Here are three Colts players who won’t be on the roster after the 2020 season.
The ceiling for the Indianapolis Colts in 2020 is as hard to predict as any team in the NFL. For starters, they boldly threw a ton of money ($25 million) at Philip Rivers, who is fresh off arguably his worst season as a pro as the Los Angeles Chargers finished last in the AFC West with a 5-11 record.
For the sake of the sanity of Colts fans, Rivers better be nothing more than a one-year rental. If that ends up being the case, the franchise will be able to hit the reset button next year and begin to replenish the roster by building behind its elite offensive line.
The 38-year-old quarterback is an obvious choice to leave Indy after the upcoming season, but what about other players that are entering their potential final campaign with the team? Here are the first three that come to mind.
3. Jacoby Brissett
There’s no way the Colts can salvage their relationship with Jacoby Brissett.
The Colts inked Jacoby Brissett to a two-year contract extension worth $30 million back in 2019, which makes him set to bank over $21 million this year to serve as Rivers’ backup.
As ideal as that might sound for some players, the 27-year-old signed the deal with the assumption that he’d be starting, so he can’t be happy that the organization has made it clear that he’s not its long-term play at QB.
In retrospect, that seems a bit harsh as Brissett was far better than Rivers in 2019. For the season, he totaled 2,942 passing yards and 18 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions. The latter, meanwhile, was inaccurate as could be on his way to tossing 20 INTs. The former third-round pick is fully justified in feeling offended by Indy.
All of this leads us to believe that this marriage is destined for a divorce, and we’re wholly convinced that it would’ve happened already if not for his crippling $12.5 million dead cap hit.
Mark our words, folks — Brissett will be quarterbacking elsewhere in 2021.
2. Malik Hooker
The Colts have reportedly been looking to trade Malik Hooker.
It’s truly a matter of when, not if Malik Hooker leaves Indianapolis. Not only did the Colts decline the fifth-year option on his rookie contract this offseason, but he’s been the subject of trade rumors dozens of times in recent months. Whether the former No. 15 overall pick hits the open market or is traded before the 2020 deadline doesn’t really matter because he’s leaving either way.
We don’t entirely agree with the team’s decision, but the Colts have already phased Hooker out of their long-term plans, and they would be smart to cash in on him before he enters free agency. In three seasons with Indy, the Ohio State product has posted 117 tackles, seven interceptions and 11 pass deflections. Expect Hooker to ball out this season as he looks to prove that he’s deserving of a lucrative contract outside of Indianapolis.
1. Marlon Mack
After the Colts drafted Jonathan Taylor, expect Marlon Mack to go.
The NFL is a business first and foremost, and Colts running back Marlon Mack will learn that the hard way following the upcoming season. The 24-year-old has logged 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of the last two campaigns, and even notched the 1,000-yard mark and recorded eight touchdowns as a runner last year.
Then, however, Indianapolis went out and selected Wisconsin stud Jonathan Taylor in the second-round (No. 41 overall) of the 2020 Draft. You have to think that the Colts view the former Badger as their franchise RB, and that makes Mack’s future with the team incredibly murky. To make matters worse for the South Florida product, he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Why would Indy choose to pay Mack when they have a potentially equally-talented workhorse entering a cheap four-year deal? They wouldn’t. Not to mention, the Colts also have Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins under contract for the next two seasons, so it’s not like they have incentive to keep Mack around as insurance to Taylor.
Make no mistake about it, the former fourth-round pick is entering his last season with Indianapolis.