Wednesday brought the official start of free agency for the Indianapolis Colts. Here’s everything that happened for the team on day one of the new league year.
While it may seem like free agency has been going on for a few days now, the first official day was Wednesday, March 15. At 4:00 pm ET, the NFL’s new league year started. It wasn’t until then that all of the negotiated and reported deals and trades could become official. Monday and Tuesday were just the two days of the legal tampering period.
The Indianapolis Colts made several moves during the legal tampering period, like trading Stephon Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys and releasing Matt Ryan, and those moves were official processed today. Indy has already re-signed some players and lost others in free agency as well. However, things are just getting started for the NFL offseason.
Teams have kept things rolling, continuing to make moves on Wednesday, including the Colts. With the first official day of free agency here, let’s take a look at the players leaving and coming to Indy, as well as the rumors surrounding Indianapolis.
Colts departures - Free agency Day 1
• Brandon Facyson, CB, Las Vegas Raiders, two-year, $2.5 million
A year ago, Brandon Facyson left the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency to join Indianapolis. He followed Indy’s defensive coordinator, Gus Bradley, who Facyson has played under his entire career. That experience in Bradley’s system gave Facyson an early edge in a cornerback battle with Isaiah Rodgers Sr.
However, fans quickly realized that Rodgers was outperforming Facyson when they were splitting snaps, and it became a mission of the fans to get Isaiah Rodgers Sr. into the starting lineup. Eventually, Bradley and the staff listened. Rodgers established himself as the starter over Facyson, and now, Facyson is returning to the Raiders.
Colts signings - Free agency Day 1
• Ashton Dulin, WR, two-year, $9.2 million
Indianapolis has re-signed wide receiver Ashton Dulin to a two-year deal. Dulin has been with the Colts all four years of his NFL career and has shined as a special teams player with occasional promising flashes at wide receiver. As he returns, his work on special teams is still expected to be a big part of his presence.
However, it’s time for Ashton Dulin to get a bigger role on offense. Each season, Dulin has gradually gotten better as a receiver and has become more and more productive. Before sustaining an injury last season, Dulin had a promising start to the year as a receiver. It’ll be great to see Dulin and the Colts build off that.
• Taven Bryan, DT, one-year, $4.5 million
As Chris Ballard has frequently said, you can never have enough defensive linemen, but you need at least eight quality guys to have a really good defensive front. Ballard is tying his best to make sure Indy has that. So far, Indianapolis has agreed with three external free agents, two of them are defensive linemen.
On Tuesday, Indy agreed on a deal with defensive end Samson Ebukam, and on Wednesday, the Colts agreed on a deal with interior defensive linemen Taven Bryan. Bryan was a first-round pick back in 2018 and played four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and one with the Cleveland Browns.
Last year in Cleveland was Bryan’s first year starting and he played 16 games, recording 26 tackles, three sacks, and six quarterback hits. Unless Indy trades DeForest Buckner or Grover Stewart, Bryan will be a quality interior depth piece for the Colts.
Colts free agency rumors - Day 1
• Carolina Panthers are interested in Parris Campbell
After the season Parris Campbell had this past year, it was obvious there would be a market for him. After Frank Reich was hired by the Carolina Panthers, it was also obvious that the Panthers would go after Campbell in free agency. On Wednesday, Destin Adams of Sports Illustrated reported that Carolina and Frank Reich have serious interest in signing Campbell.
It makes sense. Beyond the connection that Reich and Campbell have, the Panthers just traded away their top receiver to acquire the No. 1 pick. With a rookie quarterback on the way, Carolina desperately needs to improve its weapons and signing Campbell could help with that. However, Campbell did say that he and the Colts have already been in talks.
Haha yessir, have a great day my dawg @rodgers_isaiah https://t.co/QQODSPTN3o
— AbdurRahman Ya-Sin (@RockYasin26) March 15, 2023
• Colts want to see Rock Ya-Sin return
Fans have already been hoping for Rock Ya-Sin to return to Indianapolis, but now that Stephon Gilmore has been traded, it seems like players are also asking for a Ya-Sin return. On Wednesday, Isaiah Rodgers Sr. incorporated his former teammate Rock Ya-Sin into his good morning tweet. Everyone saw this as an obvious way of recruiting Ya-Sin back to Indy.
The Colts traded Ya-Sin away last offseason for Yannick Ngakoue. Now, Ya-Sin is a free agent and Indianapolis is extremely cornerback-needy after trading Gilmore. Brandon Facyson has already left the Colts and returned to Las Vegas; how about Ya-Sin leaves Vegas and returns to Indianapolis.
READ MORE: Colts are still in good shape in the draft