Ranking Indianapolis Colts' In-House Free Agents By Priority

The Indianapolis Colts have a busy offseason ahead if they hope to end their five-year postseason skid.

They had an uncharacteristically aggressive season last year in terms of the number of outside players they brought in, how they did it, and the price they paid for them. While they made some impressive moves, injuries derailed much of their effectiveness.

General manager Chris Ballard will need to come up with an encore for crafting the 2026 version of the Colts, but it's going to take some creativity to get there.

The Colts are currently projected to enter free agency with $35.7 million in salary cap space, according to OverTheCap.com, but that number is expected to grow exponentially. The NFL's league-wide cap will reportedly increase by more than $20 million per team, and the Colts are likely to revisit some of their more expensive contracts to create even more space for 2026.

Regardless, the Colts will need to be picky about which of their own in-house free agents to re-sign in order not to blow through all of their cap space.

Here, we dive into each of the Colts' 28 internal free agents and rank them in order of the highest priority to re-sign.

QB Daniel Jones: If you don't have a quarterback, you don't have a chance. Jones was playing the best ball of his career before his fibula injury, and even began improving through that until the Achilles happened. If the Colts want to build off the positive start they had in 2025, they can't take a downgrade at quarterback.

WR Alec Pierce: Pierce is an ascending player who has become the best in the NFL at what he does, which is make big plays downfield. That comes in the form of actual catches as well as pass interference flags drawn. Without Pierce, the Colts lose almost all semblance of a downfield passing game.

S Nick Cross: Cross has been arguably the most consistent player on the Colts' defense the last couple of years (not that he doesn't have his issues). He has excellent instincts and a feel for the game inside the box, and his loss would be felt if he left. However, the Colts already have quite a bit of salary cap tied into the secondary, so there may not be room to afford Cross if his market value gets too expensive.

OT Braden Smith: Smith has struggled to stay on the field over the last few years, and at nearly 30 years old, that trend is unlikely to improve. The Colts also appear to have Smith's heir apparent at right tackle in Jalen Travis. Smith is still a good player when healthy, which gives him a chance to return. You don't want to shoo away good linemen if the price is right.

K Blake Grupe: The third player who kicked field goals for the Colts in 2025 has become one of their more important free agent decisions. After Spencer Shrader suffered a season-ending knee injury, the Colts got into the weeds with his replacement, Michael Badgley, who was cut after missing three extra points in seven games. Grupe came in and performed admirably over the final five games, converting all 21 of his kick attempts, including four field goals of 50-plus yards. If Shrader isn't back by the time the season arrives, Grupe's presence is critical so as not to get into another Badgley situation. Whether people like it or not, kicks can determine outcomes.

DT Neville Gallimore: Gallimore is one of the best rotational defensive tackles the Colts have fielded in Chris Ballard's decade as general manager. Having to play a significant amount while DeForest Buckner dealt with injuries, Gallimore had single-season career-highs in tackles (38), tackles for loss (4), sacks (3.5), QB hits (6), and pass breakups (3).

LB Germaine Pratt: Pratt was a lucky in-season signing for the Colts, ending what had become a regrettable rotation of linebackers before him. He was arguably their best linebacker on the season, but at nearly 30, Pratt doesn't fit the "younger and faster" image that Ballard is going for on defense this offseason.

DE Kwity Paye: The Colts needed Paye to have his best season in 2025, but he responded with arguably his worst, despite it being a contract year. The defensive line was heavily reliant on Laiatu Latu's 8.5 sacks, especially with Buckner, Samson Ebukam, and Tyquan Lewis dealing with injuries for much of the season. Paye played the most games and snaps of his career but had his least productive campaign. He's started for the Colts for five years, and I cannot imagine there is anything more for them to get from him.

C Danny Pinter: As a career backup, Pinter should come at a cheap price tag and is capable of starting at center in a pinch.

