{"time":1773759771195,"blocks":[{"id":"mmted12m","type":"video","data":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/a65be3de-3068-4b6d-8f32-7823fa968f52/mp4","caption":"The Indianapolis Colts lost out on Trey Hendrickson to the Baltimore Ravens, who are spending up to $120 million for four years for the 31-year-old pass rusher.","autoplay":false,"controls":true,"muted":false,"stretched":true,"width":0,"height":0,"image":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/a65be3de-3068-4b6d-8f32-7823fa968f52/thumbnail"},"cdn":{"videoId":"a65be3de-3068-4b6d-8f32-7823fa968f52","libraryId":"372172","collectionId":"30032062-eefd-4041-a355-12ad05bc987b","cdnBaseUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net","mp4Url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/a65be3de-3068-4b6d-8f32-7823fa968f52/mp4","thumbnailUrl":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/a65be3de-3068-4b6d-8f32-7823fa968f52/thumbnail","previewAnimationUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net/a65be3de-3068-4b6d-8f32-7823fa968f52/preview.webp"}}},{"id":"K2pA23YZo-","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The NFL is in the second week of its new league year, with free agency claiming the spotlight, highlighted by plenty of notable movement and noteworthy trades."}},{"id":"_xulAZqzZ6","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Indianapolis Colts have been fairly active, re-signing some of their own talent, acquiring outside contributors, and allowing several of their internal free agents to leave for new opportunities."}},{"id":"g6wWP8af2B","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"With plenty more work left to go, here's how the Colts' roster stands and the urgency to add to each group."}},{"id":"XerWgtvIld","type":"header","data":{"text":"QUARTERBACK","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"pL_2dUteho","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Daniel Jones, Riley Leonard, Seth Henigan, Anthony Richardson Sr."}},{"id":"JdoF-174dp","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: Low"}},{"id":"PAm9ccTHYN","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Colts re-signed Jones to a two-year, $88 million deal recently, which could reach $100 million with incentives. The next big shoe to drop is when and where Richardson gets traded, after he was granted permission to seek a deal elsewhere in February."}},{"id":"-tQGDuvkdD","type":"header","data":{"text":"RUNNING BACK","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"U9pqw0Rz1U","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Jonathan Taylor, DJ Giddens, Ulysses Bentley IV"}},{"id":"FRI7pA5_0K","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: Low"}},{"id":"1g0z8dO1ak","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Colts have two free-agent contributors: Ameer Abdullah and Tyler Goodson. Goodson may very well return, as he is a key special teamer, but the Colts will likely continue to make improvements around Taylor. The team was bullish on Giddens last year as a rookie, but he was active for just nine games. They need someone to gut out tough yards in key situations."}},{"id":"veun_-os9J","type":"header","data":{"text":"WIDE RECEIVER","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"cj9VdPDud_","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould, Laquon Treadwell, Coleman Owen, Eli Pancol"}},{"id":"9If8NILheX","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: High"}},{"id":"wSZTF7RwLR","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Colts re-signed Pierce to a four-year, $114 million mega deal, but to make room for him financially and for his increased role in the offense, the Colts traded Michael Pittman Jr. and a seventh-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round pick. Considering the team also traded AD Mitchell to the New York Jets during the season, the Colts have some holes to fill in their receiver corps."}},{"id":"pXvY7Kx-VZ","type":"header","data":{"text":"TIGHT END","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"3nOVz2CDAb","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory, Sean McKeon"}},{"id":"_E3yBG0aGO","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: None"}},{"id":"KKc0F05SGr","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Warren is the unquestioned top player of the tight end group, but the Colts recently re-signed both Alie-Cox and Ogletree, allowing for more versatility around him and for Warren to be used more as a pass-catcher."}},{"id":"mkQ1OlUyro","type":"header","data":{"text":"OFFENSIVE TACKLE","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"vDf3phhWMc","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Bernhard Raimann, Jalen Travis, Blake Freeland, Bayron Matos, Jack Wilson"}},{"id":"4GXRGrk5HJ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: Medium"}},{"id":"8xzAMVQ329","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Braden Smith moved on to the Houston Texans in free agency after a distinguished career in Indy, where he manned the right tackle spot since 2018. The Colts already have his replacement in-house, as Travis played 316 snaps last year as a rookie. The Colts still need depth behind the starting pair of Raimann and Travis, with Freeland as the swing tackle, coming off a serious leg injury last season.
