive line last season. The Colts used their 2024 first-round pick on edge rusher Laiatu Latu, as well as picking up the fifth-year option on Kwity Paye. That makes this upcoming season massive for Odeyingbo, who will be trying to prove to the Colts that they need to keep him around long-term. And with Paye and Samson Ebukam set to hit free agency the following year, at least one of Odeyingbo, Paye, or Ebukam will likely not be a part of the team's long-term plans.
The Colts are preparing to take fans back in time with a new project
The Indianapolis Colts are going to be telling a famous NFL story like we've never heard it before from their perspective. The team announced a new podcast that will tell the story of the team's controversial move from Baltimore to Indianapolis beginning next week. In the middle of the night on March 29, 1984, Colts […]
NFL analyst believes the Colts need to extend a veteran player ahead of the 2024 season
The 2024 season is right around the corner, with the Indianapolis Colts reporting for Training Camp on July 24th. Aaron Schatz of ESPN shared the one move each NFL team needs to do before Training Camp begins. And he thinks that move for the Colts is to extend one of their own. Ryan Kelly Although Kelly […]
