The Indianapolis Colts have a few players whose performance will be important next season as they enter a make-or-break contract year.
Lately, Chris Ballard and the Indianapolis Colts have been bigger about signing players to a one-year deal to give aging veterans or younger unproven talents a chance. Players like Xavier Rhodes should come to mind. Even after two one-year contracts with Rhodes, Indy chose to not bring him back for the third year, and the 31-year-old corner remains a free agent heading into 2022.
On the flip-side, younger players like Mark Glowinski and Chris Reed were unsigned by the Colts and they found new deals on other teams. It shows you it truly doesn’t matter who you are or even how well you play. If Ballard can find equal or better talent for cheaper, that’s the route Indy will go.
This doesn’t mean that Indianapolis is a cheap organization (completely) and refuses to pay their players what they are worth. Ballard did trade for DeForest Buckner and then immediately extended him to a long-term deal. He is also in the works of extending Quenton Nelson to likely the largest deal ever for a guard.
If you are deserving of a contract, and prove it, you will get paid. In a contract year, which players are going to ball out and get paid or be packing their bags for a new city in 2023?
4. Bobby Okereke outworks expectations
In the past, the Colts have found replacements through the draft to replace linebackers the following year. Even though star linebacker Darius Leonard and Anthony Walker were good friends on and off the field, that didn’t stop Indy from replacing Walker.
In fact, the Colts essentially replaced Walker with Bobby Okereke, who is now in his final season under contract.
This past offseason, Indianapolis picked up both JoJo Domann and Sterling Weatherford as undrafted free agents. Not saying that they are likely going to be the replacement at linebacker, but it never hurts to see what you might have.
With Bobby feeling the pressure heading into this season, playing on one of the best defenses in the league, it’s time to put up or shut up. This season, we should expect to see big things come from the linebacker that lands him a new deal in the offseason. Bobby will be able to not only meet expectations but exceed them and land himself in a linebacker duo that is ranked at the top of the NFL for many years to come.
3. The end of Matt Pryor on the Colts?
As of today, Matt Pryor is the starting left tackle, replacing Eric Fisher. The left tackle position has never been so spotty since drafting Anthony Castonzo than it has been since his retirement.
Matt was able to fill in nicely when needed, but in the draft and free agency, Ballard was sure to add more depth and talent to the position.
Not only did the Colts draft one of the premier offensive linemen in the draft, Bernhard Raimann, but they also added Ryan Van Demark as well. Ryan had a very high RAS score heading into the draft as one of the more physical linemen.
With Indy’s offensive line featuring Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, and Braden Smith, it will be difficult to shine at the most important position.
With Danny Pinter likely taking over as the starting right guard, this leaves Pinter (a very not physical lineman) competing against two very physical linemen for the final starting position.
This will be the end for Matt Pryor as an Indianapolis Colts player if he can not make a separation from the youth coming up from behind. Pryor has a small chance if he is able to slide in at guard and compete with Pinter for the starting role.
The hope is still for Matt Pryor to be a breakout player in 2022, but will he?
2. Ashton Dulin makes his mark on the season
The fans love Ashton Dulin. He makes a large impact in the game as a little-known receiver that defensive coordinators are not changing the entire game plan for. He also makes a lot of special teams plays, making Second-Team All-Pro as a specialist last season.
With both Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce at wide receiver, the monster tight ends, and Jonathan Taylor all taking up attention from defenders, this leaves Dulin open to make big plays up and down the field.
Dulin has been rocky throughout his time with the Colts. He has been productive in some games and a literal ghost in others. However, he started to put some quality receiving games together in the second half of last year.
If Ashton is not able to make any separation on the field, this could be the final season for him on the roster. However, his ceiling this season is much higher to make a larger impact.
This season is lining up perfectly for the young receiver. He should be able to make a difference on the field with all of the weapons that Ballard has provided the offense.
1. Yannick Ngakoue must be the player we traded for
Yannick Ngakoue had an explosive start to his career In Jacksonville, earning a Pro Bowl nod in his second year. However, after four years with the team, the Jaguars moved on from him and most of their roster.
Since playing in Florida, Yannick was traded twice in 2020, playing for Minnesota and Baltimore. In 2021, he signed with Las Vegas and finished the season as a team captain. In three years, Yannick played for four different teams, and the Colts mark his fifth team in four years.
This season isn’t just a make-or-break season for Yannick on the Colts, but for his career. If he does not come out and play at a high level like he was traded for, this could be the end of starting lineups and big contracts for the 26-year-old.
With all of that being said, Ngakoue joins a beefy defensive line that features DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, and Kwity Paye, with Dayo Odeyingbo rotating in at the edge position.
In Gus Bradley’s defense, this should put Yannick on an island that forces the offensive line to focus mostly on the other three, freeing him up for more 1-on-1 coverages. Look for him to make an explosive impact whether he gets sacks or not.
3 Colts players entering their final season with the team
Heading into the 2022 NFL season, we can already count players out that will not be on the Indianapolis Colts roster in 2023.