A New Look at Colts' Free Agency Situation After Busy First Day

The Indianapolis Colts had a busy first day of NFL free agency. Here's a new look at their situation and what to expect next.

The NFL opened its window for teams to begin negotiating with new, outside free-agent players on Monday, and it was a busy day for the Indianapolis Colts to make sure their in-house players didn't make it out the door.

The Colts re-signed impending free agents, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., defensive tackle Grover Stewart, and defensive end Tyquan Lewis to multi-year deals while extending linebacker Zaire Franklin, who had a year remaining on his current contract.

While the team will continue to work on bringing back their own players, the next few days should start to show the Colts displaying more interest in outside prospects.

Here is a current look at the team's free-agent situation. 

RE-SIGNED IN-HOUSE PLAYERS

© Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

• WR Michael Pittman Jr. (3 years, $71.5M, $46M gtd.)
• CB Kenny Moore II (3 years, $30M)
• DT Grover Stewart (3 years, $39M)
• LB Zaire Franklin (3 years, $31.2M with one year left on deal)
• DE Tyquan Lewis (2 years, $12M, $7.7M gtd.)
• P Rigoberto Sanchez (3 years, $7.5M)
• CB Darrell Baker Jr. (1 year, $985K)
• LB Segun Olubi (1 year, $915K)
• LB Cameron McGrone (1 year, $985K)
• S Trevor Denbow (1 year, $985K)
• IOL Jack Anderson (1 year, $1.05M)

Futures Contracts (1-year deals for 2024)

• TE Eric Tomlinson
• OL Arlington Hambright
• WR Ethan Fernea
• WR Tyrie Cleveland
• IOL Lewis Kidd
• WR Terrell Bynum
• S Marcel Dabo
• RB Zavier Scott
• LB Liam Anderson
• S Michael Tutsie
• S Kendall Brooks
• LB Austin Ajiake
• TE Jordan Murray

IN-HOUSE DEPARTURES

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

• QB Gardner Minshew (2 years, $25M, $15M gtd. with Las Vegas Raiders)
• RB Zack Moss (2 years, $8M, $4.5M with Cincinnati Bengals)
• WR Isaiah McKenzie (1 year with New York Giants)

REMAINING IN-HOUSE FREE AGENTS

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

• S Julian Blackmon
• LB/S Ronnie Harrison
• DT Taven Bryan
• DE Jacob Martin
• DE Genard Avery
• IOL Danny Pinter
• RB Trey Sermon (RFA)
• S Henry Black (ERFA)

BIGGEST REMAININGS NEEDS

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

• Downfield Playmaking in Offensive Passing Game

Re-signing Pittman was priority number one; otherwise, they would've needed any and all help in the passing game. However, their primary need on offense now is someone who can stretch the field vertically, whether that be a receiver who can win in a variety of ways beyond the sticks or a tight end who makes life difficult for linebackers and safeties down the seams or outside the hashes.

• Backup Quarterback

With Minshew leaving for Las Vegas, the Colts need someone other than Sam Ehlinger to back up Anthony Richardson, especially since Richardson missed most of his rookie season with a shoulder injury. There are still plenty of proven veterans who could help keep the ship afloat in the unfortunate scenario that Richardson was to miss any more time, such as Ryan Tannehill, Marcus Mariota, Drew Lock, Carson Wentz, Tyler Huntley, Joe Flacco, and Josh Dobbs.

• Appropriate Depth at Defensive Tackle

Like bringing back Pittman, things would've been a disaster if the Colts hadn't re-signed Stewart. Now, they can focus on adding quality depth behind him and DeForest Buckner. Bryan was fine when backing up Buckner, but he was not great when asked to fill Stewart's one-tech spot. Eric Johnson hasn't yet shown enough not to be threatened on the roster, and Adetomiwa Adebawore is a young, unproven player. When Stewart or Buckner leave the field, the opponent knows they can attack the middle of the Colts' defense on the ground.

Note: The Colts have signed defensive tackle Raekwon Davis, formerly of the Miami Dolphins.

• Quality Experience, Consistency in the Secondary

The Colts intentionally went young in the secondary last offseason. Still, they couldn't have foreseen the injuries they dealt with to cornerbacks Dallis Flowers and JuJu Brents and the regression of free safety Rodney Thomas II. Now, their most reliable defensive backs, Moore and Blackmon, are free agents but still critical to the functionality of the team's secondary (Moore has been re-signed since this publishing). Moore should be a huge priority, and bringing Blackmon back would also be wise. However, even with potential returns, the Colts could use another cornerback capable of providing starting snaps. If Blackmon leaves, the Colts must add someone alongside Thomas and Nick Cross. 

---

Need your fill on daily Colts' content? Head over to the Locked On Colts' YouTube channel where Jake Arthur and Zach Hicks hit on all the major topics surrounding this team. Hit that subscribe button while you are there!

Follow Horseshoe Huddle on Facebook and X, and subscribe on YouTube for multiple Colts live-stream podcasts per week.