$67 million is a lot of money, but the Indianapolis Colts could have done far worse. The issue is that the team needed to re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce while guaranteeing some amounts for key players in 2026, but general manager Chris Ballard got it done.
Ballard managed to re-sign Jones for two years and a maximum of $100 million, but his cap hit is only $14.6 million. Pierce was re-signed for four seasons and a maximum of $116 million, but his cap hit is just $9.2 million in 2026.
Those, along with other guarantees, cost the team a lot of money, but all the moves should be worth it. If Jones can be healthy by Week 1, Indy could be a playoff team next year for the first time since 2020. Once there, anything can happen, of course.
Indianapolis Colts are paying the money they need to this offseason
Besides Jones and Pierce, the other money allocated looks like this:
- Cornerback Charvarius Ward’s $12.9 million 2026 salary is now guaranteed
- Defensive lineman DeForest Buckner earned a $10 million roster bonus
- Safety Cam Bynum’s $10 million 2026 salary is now guaranteed
- $8.3 million of left tackle Bernhard Raimann’s 2027 salary is now guaranteed
- Left guard Quenton Nelson earned a $2 million roster bonus
- Wide receiver and special teamer Ashton Dulin received a $340,000 roster bonus
All of those players, except for Dulin, should be instrumental in the success or failure of the Colts in 2026 and beyond. Bucker could be entering the final year of his deal as he is past 30 years old and had a neck injury in 2025, but he is obviously productive when he does play.
In fact, the fact that both Buckner and Ward received their guarantee or bonus indicates that the players and the team assume that both players will be ready for the 2026 season. Ward was rumored to be weighing retirement after he suffered three concussions last season. The Colts likely wouldn't guarantee nearly $13 million if they weren't sure the cornerback would be playing.
In other words, while the Indianapolis Colts are paying out $67 million in total (and likely a little more), every single dollar should go to a player who could put Indy in a position to reach the postseason. Giving up any of those players, except for Dulin, whose roster bonus is minimal, would have been a mistake.
Chris Ballard might not yet have upgraded the defense, but he has kept the roster together better than most expected. Hopefully, that translates to success in 2026, and the players are returning to make that happen.