TE Mo Alie-Cox: The only returning tight ends behind Tyler Warren in 2026 are Will Mallory, who the team has been apprehensive to give serious playing time to, and Sean McKeon. There's a likelihood that the Colts bring back either Alie-Cox or Drew Ogletree.

RB Tyler Goodson: Goodson is a restricted free agent, which makes this even cheaper. While Goodson isn't a difference-maker at running back, he is one of the team's best special-teamers and a gunner on the punt team. Keeping Rigoberto Sanchez, Ashton Dulin, and Goodson together is key to continued special teams excellence.

DE Samson Ebukam: The Colts banked on Ebukam giving them quality play at 30 years old and coming off an Achilles tear, and it went flat. He also dealt with a nagging knee injury for much of the season, but that doesn't change the fact that he's almost 31 and has a poor recent injury history.

WR Laquon Treadwell: At 30 years old, in his 10th season, Treadwell played a career-high 141 special teams snaps and was quite productive doing so, posting a personal-best six special teams stops. He could also become an underrated value depth signing if the Colts part with starting receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

CB Chris Lammons: Lammons really stepped up for the Colts in the wake of slot corners Kenny Moore II and Mike Hilton getting injured early in the season. Lammons played a career-high 133 defensive snaps and had the best grade of his career, according to Pro Football Focus. He also continued to be a special teams standout for the Colts, tying Treadwell with a career-high six stops. A foot injury ended Lammons' season late in the year, so that should be a significant factor on if he's re-signed, and when.

S Rodney Thomas II: Thomas has been a core special teamer for the Colts throughout his career, but he found purpose again on defense under coordinator Lou Anarumo in 2025. His 73.5 grade was comfortably the best of his career, as he played 150 snaps, primarily as the deep safety. 

DE Tyquan Lewis: Lewis had 3.0 sacks on the season, but they came in a three-week span, and he didn't have any after Week 5. If the Colts are serious about improving the line and getting younger and faster, then it might be time to move on.

TE Drew Ogletree: Again, the Colts don't really need to bring back both Alie-Cox and Ogletree. Alie-Cox is the better, more reliable option, but Ogletree would be cheaper.

LB Segun Olubi: Olubi's defensive role evaporated in 2025, but he led the Colts with a career-high 12 special teams stops.

LB Buddy Johnson: Johnson was a late addition to the Colts' roster, but he became a core special teamer and one of the group's most productive players, notching seven special teams stops.

CB Cameron Mitchell: Mitchell had an adequate season in Indy compared to expectations. He'd be worth being a competitor at the bottom of the cornerback depth chart in training camp.

OT Luke Tenuta: Tenuta was always one of those "if he's on the field, something's gone terribly wrong" players, and then he had to play. Starting left tackle Bernhard Raimann left the team's last-minute loss to the champion Seattle Seahawks early, forcing Tenuta to play 26 snaps. He allowed just one pressure to a pass rush that recently harassed New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye all game long in the Super Bowl.

RB Ameer Abdullah: Abdullah was an excellent kickoff returner for the Colts in 2025, posting a career-high 29.6 yards per return. However, he will be 33 in 2026.

DT Chris Wormley: Wormley shook off some recent injury woes to put together a decent season in Indianapolis (considering his role), posting a sack and a tackle for loss in five games.

DT Eric Johnson II: In four years with the Colts, Patriots, and again with the Colts, Johnson has yet to establish himself as a key defender.

WR DJ Montgomery: Montgomery spent 2024 on the practice squad and 2025 on Injured Reserve.

S George Odum: Odum was brought in when special teams ace Dulin went down with an injury, but Odum barely played, seeing just 38 snaps over three games.

LB Jacob Phillips: Phillips spent the season on IR with a bicep injury.

RB Salvon Ahmed: Ahmed suffered a devastating lower leg injury on a hip-drop tackle during training camp that ended his season before it began. His recovery will be the determining factor in when and if he joins any team.

Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.