INDIANAPOLIS – While the Colts have around 7-8 starters scheduled to hit free agency this offseason, it’s hard to say anyone falls into a “have to re-sign” category.
Currently, the Colts are scheduled to have around $45 million in cap space for 2022, which ranks in the top-10 of all teams.
Here are the Colts 2022 unrestricted free agents (per Spotrac):
- RB-Marlon Mack (Age: 25): This cordial partnership has to be coming to an end. Mack wanted to get traded last season, but that never matriculated. The Colts had Mack as a healthy scratch in 11 games and he didn’t have a single carry once the season reached November.
- WR-T.Y. Hilton (Age: 32): First, is a retirement decision from Hilton. If Hilton wants to keep playing, the Colts will then have to weigh his level of play going into Year 11 combined with his leadership presence. For Hilton to still play, he’s going to have to take a pay cut. His camp will argue that the Carson Wentz issues played into Hilton’s quiet production (23 catches for 331 yards, 3 TDs in 10 games).
- WR-Zach Pascal (Age: 27): It was a disappointing season for the usually reliable Pascal. He had the lowest catch percentage of his career (55.1 percent), while seeing his play time dip as the season progressed. Pascal looked to be sure-fire re-sign given the staff’s trust in him. Now, that’s no lock. Although, Chris Ballard had some good things to say about him during the GM’s season-ending presser.
- TE-Mo Alie-Cox (Age: 28): Four years into his NFL experiment and we are still waiting for Alie-Cox to take that big jump. Alie-Cox caught 24 balls for 316 yards and 4 TDs this season, but just 11 of those came in the final 10 games. The Jack Doyle retirement dilemma will have some impact on Alie-Cox’s status. Ballard wants Alie-Cox to return.
- OT-Sam Tevi (Age: 27): Tevi had a terrible training camp and then tore his ACL in the preseason finale. Tevi has 44 career starts in 5 NFL seasons.
- LT-Eric Fisher (Age: 31): Do the Colts think Fisher has another gear left, as he enters his second year removed from a devastating Achilles injury? Ballard thinks so. Fisher struggled majorly in protection this past year, coming off that torn Achilles. Of course, the other left tackle options don’t offer much comfortability.
- OG-Mark Glowinski (Age: 29): Ever since being a December waiver claim in 2017, Glow has been a really nice find. He’s played in 59 of his last 60 games, too. But this is probably the end for Glowinski in Indy given he’s due a pay increase. A re-signing of Chris Reed and the presence of Danny Pinter on the roster are avenues to go down if/when Glow is gone.
- OL-Matt Pryor (Age: 27): Speaking of other left tackle options, Pryor could be one of those. The Colts traded for Pryor at the end of the 2021 preseason. He brings important position flex. If the Colts don’t offer Pryor a chance to start at some spot in 2022, that’s something he could very well find in other suitors.
- OT-Julie’n Davenport (Age: 27): So that’s why Davenport was on the open market this past year. Davenport’s days of being an every day starter are gone. He’s a depth guy at tackle.
- G-Chris Reed (Age: 29): With his play this past year, Reed might have just earned himself the first look at a Day 1 starting RG for the Colts in 2022. Reed started 6 games this past year for the Colts and filled in very well. He would rank pretty high on a list to ‘bring back’ in 2022.
- DE-Isaac Rochell (Age: 26): The Colts dressed/used Rochell a lot more than Ben Banogu last year. The Notre Dame product didn’t do a whole lot though, playing 177 snaps in 12 games, finishing the year with 17 tackles (0 for loss, 0 sacks, 3 QB hits).
- DE-Kemoko Turay (Age: 26): After missing 21 games due to an ankle injury the previous two years, Turay was out of the lineup for 4 more games this season. He did finish the year with a career-best 5.5 sacks (8 quarterback hits). While Turay has 12.0 sacks in 38 career games, you wonder how many chances the Colts will give him to fulfill that tantalizing potential?
- DE-Al-Quadin Muhammad (Age: 27): Over the years, its been Muhammad who continues to play more at defensive end than so many of the other drafted DEs. Muhammad started all 17 games this past year, compiling 6.0 sacks and 13 quarterback hits. The Colts need other answers at DE, but Muhammad has made a case to be brought back. Plus, DL depth is something Ballard is really coveting this offseason.
- DL-Tyquan Lewis (Age: 27): Lewis suffered the ugly patellar tendon injury on Halloween to end the final year of his rookie contract. When healthy, Lewis has provided some production and versatility, and Ballard went out of his way to note that at the season-ending presser. But Lewis has also missed 24 of 65 career games, playing less than 10 games in 3 of his 4 seasons).
- DT-Antwaun Woods (Age: 29): Woods went on injured reserve in December. He played 74 snaps in 7 games with the Colts last year.
- DT-Taylor Stallworth (Age: 26): While Hard Knocks has showcased the great personality Stallworth brings, he also dialed up some frequent interior pressure. Stallworth had 12 QB hits as a reserve defensive tackle. Again, DL depth should help the cause of Stallworth.
- LB-Matthew Adams (Age: 26): A 2018 7th round pick, the rookie contract has run out for Adams. In the last two seasons, Adams has played just 1 defensive snap, being used exclusively on special teams.
- LB-Zaire Franklin (Age: 26): The Colts love the leadership of Franklin and it’s a big reason why he was the team’s special teams captain in 2021. With Anthony Walker moving on, Franklin actually started 11 games as the team’s third linebacker (playing 200 defensive snaps).
- CB-Xavier Rhodes (Age: 31): Injuries caught up to Rhodes in 2022, with him missing 4 games (he had missed 3 total games in the previous 4 years). Rhodes allowed a higher completion percentage, passer rating and missed more tackles in 2021. Father Time looks to have hit Rhodes a bit.
- CB-T.J. Carrie (Age: 31): Like Rhodes, Carrie battled injuries and poor play in his second season in Indy. Carrie missed 6 games (he had missed 5 in his 7-year career before this season). Carrie also struggled in coverage compared to 2020.
- S-George Odum (Age: 28): The Colts actually turned to Odum for 7 games to start for Julian Blackmon at safety. Odum looked like a guy capable of being more than just a special teamer.
- S-Andrew Sendejo (Age: 34): Sendejo was an in-season signing and actually started 10 games with the injuries at safety.
- K-Michael Badgley (Age: 26): Will it be a kicking competition between Badgley and Rodrigo Blankenship at Grand Park come August? Badgley went 18-of-21 on field goals and 39-of-39 on extra points in 12 games as the Colts kicker.
