The Indianapolis Colts sorted out their quarterback situation when they acquired Carson Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a pair of draft picks last week.
Now, the front office can focus their attention on the rest of the roster, which isn’t without its question marks.
For the sake of time, let’s keep this particular conversation focused on the wide receiver position, which was really a model of inconsistency for the Colts this past season.
Much has been made about their need for a superstar, and they certainly have the required cap space to land one of the big-name free agents.
However, when you consider how much some of those players are projected to cost, the Colts would probably be better off brining back TY Hilton following his white hot finish to 2020 and potentially signing another low-profile receiver.
That got us thinking about what sort of contract would convince Hilton, who will hit the open market at the start of the new league year next month, to run it back with the Colts for potentially the rest of his career?
To keep or let go? Colts must decide on T.Y. Hilton, Justin Houston, Marlon Mack, Denico Autry, Anthony Walker and other key free agents https://t.co/a1b080PwrV
— Mike Wells (@MikeWellsNFL) February 22, 2021
What kind of contract would be reasonable for Colts wide receiver TY Hilton?
Hilton has expressed his desire to finish his career in Indianapolis, but it goes without saying that will only happen at the right price. For somebody who will turn 32 years old in the middle of next season, this will likely be his last chance to sign a lucrative deal.
While the Colts are flush with cap space — about $54 million following the Wentz trade — re-signing an aging wideout who showed steep regression during the 2020 campaign probably isn’t high on their priority list. At the same time, however, the front office and coaching staff has great respect for him and have stated publicly that they would welcome him back with open arms.
Hilton’s contract value (according to Spotrac) sits at $10.1 million per year over three seasons. That obviously isn’t paralyzingly high, but it might be too much for the Colts’ budget, which shrank significantly after the Wentz deal.
Taking that into account, they could get away with offering the four-time Pro Bowler something along the lines of a three-year, $27 million contract. He does want to return…doesn’t he?
Jim Irsay on wideout TY Hilton, who'll be a free agent for the first time this spring: "When all is said and done, I’m really hoping that we can works something out. We’re a better football team with T.Y. and we love him as a legacy player — and as a present player."
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) January 27, 2021
For those wondering, such a deal wouldn’t confirm that Hilton would be with the Colts through his age-35 season. The security of a three-year deal is simply something the former second-round pick is pursuing given where he’s at in his career.
By no means was Hilton his normal dominant self in 2020, but he showed enough over the final two months of the regular season to prove he’s still capable of playing at a high level.
Who knows? With a quarterback in Wentz who clearly won’t confine Frank Reich’s playbook like Philip Rivers’ immobility did last year, perhaps the former second-round pick reverts back to the perennial stud fans have come to idolize over the first eight seasons of his career.
Colts: Insider provides update on potential TY Hilton contract talks
Zak Keefer of The Athletic provided an update on wide receiver TY Hilton's free agency and why he thinks the Colts will end up signing him.