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Colts Pick Up Andrew Luck’s Team Option for 2016

By Luke Schultheis

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The Final Four may be over in Indianapolis, but the Colts still managed to make a “slam dunk” today in picking up star young quarterback Andrew Luck‘s 2016 team option. The option will be worth $16.12 million, which is a relative bargain compared to the $25 million annually that Luck is expected to command on his new contract per various league experts.

Jan 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

While the Colts know it’s a foregone conclusion that the team will soon have to make Luck the highest paid player in NFL history (and rightfully so given the premium that is paid to the quarterback position in today’s NFL), it does buy the team some time, and perhaps more importantly, salary cap flexibility in the mean time.

Owner Jim Irsay has known for quite a while that he’s going to have to write an incredibly large check to Luck and his representation, but right now, it’s purely an issue of when rather than if right now.

By getting Luck on a discount rate in both 2015 and now officially 2016, the Colts have been able to add high-profile veterans like Andre Johnson, Frank Gore, and Trent Cole to their roster on short-term deals.  The “savings” on Luck’s current rookie contract have been utilized to bring in more veteran talent to upgrade the overall roster. Eventually though, the Colts will have to pay Luck nothing short of a king’s ransom, and the team will no longer have the luxury of surrounding him with as many high-priced veterans.

Still, it’s possible that the team could still look to hammer out an extension before Luck’s 2016 team option expires, and he is set to hit free agency. However, it looks like the team isn’t in any rush given Jim Irsay‘s previous comments this offseason:

"“Andrew still has two years left, and whatever our talks are between Andrew and his people will remain confidential,” Irsay said. “… I really think most likely the scenario is going into the offseason next year is when that second contract will come up. That’s the vision I have right now.”"

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