The Colts have some interesting decisions to make this offseason. The most intriguing might be the defensive backfield where there are a couple of safeties who could leave.
Mike Mitchell was signed off the street in the middle of the year. The Colts signed Mitchell after Clayton Geathers couldn’t stay healthy and Malik Hooker had injury questions too. Mitchell played really well as a replacement. He saved his career.
Mitchell made plays while he was in the Colts’ lineup. He played in 8 games and started in 4 of them. He had an interception and forced two fumbles. That’s pretty impressive considering his career high for forced fumbles is also two. He was always in the right place at the right time.
The Colts needed his production when he was available. Mitchell did end the year on IR with a calf injury, so he wasn’t able to give a full amount of production. That is something that will also go against Mitchell when it comes to free agency and re-signing him.
Mitchell is 31 and has had some injury problems. That isn’t exactly something teams line up to sign. Most teams look for someone younger who can come in and make plays. But Mitchell was just as good in the locker room as he was on the field. He was a good mentor.
Those leadership skills are something he is going to have to sell the Colts on. That and the playmaking ability he showcased in his short time in Indianapolis. Otherwise, he could be looking for another team or possibly even sitting at home again.
I don’t think the Colts will re-sign him. They are glad he was able to give them what he did, but he doesn’t fit into their future plans. But based on his play with the Colts, he should be able to find another team to latch on to.