A Colts player in the final year of his contract is showing the NFL he deserves a massive pay raise
The Indianapolis Colts are 0-2, which makes it difficult to focus on the few positives the team has experienced so far this season. Starting right guard Will Fries has been a massive positive through the season's first two weeks, which has earned him a spot on Pro Football Focus' highest-grade offensive line. He couldn't have picked a […]
The Indianapolis Colts are 0-2, which makes it difficult to focus on the few positives the team has experienced so far this season.
Starting right guard Will Fries has been a massive positive through the season's first two weeks, which has earned him a spot on Pro Football Focus' highest-grade offensive line.
He couldn't have picked a better time to have a career year, as he is playing in the final year of his rookie contract.
Will Fries' career year
Fries has played every offensive snap for the Colts this season and has allowed zero sacks, zero quarterback hits, and only two total pressures. He also hasn't been called for a single penalty to start the year.
The Colts drafted Fries with the 248th pick in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft. For a seventh-round pick to make the roster at all is a big win, but for them to go on to become a full-time starter is very rare. After only appearing in three games as a rookie, Fries started in nine of the team's 16 games in 2022 and finished his first season as a full-time starter in 2023.
This brings us to present day, where it appears Fries has taken a big step as a player during the final year of his rookie contract. His rookie contract with the team was a four-year deal worth just over $3.5 million with a signing bonus of just $85,375. And if he can continue this strong play, he will be setting himself up for a massive payday, whether that is with the Colts or elsewhere.
The current highest-paid guard in the NFL is Philadelphia Eagles' Landon Dickerson, who makes $21 million a year. Below, you can find the top five highest-paid guards in the NFL, which includes Fries' teammate Quenton Nelson.
1. Landon Dickerson, Philadelphia Eagles: $21 million average salary
2. Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons: $20.5 million average salary
3T. Robert Hunt, Miami Dolphins: $20 million average salary
3T. Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts: $20 million average salary
5. Samuel Cosmi, Washington Commanders: $18.5 million average salary