While the offseason is a great time for teams to improve, it can be a tough time for a lot of players. While some players are getting new contracts or moved to desired teams, other players are being cut or unexpectedly traded. For some of the players that end up being released, the explanation is as simple as: the move helps the team create more cap space.
That's known as a cap casualty and their are a ton every offseason. With the Indianapolis Colts already focused on the offseason, there’s a belief that they could have a few cap casualties who’s time in Indianapolis could be coming to an end soon. Bleacher Report recently named possible cap casualties for all 32 teams. For Indy, tight end Mo Alie-Cox, receiver Ashton Dulin, and defensive back Chris Lammons selected as the three guys that could be cut.
Mo Alie-Cox, Ashton Dulin, and Chris Lammons, named possible cap casualties for Colts
Mo Alie-Cox, who is due $5.9 million next season, is coming off his sixth season in the league— all with Indianapolis. Despite being the veteran tight end of Indy’s deep tight end group, he only caught 13 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Both Kylen Granson and Will Mallory had more catches and yards than Alie-Cox, so it’s easy to see why his name is on this list.
Like Mo Alie-Cox, Ashton Dulin has been with the Colts his entire career. Joining the team in 2019, Dulin has been a key special teams player and depth receiver. Unfortunately, he missed all of the 2023 season with a torn ACL. Now, Dulin’s return to the team is in question, as he’s due $4 million next season.
Chris Lammons hasn’t spent his entire career with the Colts, in fact, he just signed a two-year deal with Indianapolis last offseason. Lammons only played in four games for Indy this past season, playing 60 total defensive snaps and 56 special teams snaps. If Indianapolis finds itself in a salary cap crunch, releasing Lammons won’t help a ton but the move would free up $1.1 million for the team.
As the league gets deeper into the offseason, these are the kind of smaller moves to be on the lookout for.