Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard has a long offseason to-do list if he wants to overhaul a roster that has been stuck in neutral for the last four seasons. The first step is to nail free agency, which officially begins on March 12 this year. Of course, Ballard will be on the lookout for new additions but, just as importantly, he will have to decide who to bring back.
The Colts enter the offseason with 18 unrestricted free agents. The list is headlined by multiple 2024 starters, including Ryan Kelly, E.J. Speed, and Dayo Odeyingbo. However, Ballard also has to figure out which lesser-known players are worth re-signing. Here are four candidates that Ballard should carefully consider.
Will Fries (Offensive Guard)
Labelling Will Fries as “underrated” is probably a misnomer, since the 26-year-old right guard is expected to attract "serious interest" when he hits the open market. That being said, Fries is not a household name (yet), but he could be one soon. Before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 5, Fries was posting career highs in pass and run block win rates, as well as the fourth-best overall PFF grade among all guards, even ranking higher than Quenton Nelson.
Indianapolis struggled in Fries’ absence last year, relying on an outmatched undrafted rookie (Dalton Tucker) and an aging veteran (Mark Glowinski) to replace a standout player. Unless there are serious health concerns or Fries’ contract demands are outrageous, Ballard should prioritize him. If he returns, Fries could lock down the right guard spot on the Indianapolis offensive line for the foreseeable future.
Danny Pinter (Center)
During the 2024 season, four out of the Colts’ five starting offensive linemen missed time due to injury. Reinforcing the o-line is a clear need, especially when the offense is betting on a young quarterback and a star running back. For that reason, Danny Pinter, who has played in 60 games and earned nine starts since arriving in Indianapolis, is a valuable veteran asset.
Given Ryan Kelly’s potential departure, the Colts could be very thin at the center position. Pinter can serve as a capable back-up for 2024 fourth-rounder Tanor Bartolini, while also being versatile enough to play guard when necessary. Pinter won’t turn heads and shouldn’t be trusted as a long-term starter, but he can continue to provide much-needed depth if Ballard re-signs him.
Sam Ehlinger (Quarterback)
The QB situation in Indianapolis is less than ideal, and Ballard has already indicated that Anthony Richardson will face competition for the starting job. Texas alum Sam Ehlinger, who just completed the last year of his rookie deal, is not a serious QB1 contender. However, Ehlinger’s presence in the locker room could still be appealing for the Colts.
Ehlinger has been a respected member of the organization for four years, and seems to have a strong personal relationship with Richardson. His return could be a big boost for the team’s culture. Re-signing Ehlinger to keep him in the building as the 3rd-string QB would be a low-risk move that could have some intangible upside.
Grant Stuard (Linebacker)
Entering his fifth season as a pro, Grant Stuard has been a consistent special teamer since being traded to Indianapolis in 2022, while also racking up some snaps on defense. Stuard played a prominent role in 2024 whenever injuries depleted the linebacker room. He filled in admirably for rookie strongside linebacker Jaylon Carlies, as well as E.J. Speed on the weak side. The highlight of Stuard's season was when he led the team with 19 total tackles against Miami in Week 7.
Stuard’s playstyle — physical, explosive, and high-energy — makes him the type of player any defensive coordinator would love. He could be useful for the Colts’ new DC Lou Anarumo, who prioritizes sound tackling and solid play up the middle. If Ballard can re-sign Stuard to a contract with a similar annual cap hit as last season’s ($1.1M), then that would be a worthwhile deal for Indianapolis.