Colts: 3 potential cap casualties that could get dumped to increase spending

2. Jordan Wilkins

There’s no need for the Colts to keep Jordan Wilkins on the roster for 2021.

The Colts’ decision to select Jonathan Taylor in the second round of the 2020 draft proved to be a wise one as starter Marlon Mack was lost for the year in Week 1 with a torn Achilles.

After a sluggish start to his rookie campaign, the former Wisconsin star was absolutely immense for Indy down the stretch of the regular season, ultimately eclipsing the 1,000-yard threshold and setting the franchise record for rushing yards in a single game with 253 in Week 17 vs the Jaguars.

Taylor’s scalding hot finish to the year helped put an end to the debate about where he was ready to assume the workload of a true No. 1 RB. Fortunately for the Colts, they also already have a versatile backup in Nyheim Hines in place to rotate with Taylor when he needs to catch his breath or is struggling to establish a rhythm.

Hines set career-highs in rushes (89), rushing yards (380), rushing touchdowns (three), receiving yards (482) and receiving touchdowns (four) this season. Those numbers prove that the 2018 fourth-rounder is deserving of a prominent role on the offense moving forward, and that really makes it pointless to keep Jordan Wilkins on the roster for the final year of his rookie deal.

We mean no disrespect to Wilkins, but he just doesn’t move the needle at the running back position. As the biggest back on the roster at 6-foot-1, he was shockingly inefficient in short-yardage situations and was downright indecisive between the tackles, logging just 3.7 yards per carry over 84 attempts.

Fans were beside themselves whenever Wilkins received touches in games this past season, and the Colts would be doing them (and themselves) a huge favor by cutting him this offseason, as it would free up close to $1 million in cap space.