The Indianapolis Colts have been much better than expected this season. Indy is currently 5-5, and with seven regular season games remaining, Indy has one of the league’s easiest remaining schedules. That puts the Colts firmly in the playoff hunt. However, it hasn’t been all good Indianapolis this season.
Demonstrated by the record, Indy has had some ups and downs. That includes some players playing surprisingly well and others underperforming. With that being the case, it’s never a bad time to start speculating about the upcoming roster in 2024. Let’s take a look at four players that are identified as roster bubble players heading into the final weeks of the season. Unless things change over the remaining weeks of the season, these four players could be playing their final games as members of the Colts.
4. LB Shaquille Leonard has already exited the Colts
Full transparency: this list was created before Shaq Leonard was waived by the team on Tuesday. That’s why the move wasn’t really shocking; the timimg of it was, though. It seemed like Indy would wait until the offseason, but either way, here’s why it was the right decision.
Much has been written about and discussed about the future of Shaquille Leonard since his injury last year that knocked him out for most of the season. In lieu of re-hashing some old content on this, it's very simple. Leonard was owed nearly $20 Million dollars next season and he has not lived up to that contract this season.
The Colts had an out at the end of this season where they could cut him outright and only take an $8 million dead cap hit. With the emergence of Zaire Franklin and the continued growth of EJ Speed, Leonard’s role has decreased. When you play at a high level for an extended period of time, it can take a toll on the body. Through all of general manager Chris Ballard’s faults, he has drafted the linebacker position very well and would expect them to move on and use a high draft pick to find his replacement.
3. DT Taven Bryan is trending towards an exit with Colts
Ballard does love having depth at both the offensive and defensive trench positions. While Taven Bryan has been effective this season, he is on a one-year deal and with the ability to find depth easier at this position, Bryan could be the odd man out. DeForest Buckner is heading into a contract year next season and Grover Stewart’s contract is done at the end of this season. That means we could see some changes.
Buckner and Stewart are expected to be re-signed or return next season and second-year player Eric Johnson is sharing the thrid-tackle role on the defensive line while Stewart is serving his suspension. With the emergence of Johnson and the hopeful development of rookie Adetomiwa Adebawore next season, Bryan could be with a new team next season.
2. WR Isaiah McKenzie is trending towards an exit with Colts
This just has not worked out for either party really. When returner/gunner WR Ashton Dulin and returner CB Dallis Flowers both went down with season ending injuries, Isaiah McKenzie’s role became more aligned with special teams. The emergence of rookie WR Josh Downs has also kept McKenzie down on the WR depth chart as well.
He seems to be the gadget guy in the offense but the team just hasn't utilized him as much as we all anticipated. He only has 11 receptions for 82 yards so far this season but has done well on special teams, especially lately in the return game. His role can be filled with a different and younger player next season.
1. Tight End Mo Alie-Cox is trending towards an exit with Colts
At 30 years of age, Mo Alie-Cox is one of the oldest players on the roster and like McKenzie, has been nearly non-existent this season. The former VCU college basketball player has seen a lessened role with the youth movement happening in the tight end room and that could lead to Alie-Cox’s exit.
On the season, Mo’s stats are five receptions for 72 yards and one touchdown. We have seen Kylen Granson, Andrew Ogletree and even rookie Will Mallory get involved more than MAC this season. Granson leads all Colts tight ends with 17 receptions for 175 yards and one touchdown. Ogletree is next up with nine receptions for 147 yards and two touchdowns.
If injured second-year tight end Jelani Woods returns this season, we could even see MAC let go before the end of this season. Indy does have an out during the offseason where Alie-Cox could be cut with a dead cap of zero. With the young tight ends all on rookie contracts, and outplaying MAC, that seems like the most likely option. Having five capable tight ends is not customary for most teams with roster construction so MAC could be playing his final games for this franchise.