With the 2024 season over, the Indianapolis Colts are looking forward to determine what their plan for 2025 should be - and, of course, that includes deciding who gets to stay... and who has to go. Among this year's free agents are some players that have a good chance of getting re-signed, while others the fans won't be sad to see the backs of. Still others seem to be anxious to leave.
Another postseason issue for every team is the salary cap. The Colts have a healthy amount of cap space to spend, but there are still some players that will inevitably be let go, with management deciding they just aren't worth the money to keep them.
Bleacher Report recently issued a list of most likely cap casualties for each team, and the three candidates they selected for Indianapolis are... interesting, to say the least.
Braden Smith
"Colts right tackle Braden Smith missed the final stretch of the season due to a "personal matter", but cutting him doesn't really have to do with that absence. In truth, the Colts set the wheels in motion to potentially cutting Smith at the end of this season when they drafted Matt Goncalves in the third round of last year's draft.Bleacher Report
The Colts can release Smith and only have to pay a $3 million dead-cap charge while opening up $16.8 million in cap space. Smith graded out as a top-20 run-blocker at tackle this season, but he was 59th in pass protection while racking up 12 penalties in his 731 offensive snaps, per PFF. His level of play isn't enough to get cut, but the fact that the Colts can create a much larger budget to improve the team can't be ignored."
This is the most mind-boggling choice on Bleacher Report's list. Yes, Braden Smith has been dealing with a personal issue; if he is able to play in 2025, though, the Colts should let him. He has just one year left on his contract, and while it's true that Goncalves has potential, he is still young. It would be far better to give Goncalves a year learning from Smith - one of the best right tackles in the league - and then have him ready as a starter in 2026.
Raekwon Davis
"Between DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart and Raekwon Davis, the Colts have a lot of money wrapped up in the interior defensive line. The three are set to account for about $49.8 million against the cap. That's probably not a great way to go about building a defense that has needs at other levels.Bleacher Report
The most logical cap casualty would be Davis. They could clear $6.5 million of his cap hit with a pre-June 1 cut, and he only played 30 percent of the defensive snaps this season."
This argument makes more sense than the one made for Smith. The defense is going to need a lot of retooling, which means bringing in some new faces. But, as Bleacher Report noted, Buckner and Stewart are not going anywhere - especially not Buckner.
Tyquan Lewis
"The Colts have stuck with Tyquan Lewis since his rookie year in 2018 despite a lot of missed games and lackluster production. That loyalty will be tested this offseason. Lewis missed seven games with injury this season and only notched 1.5 sacks in the 10 games for which he was healthy. With younger options on the edge available and the money to go out and improve the position, it wouldn't be surprising if the Colts were to part way with Lewis.Bleacher Report
The team could save $4.6 million of his cap hit by releasing him, and they have already proven they have the talent on the roster to play without him."
It's true that Lewis has been less-than-stellar as of late; however, is it also true that the Colts have the talent to play without him? That part is debatable. And resigning Lewis is a tougher decision than it will likely be for Smith or Davis. Let's not forget (as Bleacher Report apparently has) that Lewis had a great 2023 season, and was the recipient of the team's Ed Block Courage Award.
Like Smith, Lewis has just one more year left on his contract. The biggest issue the Colts could conceivably have is that of his ability to remain healthy. Lewis should be given another chance, with this one last year on his contract. Cutting him won't save them a lot of money, but when healthy, he gives depth and talent to the defensive roster, and he's clearly beloved by his teammates. If he's not able to stay healthy in 2025, then the Colts will know it's time to part ways.