Could Colts be planning a move after restructuring DeForest Buckner’s contract?

Nov 13, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99)
Nov 13, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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The Indianapolis Colts recently cleared some cap space by restructuring DeForest Buckner’s contract. Could Indy be planning to make a move?

On Wednesday, DeForest Buckner spoke with the media and continued to debunk all of the claims that the Indianapolis Colts were looking to trade him. Buckner called out the false reports on social media earlier in the offseason, and he doubled down on his commitment to Indianapolis on Wednesday. Buckner revealed that he had a nice conversation with Chris Ballard at the end of last season, and he trusts Ballard’s plan for Indy.

The Colts also showed their commitment to Buckner on Wednesday by restructuring his contract. Per Tom Pelissero, Indianapolis converted $5 million of Buckner’s salary into a signing bonus. That benefits both Buckner and Indy because it clears $2.5 million in cap space for the team, and fully guarantees Buckner’s $19.75 million salary for the season.

Any time teams do something to clear cap space, every wants to know the motive. Is Indianapolis clearing cap space because the team is planning some big move? With several players still available in free agency and available for a trade, do the Colts have something up their sleeve?

Are the Colts about to make a big move?

Indianapolis already had around $20 million in cap space before restructuring Buckner’s contract, so this move puts them in the $23 million range. That’s good for fourth-most amongst all teams in the NFL. However, it’s unlikely that the Colts are planning to make a big splashy acquisition.

Indy will likely be using the remaining cap space to sign multiple free agents that can help fill the holes on the roster. Expect the Colts to target linemen and corners. Indy can afford to find some starting caliber players as well as depth pieces. Whatever players are added may not be big names but they should be helpful additions.

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