The Indianapolis Colts added a lot of players last offseason but some of those players will be gone after just one year in Indy.
Every offseason, teams add a ton of players in hopes of improving. Between free agency, the draft, and trading, there are plenty of opportunities to add new players. Unfortunately, these additions don’t always lead to long partnerships. For one reason or another, a lot of acquisitions are on their way out the door as fast as they came in. With a new offseason, the entire process starts all over again.
Last offseason, the Indianapolis Colts were active, making what they thought were necessary additions. The Colts were hoping to contend for a Super Bowl, so they added quite a few veterans that were expected to help. However, Indianapolis finished the season 4-12-1 and some of those veterans were underwhelming. As Indy tries to regroup, it will be doing so without some of the guys that just joined the team last offseason.
Let’s take a look at five first-year Colts players who could be finding a new team in 2023.
5. Offensive lineman Dennis Kelly is likely done with Colts
Dennis Kelly signed with Indianapolis last offseason and was viewed as a veteran offensive lineman that could be a quality depth piece and maybe even challenge for a starting spot. Prior to coming to Indy, Kelly had played nine years as a tackle in the NFL. He spent three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, five with the Tennessee Titans, and one with the Green Bay Packers. The hope was that his experience would help Indy’s offensive line.
As we know, that wasn’t the case. Not only did the Colts have one of the worst offensive lines in the league but Kelly barely got snaps on offense. He finished the season playing in 16 games and starting three offensively, however, there was only one other game that Kelly didn’t start where he received offensive snaps. This lack of playing time came with Indy constantly switching around offensive line combinations as they struggled all year.
If Kelly couldn’t get snaps this year for the Colts, there’s a very slim chance that he returns for another season.
4. Cornerback Brandon Facyson is likely done with Colts
Brandon Facyson signed a one-year deal last offseason to come to Indianapolis and a lot of fans are glad that year is up. Playing under Gus Bradley his entire career, Facyson signed with the Colts shortly after Bradley was hired as Indianapolis’ defensive coordinator. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the kind of year that people expected someone with his experience in a system to have. Now, although it looks like Gus Bradley will be staying in Indy, Facyson might be finding a new location.
When Facyson arrived, he was expected to compete with Isaiah Rodgers Sr. for the other starting cornerback spot opposite Stephon Gilmore. Many fans were surprised when Facyson won the job in training camp. However, it quickly became evident that Rodgers was the cornerback that should be on the field more, and no level of experience could change that.
While the two started the season splitting series, Rodgers was significantly better than Facyson during his snaps. After weeks of fans begging for Isaiah Rodgers Sr. to receive the starting job and the majority of the snaps, it finally happened and Facyson’s snaps gradually decreased. Now, he will be a free agent and it seems unlikely that the Colts would re-sign him.
Indy has Stephon Gilmore and Rodgers Sr. returning as starters, so if Facyson does come back, it will be as a depth piece. However, the Colts have some young corners on the roster and will likely add more this offseason in the draft and free agency. That all makes Facyson returning for a second year in Indy seem very unlikely.
3. Safety Rodney McLeod is likely done with Colts
Unlike the other names on this list, Rodney McLeod didn’t underperform. In fact, he far exceeded expectations. When the veteran safety was added, he was just expected to be a depth piece that would bring some veteran leadership to a young Indianapolis secondary. For a while, that seemed to be the case, as McLeod didn’t even open the season as a starter. However, once he found his way into the starting lineup, he notched another quality season to his 11-year career.
McLeod played in all 17 games and started in 15. In those games, he racked up 96 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, two interceptions, and eight pass deflections. He really turned out to be one of Indy’s best free agency signings from last offseason. If everything went so well, why isn’t McLeod expected to get a second year?
Well, McLeod will be turning 33 this offseason and after 11 seasons in the league, he has admitted that he’s considering retirement. Additionally, the Colts have a lot of talented, young safeties. Nick Cross was initially starting over McLeod and will be entering his second season. Rodney Thomas II emerged as Indy’s most productive rookie and will also be entering his second year. Julian Blackmon will also be entering the fourth year of his rookie contract.
With those three showing great promise in their young careers, it seems unlikely that the Colts will offer McLeod, who’s considering retirement, a competitive deal. McLeod will likely either retire or take his talents to another football team next season as Indy turns its page toward the future.
2. Running back Phillip Lindsay is likely done with Colts
Phillip Lindsay was an interesting signing for Indianapolis. When he was added to the roster, Indy hand a healthy Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines. Many people assumed that Lindsay would be kind of an RB2 and Nyheim Hines would be able to spend more time split out at receiver. However, none of that happened. Instead, Lindsay spent the season bouncing between the active roster and the practice squad.
Obviously, the year started with Taylor and Hines as the top two backs. Every time it seemed as if Lindsay was going to find his way into the rotation, it just never happened. His most productive game fittingly came against the Denver Broncos. After both Taylor and Hines were hurt, Lindsay carried the ball 11 times for 40 yards against Denver. That was the most work he got all season.
Even once Taylor was sidelined with his ankle injury and Nyheim Hines was traded to the Buffalo Bills, Lindsay was passed up on the depth chart by Zack Moss and Deon Jackson. Lindsay finished the year playing in just three games and receiving 15 total carries for 49 yards.
Lindsay will now be a free agent again. With Jonathan Taylor returning healthy next season, and Zack Moss coming back after looking promising late last season, Lindsay’s time with the Colts is definitely finished.
1. Matt Ryan is likely done with the Colts
When Indianapolis traded for Matt Ryan last season, it was a move that was generally applauded. Sure, everyone knew Ryan was past his prime but he still seemed like the ideal QB to help Indy out, and the Colts seemed like the ideal team to help Ryan out at this stage of his career. Indianapolis would provide a quality defense and run game, and Ryan would provide veteran QB play that didn’t lose games. Neither Ryan nor the Colts delivered.
Indianapolis had a solid defense but the offensive line really struggled in every facet. The line couldn’t run block and they were even worse at protecting the quarterback. As a result, Matt Ryan was sacked a lot and ultimately had the worst season of his career. He was even benched twice throughout the season.
Ryan finished the year playing in just 12 games and completing 67% of his passes for 3,057 yards and 14 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Ryan had 13 interceptions and 15 fumbles. Indy’s circumstances didn’t help Ryan but his turnover problem only made everything worse. Now the question becomes what’s next for Matt Ryan?
Ryan has admitted that he isn’t really ready to retire and that he feels he can still play good football in the right circumstances. It seems pretty evident that those circumstances won’t be in Indianapolis. While the Colts haven’t made any announcements about Ryan’s future with the team, it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that Matt Ryan won’t be in Indy next season.
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