This offseason, the pressure is on for the Indianapolis Colts to win. Not just win enough to get over .500 for the first time since 2023, but to win enough to get to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

While they already have some talent and a number of solid players returning from injury, they're going to need to get creative to build enough assets to get them where they need to be.

The Colts have an estimated $35.7 million in salary cap space (OverTheCap.com), which would be fine if they didn't have to pay big money to quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce. They are also projected to have seven picks in the upcoming draft, but none in the first round.

To create more salary cap space and draft capital, the Colts will need to explore which of their player contracts they can adjust, cut, or trade. The following are five players who may be the most likely to be traded or cut this offseason.

This is not the beginning of Richardson's career that he or the Colts envisioned. Injuries took 17 of his first 34 games from him as a starter, and he suffered a season-ending orbital fracture in his eye in 2025 while he was the backup to Daniel Jones. As a quarterback, Richardson has been physically unavailable to play in 29 of 51 games (56.9%). 

When Richardson was on the field, particularly in 2024 when he had a single-season franchise-low 47.7% completion rate, his play was erratic. He was demoted for a two-game benching when the Colts noticed he was "drowning" on the field, with superhuman highs offset by perplexing lows.

The Colts brought Jones in to compete with Richardson for the starting quarterback role last offseason, and Jones won for reasons that seem as if Richardson hardly ever actually stood a chance. The Colts are now preparing to sign Jones to a multi-year contract despite him coming off his own season-ending injury.

Richardson's days of starting for the Colts appear to be over. He does, however, have redeeming qualities that a new team may want to invest in for a former top-five draft pick. Despite the injuries and holes in his games, Richardson has rare playmaking ability, the "clutch gene" that can't be taught, and his arm strength and sack avoidance are essentially unrivaled.

He has one year remaining on his rookie contract, unless the Colts exercise his fifth-year option by May 1, which they have no reason to do. Richardson has a $10.8 million salary cap hit remaining, fully guaranteed (Spotrac.com). If the Colts trade him, they'll likely save some of that if the new team takes on Richardson's $4.2 million roster bonus, or more.

There is a recent precedent for young quarterbacks being traded. It would likely fetch the Colts a conditional fifth or sixth-round pick, which can increase based on Richardson meeting certain on-field or playing-time benchmarks.

In the modern era of Colts football, in the post-Peyton Manning days, Pittman has been one of the team's defining players. Drafted in 2020 to succeed TY Hilton as the team's top receiver, Pittman did so and earned a second contract with the team after a career year in 2023, when he had 109 catches for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns.

Gritty, highlight-worthy catches are one thing he can be remembered for, but his toughness and willingness to play through injuries for his team are truly a defining characteristic.

In 2024, Pittman played nearly the entire season through a painful back injury that was initially going to put him on the Injured Reserve list. Despite playing like a shell of himself, he played in all but one game.

While Pittman did rebound in 2025 from the injury, he hasn't regained that 2023 form, and there are now more mouths to feed in the Colts' offense. Free-agent to-be Alec Pierce has surpassed Pittman as the team's most vital receiver and is set to break the bank, either with the Colts or somewhere else.

The problem for Pittman is that he's now too expensive, as his $29 million cap hit in 2026 — the sixth-highest among all NFL receivers — is not feasible for someone who is now more of a role player.

The Colts could attempt to re-work/re-do Pittman's contract by either having him take a pay cut, or adding void years at the end and spreading out the money that way, and converting cap to bonuses/guarantees.

However, a trade is still possible if the two sides don't agree on how to handle the contract. A receiver-needy team may be willing to take on the bulk of Pittman's contract, likely in exchange for a Day 3 draft pick.

The Colts have an opportunity to truly improve their defense this offseason at all levels, especially by focusing on an area they seemingly ignored last year as they transitioned into new coordinator Lou Anarumo's system.

The Colts' linebacker room needs a revamp. Franklin was the returning leader of the group at MIKE linebacker, and despite having a career year in 2024, which led to his first Pro Bowl and a Second-Team All-Pro nod, 2025 was arguably his worst season as a starter.

According to Pro Football Focus, Franklin had career-low marks in overall grade (38.4), run defense (54.9), coverage (29.9), tackling (47.3), missed tackle rate (13.9%), and stops (39). Despite playing in every game, it was his lowest number of tackles (125) since becoming a starter in 2022 (by 42), and he recorded no interceptions, no fumble recoveries, and just one forced fumble.

When out in space, covering the middle of the field, Franklin was often on the wrong end of yards-after-catch opportunities by pass-catchers, as he surrendered a passer rating of 109.3 in coverage, per PFF.

Franklin has two years left on his contract, but it's inexpensive for the Colts to get out of it. They would save about $5.8 million in cap space in 2026 and another $9 million in 2027 by releasing his contract.

A team that needs a veteran linebacker with run-and-chase abilities, or who knows the Gus Bradley-style system, could be willing to bring Franklin in for a Day 3 draft pick.

The Colts hung their hat last offseason on having Franklin and Carlies carry the linebacker unit in 2025. We already discussed Franklin's situation, but it's even worse for Carlies.

After missing seven games as a rookie due to injuries, Carlies missed the entire on-field portion of the next offseason program while recovering from shoulder surgery. He made it several days into training camp in August before suffering an ankle injury that would keep him out until mid-November. Prior to the injury, it appeared Carlies was no longer the starting WILL linebacker and was instead running with the second and third units, and on special teams. When he finally returned to the field, there wasn't a role for him. He played just two defensive snaps in three games and 25 snaps on special teams.

Whether it's due to injuries or just not fitting Anarumo's defense, Carlies is a prime candidate to be moved or cut this offseason. His contract is inconsequential, as the Colts would save $990,940 in space this year and another $1,190,000 in 2027 by cutting him. However, they could get something in return for him if another team that liked him in the 2024 draft comes around. If Carlies does get traded, it feels like it would be for no more than a seventh-round pick or a player of equal value.

The Colts have a promising young cornerback in Jones, just not for their team, apparently. Jones was a seventh-round pick by the Colts in 2023 and was the last of three, and seemingly the best, of cornerbacks Indy drafted that year. He was a full-time starter for each of his first two years under Bradley and played reasonably well. However, he never caught on in Anarumo's new system.

On one hand, Jones spent numerous weeks dealing with a hamstring injury during the summer, but even when he was on the field, he wasn't seeing the amount of work you'd expect for a reigning starter.

Jones got back on the field in Week 9 and immediately drew the assignment of covering Pittsburgh Steelers receiver D.K. Metcalf, whom Jones held to one catch for six yards. Jones played 55 snaps in that game, but never saw as much action again for the rest of the season. When he did play extensively, it didn't go all that well, drawing poor reviews from PFF against the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars late in the year.

With Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward Sr. (if he doesn't retire), Justin Walley, and Mekhi Blackmon firmly ahead of Jones on the depth chart, Jones likely has an opportunity for more playing time elsewhere. Again, likely for a late-round pick.

The Colts could save an estimated $3.7 million this offseason by departing from Jones.

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.