Colts Will Be Proactive Extending 2012 Draft Class

According to NFL Insider Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the Indianapolis Colts will be aggressive in extending their 2012 NFL Draft class with T.Y. Hilton likely being the 1st candidate to receive a new contract:

Of course, the Colts will also face the financial challenge of locking up Andrew Luck, Dwayne Allen, and Coby Fleener to presumed lucrative multi-year contract extensions. Luck figures to receive the highest pay raise, and rightfully so, which will make him the highest paid quarterback in the NFL on a new mega-contract.

Dec 28, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (13) during warm ups prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

While the Colts have roughly $37.8M in cap space, they may not actually “have it” this offseason, as they have to consider looming contract extensions for some of their young core out of the 2012 NFL Draft class. They cannot afford to tie up too much money in pricey free agents this offseason and risk losing some of their key young core players.

Earlier, we noted that Hilton had switched his representation back to “super-agent” Drew Rosenhaus, likely in anticipation of hammering out a new lucrative multi-year contract extension with the Colts. Hilton is set to make $1,705,850 in the last year of his rookie contract, but is in-line for quite a hefty pay raise.

Specifically, Hilton is expected to command a new multi-year contract in the range of $9 million annually. This is based off the contract precedent that has been recently established by the Green Bay Packers Jordy Nelson‘s new contract, as well as the current contract demands of his current teammate Randall Cobb, who is a free agent and is requesting at least $9 million per year in his new deal.

Still, even though the price is steep, it’s good to know that the Colts are planning on being proactive when it comes to locking up their young core for the foreseeable future. It’ll be a treat to see these young players donning the horseshoe for what will presumably be many years to come.

Sep 7, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) and wide receiver T.Y Hilton (13) before the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports