Should Colts re-sign Mo Alie-Cox or target other free agent tight ends?

Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox (81) celebrates after scoring a touchdown Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox (81) celebrates after scoring a touchdown Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Colts will have to work to secure a top tight end in free agency this offseason.

The Indianapolis Colts will enter the offseason with a question mark at the tight end position. Veteran Jack Doyle is contemplating retirement and Mo Alie-Cox will become an unrestricted free agent.

The only tight end from this season that is guaranteed to return is rookie Kylen Granson. Granson showed promise catching 11 passes for 106 yards, but he didn’t showcase that he was ready to be TE1.

That leaves the Colts some decisions to make in free agency. They will have to sign tight ends to start and for depth. So, the question isn’t if they’ll sign a tight end, instead, it’s what tight end will they sign.

Should Indy prioritize re-signing Alie-Cox or explore what options the free agency market has to offer?

Can Colts upgrade from Mo Alie-Cox in free agency?

Mo Alie-Cox has been with Indianapolis since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Having not played football since high school, the Colts gave the collegiate basketball player a shot.

In his time with Indy, Alie-Cox made strides as a tight end, catching 70 passes for 936 yards and eight touchdowns in 57 games. His time in Indianapolis may now be over as he will enter free agency.

While Alie-Cox has developed, using his size to make contested catches and finding ways to score, the Colts could use an upgrade and this is the year to look for one.

There will be several free-agent tight ends looking for a team this offseason and a few of them could join Indianapolis and add a new dynamic to the passing game.

One name that’s been floated is Zach Ertz, because of his past with Carson Wentz. However, there’s no certainty that Wentz will even be the quarterback next season but Ertz will still be a good edition.

There’s also Mike Gesicki or Dalton Schultz, who was the Cowboys’ third-leading receiver. It was recently reported that Dallas doesn’t intend to use the franchise tag on Schultz, so he could be a target for Indy.

Whether it’s him or one of the many other names on the market, the Colts will have the option to make a significant upgrade at the tight end position and they must take that opportunity.

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