"}},{"id":"dR0u2BBVEc","type":"header","data":{"text":"GUARD","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"N4hzKnVRI9","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Quenton Nelson, Matt Goncalves, Dalton Tucker, Josh Sills, Bill Murray, LaDarius Henderson"}},{"id":"_3QvTStDS_","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: Low"}},{"id":"UVO5z1IwzI","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The guard spot is status quo for the Colts. However, they could use some added depth. They return their top three from a year ago in Nelson, Gancalves, and Tucker, but they could use one more promising player to compete with Tucker."}},{"id":"fdOi5MOB_9","type":"header","data":{"text":"CENTER","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"Zv9h3JeOIc","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Tanor Bortolini, Jimmy Morrissey"}},{"id":"BhIB6TQDbm","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: Low"}},{"id":"zCmAe42ooo","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Bortolini is a promising young starting center who had a strong 2025. However, his main backup, Danny Pinter, is on the free-agent market and recently had a visit with the Baltimore Ravens. The Colts need someone besides just Morrissey to back Bortolini up."}},{"id":"V2HGSygcsX","type":"header","data":{"text":"DEFENSIVE END","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"V_FZE1XkfF","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Laiatu Latu, Arden Key, JT Tuimoloau, Micheal Clemons, Durell Nchami, Viliami Fehoko Jr."}},{"id":"b2s4v7wP_S","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: High"}},{"id":"f5ZlM49gyX","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Colts already needed edge help before Kwity Paye (Las Vegas Raiders) and Samson Ebukam (Atlanta Falcons) left in free agency. The Colts are hoping for Latu to take another step in his development, but they can't just bet on that, and Key and Clemons being huge upgrades over Ebukam and Tyquan Lewis, respectively. The Colts either need to add another significant edge rusher or a couple more quality ones."}},{"id":"cief1jlpQO","type":"header","data":{"text":"DEFENSIVE TACKLE","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"jfK_5qY81C","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Colby Wooden, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Derrick Nnadi, Tim Smith"}},{"id":"qkY-wKAAu6","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: Low"}},{"id":"1gkpVjQvzn","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Colts have adequate depth inside now, especially if Smith can show more than he did last year when he spent his rookie year on the practice squad. Nnadi is a nice presence to help bring the best out of Smith, but you likely need more than him behind Stewart. Wooden is an intriguing addition to the line after the Colts recently traded for him. He should be giving Buckner more time off, while Wooden and Adebawore bring some youthfulness off the snap."}},{"id":"vJ3cVpVL69","type":"header","data":{"text":"LINEBACKER","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"ajjVVLBNGg","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Austin Ajiake, Jaylon Carlies, John Bullock, Joseph Vaughn, Devin Veresuk"}},{"id":"3zSM3CEZgx","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: Off the Charts"}},{"id":"Bo4tlF1DOS","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"This is the most barren group on the Colts' roster, to the point where the common external sentiment is, \"So, what's the plan here?\" Among the current group, they played a combined 165 snaps last year, and 157 of them came from Ajiake. Zaire Franklin was traded away, and Germaine Pratt remains a free agent. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo doesn't seem to be the type to rely solely on rookies at any one position, so logic says a veteran will be signed to fill one of the two starting vacancies. The other will surely come in the draft, as linebacker is one of the deepest position groups in the class."}},{"id":"EXcELgjPHp","type":"header","data":{"text":"CORNERBACK","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"AyAuCmIoVt","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward Sr., Kenny Moore II, Justin Walley, Mekhi Blackmon, Jaylon Jones, Johnathan Edwards, Rob Carter Jr., Wyett Ekeler"}},{"id":"EZLw72gw7t","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: Low"}},{"id":"e5ye_VX1iE","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"We thought there was no urgency to the cornerback room last year, and then training camp started. Starting in the summer and then through the season, the Colts missed time from Gardner, Ward, Moore, Walley, Jones, and JuJu Brents. If everyone is healthy, it's a tremendous group, but health can change in an instant."}},{"id":"6o-qklwUds","type":"header","data":{"text":"SAFETY","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"xpHL_CX8tv","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Cam Bynum, Juanyeh Thomas, Hunter Wohler, Jonathan Owens, Reuben Lowery III, Daniel Scott, Trey Washington, Ben Nikkel"}},{"id":"kwJ2E7VzQw","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: Low"}},{"id":"e38Cu74jKJ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"This group was in a tough spot after losing Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas II in free agency, until they signed Thomas and Owens. They're also getting Wohler back from injury, so they are likely satisfied with what they have. Anything that Lowery shows would also be a plus, as the team stashed him and essentially kept him in the background all last year."}},{"id":"ZwXkiy1EgM","type":"header","data":{"text":"KICKER","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"kXlHnJj5Pp","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Blake Grupe, Spencer Shrader"}},{"id":"f9BVJ9qhw2","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: None"}},{"id":"oleaLdzhA5","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Colts have two solid kickers, but one is recovering from a devastating knee injury. Shrader started the first five games of the season and was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month until tearing multiple knee ligaments against the Raiders. He made all but one kick on the season. The team got through the rocky Michael Badgley era before cutting him and signing Grupe. Grupe was a perfect 21-for-21 on field goals and extra points in his five games with the team, earning him a new contract. Assume that Grupe is the guy until Shrader gets back from injury. At that time, the Colts will have a tough decision to make between the two."}},{"id":"Wfi1P1TcCQ","type":"header","data":{"text":"PUNTER","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"AXNc4ja772","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Rigoberto Sanchez"}},{"id":"cvw7z4Z6UF","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: None"}},{"id":"MRkKad2RXf","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Sanchez has quietly been one of the top punters in the NFL for years now. He's coming off career-bests with 44.7 net yards per punt and a 50.0% rate of punts inside the opponent's 20."}},{"id":"qHfcoHP5eY","type":"header","data":{"text":"LONG SNAPPER","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"chmmDVnccJ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Luke Rhodes"}},{"id":"HhXeeH0xL3","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: None"}},{"id":"4TVPmS6pHI","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Rhodes and Sanchez have been a long-snapper/holder/punter tandem for nine years now. Don't mess with a good thing"}},{"id":"I1hBKoXx5j","type":"header","data":{"text":"RETURNER","level":2,"linkUrl":"","anchor":""}},{"id":"tY3TRqlhL7","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Anthony Gould, Ashton Dulin (kickoffs) | Anthony Gould, Josh Downs (punts)"}},{"id":"SY3wjIw17c","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Urgency: None"}},{"id":"VcAdmyKuga","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Both Dulin (516) and Gould (647) had career highs in kickoff return yards in 2025. Gould also averaged over 10 yards per punt return."}}],"version":"2.31.0"}

Longtime Indianapolis Colts Lineman Finds New Home with AFC Rival