The Indianapolis Colts are unexpectedly great through 10 games this season. The rest of the season might see some hiccups, but if quarterback Daniel Jones plays like he did in the first eight games, Indy might finish the season with only four losses, at most.
The team should make the postseason, barring a couple of crippling injuries, and should be dangerous once there. If the defense gets healthier, Indy could make a real run at a Super Bowl title. That was, obviously, a wonderful thing, but with it comes a heavy dose of reality.
This is where ESPN enters the discussion. The four-letter network recently put out an early ranking of the top 25 potential free agents. The list includes 30 players, if one counts the honorable mentions. The Baltimore Ravens have several players on the list, but the Colts have four. In fact, Indy has three in the top seven.
The Indianapolis Colts might have money issues beginning in 2026
That obviously means following the good vibes of the season, general manager Chris Ballard has his work cut out. He has to bring back Daniel Jones, but that could cost as much as $40 million. Jones doesn't have to return if he doesn't like the deal the team offers.
Not bringing Jones back after Indianapolis traded its next two first-round draft picks to acquire a former New York Jets cornerback at the deadline would be criminal. Starting over with Anthony Richardson as QB1 should not be a realistic option.
But the contract concerns won't end with Jones. Among the top seven free agents for 2026 are right tackle Braden Smith and wide receiver Alec Pierce.
The Colts have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and keeping cohesion in the group is extremely important. Smith will be 30 years old next season, but he is still very good. He has allowed just one sack this season and has cut down on the number of penalties he received in 2024.
Pierce is 6'3" with elite speed. Teams are going to value his combination of both, and that could cause his market to explode. He has averaged over 20 yards a catch in each of the past two seasons, leading the league both seasons.
Currently, Indianapolis is projected by Spotrac to have $57,729,695 to spend next offseason. The number jumps to $254 million in 2027, which sounds like a lot until one realizes that Jones, Pierce, Smith, Jonathan Taylor, Quenton Nelson, Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Kenny Moore, among others, are not under contract.
Is $57 million enough in 2026 to bring back Jones, Pierce, and Smith? The market will dictate the answer. Losing at least one of them is a very real possibility.