2018 Colts Free Agent Decisions: Guard Mike Person

Mike Person provided some value as a backup offensive lineman this season. Will the Colts bring him back to fill the same role in 2018?

The Colts’ offensive line was ravaged by injuries all year long, which provided an opportunity for Indianapolis’ backup offensive linemen to prove they belonged in the NFL. Most of the backups did not succeed when they were thrown into the fire, but Mike Person had one of the best performances of the year filling in for Ryan Kelly at center.

Week 13's highest graded centers pic.twitter.com/tdoPV9XUnK
— PFF (@PFF) December 6, 2017

Ryan Kelly was ruled out for the Week 13 matchup in Jacksonville, so Person was set to face off against the best defensive line in football. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned the highest grade of any center in the NFL that week even though the Colts struggled to move the ball against the Jaguars’ defense.

His starts in Week 15 and 16 haven’t gone nearly as well, which is what you’d expect from a backup.

The decision of whether to sign Mike Person to a contract extension or let him walk in free agency probably isn’t keeping Chris Ballard up at night. However, Colts fans have seen firsthand the value in having quality backups on the offensive line.

Person can play center and both guard spots, and he has 17 games of starting experience during his NFL career. The Colts probably don’t need to break the bank to re-sign Person this offseason, and it would be nice to have an experienced backup like him on the roster for the right price.

Next: 2017 Colts Rookie Class Recap: Safety Malik Hooker

Here are some other free agents who will create some tough decisions this offseason: