More than any other team in the NFL, the Colts have spent most of this year's offseason re-signing their own guys.
Moves to bring back guys like Michael Pittman, Grover Stewart, Kenny Moore, Tyquan Lewis, and Ronnie Harris have shown that the Colts are bullish on what Shane Stiechen is building in Year 2, and while the list of re-signed guys goes on, it's clear that the team has both identified what the core of this team will look like, and made the moves to make sure that stays the case.
Taking a look at the list of players that the Colts *didn't* re-sign is kind of depressing, only because it's a lonely, lonely list. But the draft isn't for another month, and free agency is all but done, so let's take a look anyways. These are the three former Colts who are still having trouble finding jobs.
3 former Colts who are still having trouble finding jobs
1. Julian Blackmon, SS
Blackmon ... had a good year?
In his 4th season with the Colts, the safety appeared in 15 games – the most of his career – and set career bests in interceptions (4), fumble recoveries (2) and tackles (88). He also started all 15 games he appeared in. Blackmon, who the Colts drafted in the third round of the 2020 Draft, took some visits elsewhere (Buffalo, San Francisco) but it sounds like Indianapolis is invested in bringing him back. It's not like the Colts have great other answers at safety right now, so a reunion makes sense.
It's a tough time to be even a good safety in the NFL right now.
2. Henry Black, S
And if you think it's a tough time to be a good, starting-caliber safety in the NFL right now, imagine what it's like to be a bench guy.
That's Black, and unfortunately, there's not a ton to say about him – he bounced back and forth between the active roster and the practice squad since coming to Indy after a stint in Green Bay, where he signed after going undrafted following his time at Baylor.
He's only 27, so maybe there's some time for him to catch on somewhere.
3. Yannick Ngakoue, DE
Admittedly, this is cheating a little bit – Ngakoue last played for the Colts in 2023, but considering that the team only has two free agents that haven't either re-signed or gone elsewhere, you have to bend the rules a bit.
After a stellar 15-game, 9.5 sack season in his only year with the Colts, Ngakoue signed with the Bears right before the season started and proceeded to put up a dud. He only appeared in 13 games with Chicago, tallying four sacks and 22 tackles before an ankle injury ended his season early. Now, he's one of several big name pass rushers still available, as that market's been slow to develop after the biggest two or three names signed early on.
With Samson Ebukam and
Kwity Paye both coming off strong seasons, a reunion doesn't seem particularly realistic.