One of the more under-the-radar storylines of the Indianapolis Colts offseason has to do with special teams, and more specifically, the kickers. There is a current competition between Spencer Shrader and Blake Grupe for the starting field goal kicker spot.
For die-hard Colts fans who are obsessed with unheralded position groups as much as they are with skill position groups, Shrader versus Grupe is a story worth paying attention to. However, one storyline that doesn't involve any competition for a roster spot is at punter; the Colts have been set there for almost a decade and remain set for at least one more season.
Rigoberto Sanchez has punted for the Colts for eight years, and he's headed into the final year of his contract.
Rigoberto Sanchez continues to gift the Indianapolis Colts with under-the-radar impact
Sanchez has been a model of consistency for the Colts, and every year, teams drop kickers and punters after a few seasons; Sanchez has survived eight straight with the same team. The question is: Can he have a solid ninth season, hopefully leading to added years in Indianapolis?
Most NFL fans don't pay much attention to punters; they're not flashy players, and their time on the field usually goes unnoticed. Yet, punters play a significant role on every team, and legendary head coach Bill Belichick knew this; he was never one to downplay what punters do, especially left-footed punters.
Sanchez isn't left-footed, but his impact on the Colts began in 2017, and that impact has remained a mainstay ever since. Last season, Sanchez ranked third in average net yards per punt attempt in the NFL. Subsequently, the Colts gave up an average of just 6.3 yards per return. He also ranked 10th in average hangtime, had the sixth-fewest touchbacks, and the fourth-fewest return attempts.
One of Sanchez's most impressive stats is his blocked punts: in eight years, he's had only three blocks, and he's currently on a two-season streak without a block on 112 punts. Consistency and impact have kept Sanchez's relationship with the Colts going, but what he does next season could determine his future in Indianapolis.
Sanchez will be playing on the final year of a three-year contract and will become a free agent next year. Sanchez will be 32 when the 2027 season begins, and that might work against him in a new deal with the Colts. That said, if he punts his way to another solid season, or the Colts trust him to do that ahead of time, an extension could be on its way.
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