As expected, the Indianapolis Colts continued their roster overhaul at the trade deadline. Keenan Allen and Josh Downs are no longer in town, following the likes of DeForest Buckner and Quenton Nelson.
While the Colts might regret holding on to other veterans like Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor, they might legitimately feel they're not that far from turning things around. They'll need to ace every offseason move, though.
Notably, that also means deciding who to retain and who to let go in free agency. Considering that, let's take a look at the team's four biggest impending free agents and where things might stand with them after the trade deadline.
Checking in on some key Indianapolis Colts free agents after the trade deadline
Anthony Richardson's future is still up in the air
Despite Daniel Jones' well-documented struggles and the fact that the playoffs are most likely out of reach, the coaching staff refuses to turn to Anthony Richardson. Shane Steichen and company gave up on him a long time ago, and while there are valid reasons for that, they should give him another chance.
The Colts couldn't find any trade suitors for him, but there will definitely be some teams interested in his services on a cheap free-agent deal. His return sounds unlikely, though the new regime might feel he's worth trying to save.
Grover Stewart might reward the Colts' loyalty
Somewhat surprisingly, the Colts didn't move Grover Stewart. Multiple teams could've used a run-stuffing veteran defensive tackle, and the Colts reportedly worked the phones to try to get a deal done, but to no avail.
He's no longer in his prime, and he may not fetch a big contract in free agency at this point in his career, but he can still play. Maybe he'll reward the Colts' loyalty and decide to run it back on a team-friendly, short-term deal. Barring a major turn of events, he'll play for a different defensive coordinator, though.
Colts must keep Spencer Shrader in town
Finding a good kicker has become a Herculean task for several teams. The Colts found theirs in Spencer Shrader, who beat out Blake Grupe for the job in training camp in what ended up being the highlight of the team's season.
Now, even with some minor miscues, he's been the team's most important player. Yes, that pretty much sums up how things have gone this season, but that's neither here nor there. The fact of the matter is that Shrader has already done enough to get himself a new deal to return to Circle City in 2027.
Ashton Dulin has eight weeks to get himself paid
The Colts now have the most decimated wide receiver corps in pro football. Alec Pierce's return looks like a long shot, and the reality is that they have no actual reason to get him back on the field at all. As such, Ashton Dulin should be the next man up.
Dulin drew tons of buzz in the offseason, but he's been a non-factor in the passing game for most of the campaign. But with no Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, or Alec Pierce, Daniel Jones needs someone to throw the ball to. Maybe Dulin can finish the season strong and prove that he's much more than just a special teams guy.
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