The Indianapolis Colts enter a make-or-break season for many in the organization. If the team fails to make the postseason, general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen could be gone. That would mean systemic changes to the rest of the team, too.
For the players below, that could mean they need to find a different employer, but not likely for negative reasons. If they succeed again (or for the first time), they could price themselves out of Indianapolis, a team that could be looking at a regime change.
Even if they play beyond 2026 in Indianapolis, they could get paid lots of cash. Each has their own obstacles, but each is able to knock them down forcefully.
These Indianapolis Colts are looking to make a huge impact in the final years of their contracts
Defensive lineman DeForest Buckner
Buckner has several options after 2026, of course. He has likely made enough money in his career to hang up his cleats, knowing that he will live the rest of his life comfortably, and could do so for several lifetimes beyond that. So, retirement is an option as he is 32 years old, but this isn't a call for him to retire; that is completely his decision, of course.
He could also choose to play another few years, hopefully with the Colts, and get closer to consideration for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With Buckner, the future depends on his health. He injured his neck last season, and should he aggravate the issue in 2026, he might decide that keeping playing simply isn't worth the risk.
Should he return in 2027, he is going to have a lot of suitors. Whoever pays him is going to have to make it worth his while. He is used to getting paid a lot of money, and he isn't going to change that now.
Left guard Quenton Nelson
Reports have surfaced that extension talks between Nelson's agents and the team have stalled. Does this mean Chris Ballard would consider trading the future Pro Football Hall of Famer? That is extremely unlikely. Nelson is one of the best players on the team, and Ballard needs to win this season or likely lose his job.
Ballard is also not normally aggressive about extending players, and that the team and running back Jonathan Taylor to work out an extension before the season was rare. It is more likely that, just like with Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, Ballard waits until after the season to extend Nelson, assuming Ballard is still the general manager.
Whatever happens, Nelson is still at the top of his game and is only 30 years old. Some team is going to pay him a lot of money by the time the 2027 season begins, and Indianapolis Colts fans should feel secure that the left guard is staying in Indy.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson
Most likely, Richardson isn't returning after the 2026 season, as the Colts would rather have Daniel Jones be the long-term starter. Richardson will want to explore other avenues that give him a better chance to be a QB1, but how this season plays out will somewhat determine his asking price.
He is officially the QB2 entering the season, but based on Jones' injury history, Richardson might have a very good chance of playing this season. If he finally plays at a high level, he is going to get paid a lot of money by some team next year, the same way Malik Willis did with the Miami Dolphins after being a backup for much of his career.
The Colts' quarterback hasn't rescinded his trade request, but something materializing at this point seems unlikely. He will probably spend the season in Indy and might have a chance to earn lots of reps.
Wide receiver Josh Downs
Downs has every opportunity to increase his asking price in 2027 with a good year in 2026. He is going to be the Indianapolis Colts' WR2, and with Alec Pierce's unproven ability to catch anywhere near 100 passes, Downs could see his targets go up quite a bit this season.
He has mostly been a slot receiver, though likely with the capacity to do quite a bit more. That chance begins in Week 1, and should he sustain high-end success throughout the season, he will force Indianapolis to ask a question they might not be comfortable with.
Should the team give the 25-year-old receiver loads of money to stick around? Or should the team let him go and risk needing to revamp the receiver corps quite a bit, assuming Keenan Allen is a one-year-and-done player in Indianapolis? With a good year, Downs is in a no-lose situation.
Add us as a preferred source on Google