After a disappointing 9-8 Season for the Indianapolis Colts, the off-season has officially arrived which means some tough decisions have to be made about our own free agents and who stays and who goes. Before discussing who the Colts should attempt to re-sign we need to consider the Colts current situation from a team-building and roster management perspective.
On offense, the Colts lack long-term answers at positions like Quarterback and Left Tackle. Additionally, the Colts are in desperate need of weapons outside of Pittman and Taylor. The Colts have an estimated 42.9 million in cap space. In short, the Colts have long-term questions but also the financial resources to help answer those questions. In terms of draft capital, the Colts are without a first-round pick this year due to the Carson Wentz trade but will pick up a couple of compensatory picks on day 3 in the 5th and 6th rounds respectively. Obviously, that is not ideal and it really hurts the Colts to not have a first-round pick that they could use to address Quarterback, Left Tackle, or to add playmaking in the draft.
Left Tackle (LT) Eric Fisher: Stay or Go?
As I mentioned above, Left Tackle is one of the most important positions in Football and right now I believe the Colts lack a long-term answer there. However, that does not mean that Eric Fisher didn’t have his value for the Colts. Following what he’s done over his career he has typically been a better run blocker than in pass protection and those trends have followed in Indianapolis. When the Colts ran the ball, Eric Fisher did a good job in the run game in terms of moving people and creating holes for Jonathan Taylor to run through. When the Colts were in obvious passing situations or generally speaking they were throwing the ball… Eric Fisher was absolutely terrible.
Verdict: Go (I’ll help you pack)
Wide Receiver (WR) Zach Pascal: Stay or Go?
From his arrival in 2018, Zach Pascal has been one of the more underrated players for this team. Chris Ballard is famously quoted as saying “Everybody just ignores Zach Pascal, but all he does is catch Touchdowns”. As the third or fourth best receiver on your team he is a valuable player and after a down year because of Carson Wentz, I think the verdict is pretty clear as long as Wentz isn’t brought back. The “down year” may even help the Colts get better value for him too.
Verdict: Stay
Wide Receiver (WR) T.Y. Hilton: Stay or Go?
Whatever the Colts decide to do with T.Y. Hilton he will go down as one of the best Colts and his name should be put into the Colts Ring of Honor after he retires. T.Y. didn’t get off to a great start last year, he was injured and didn’t connect with Carson Wentz. What must be done eventually, must be done immediately in this case and I think the verdict is pretty clear in this case.
Verdict: Go
Tackle (T) Matt Pryor: Stay or Go?
When Chris Ballard traded for Matt Pryor, the move was overlooked as a depth move to give us another swing tackle. Matt Pryor was much more than that. In the games he started, he showed us that he was a capable starter in this league and an above-average depth player. With the Colts need for depth at both tackle positions and for an answer at left tackle, Matt Pryor deserves to be re-upped by the Colts and a chance to compete for the starting LT position come next year.
Verdict: Stay
Guard/Center (G/C) Chris Reed: Stay or Go?
By far one of the best acquisitions last off-season by Chris Ballard, Chris Reed was a phenomenal depth player for the Indianapolis Colts. He was physical in the run game and in pass protection he was pretty solid. He can start on a lot of NFL teams and he could certainly start for the Colts. My worry is that he will be too expensive.
Verdict: Stay (If the Colts can keep him)
Right Guard (RG) Mark Glowinski: Stay or Go?
Since his arrival in 2018, Mark Glowinski along with Quenton Nelson has formed one of the better guard duos in the NFL. There is no question that Mark Glowinski is at least a league-average starting right guard and his play has been very valuable for what the Colts are paying him. However, with the draft selection of Danny Pinter in 2020, the writing was on the wall and the Colts drafted his replacement. In the games he’s appeared, Danny Pinter has shown he is more than capable of playing in this league and starting. Mark Glowinski would simply be a luxury signing for a team with much bigger needs than RG.
Verdict: Go
Wide Receiver (WR) Ashton Dulin: Stay or Go?
Ashton Dulin quickly became a Colts fan favorite last year, he has made plays on special teams and made enough plays to warrant being on the roster. As a 5th or 6th WR on the roster he is absolutely perfect. He is a restricted free agent as well which makes this one easy.
Verdict: Stay
Tight End (TE) Mo Allie-Cox: Stay or Go?
I am sure I will get nailed for this but Mo Allie-Cox is the one player that Colts fans have overrated throughout his entire tenure in Indianapolis. He has made plays at times and is a good blocker but he simply doesn’t produce consistently enough or stay healthy enough to warrant being the second best tight end for a team. I fully expect the Colts to replace him and Jack Doyle (assuming he retires) in the draft and free agency. Frank Reich loves to use tight ends and it is time to give him some better ones.
Verdict: Go
The Rest of the Bunch: Stay or go?
Running Back (RB) Marlon Mack: Go
Left Tackle (LT) Julie’n Davenport: Go
Wide Receiver (WR) Quartney Davis: Go
Guard (G) Jake Eldenkramp: Go
Left Tackle (LT) Sam Tevi: Go
