Who's staying, who's going? Colts might not bring back as many of team's own free agents

INDIANAPOLIS — The work has already begun.

The moment the Colts players left the facility and scattered to their offseason homes, head coach Frank Reich and general manager Chris Ballard began the long, painstaking process of thoroughly evaluating a season that crumbled down the stretch.

The reality is this offseason will feature more change than the last offseason the Colts went through, when Indianapolis brought back almost every starter from a team that made the playoffs. A 7-9 finish ensured there will be more turnover.

“When times like this happen, change occurs,” Ballard said in his annual State of the Colts news conference last week. “There’s change every year, but to sit here and say that and act like we’re not going to have turnover on the roster, that would have been being dishonest to them, because that’s not where we’re at right now.”

From the outside looking in, it looks like one area of turnover will come from Colts whose contracts expire at the end of the league year, making them free agents. Indianapolis brought back most of its free agents last offseason; this time around, it looks like the majority might be headed elsewhere.

Unrestricted free agents

An unrestricted free agent can sign with anybody once the new league year opens on March 18.

LT Anthony Castonzo

Age: 31

Outlook: Castonzo should be an easy decision. The veteran is aging like fine wine, played like one of the best tackles in the NFL last season, has no lingering injury issues complicating his future, remains critical to the Colts’ strongest position group and there is no potential replacement on the roster. Whatever the cost — and it would likely be exorbitant — Indianapolis should bring back Castonzo.

Except.

Except Castonzo might be done playing football. Citing personal reasons, Castonzo is contemplating retirement this offseason, a decision that carries no timetable. Ballard plans to talk to his left tackle over the next two or three weeks. If Castonzo decides to play, expect him to be back at his spot next to Quenton Nelson next season — but it’s not about where he plays, it’s about whether he wants to play at all.

Prediction: Flip a coin.

DE Jabaal Sheard

Age: 30

Outlook: Sheard has proven to be a good signing for the Colts, piling up 15.5 sacks in the three years since he signed in Indianapolis, and he served as a solid starter, picking up 4.5 sacks and stacking up well against the run. Outside of the sacks, though, the rest of Sheard’s production fell — his tackles dipped from 50 to 25, and tackles-for-loss from 14 to five, a drop in production larger than just the three games he missed due to preseason knee surgery. The knee injury could be a concern, too; Sheard has played nine seasons in the NFL and carried a heavy workload in each of his three seasons with the Colts. “He’s everything you want a player to be in terms of a pro, and (he) works,” Ballard said. “I hold Jabaal Sheard, whatever his future may be, whether it’s here or anywhere else, I hold Jabaal Sheard in high regard and appreciate what he brought to the cause.”

Prediction: He moves on.

K Adam Vinatieri

Age: 47

Outlook: Vinatieri underwent knee surgery in December, and he’s left the door open to returning for a 25th season in the NFL if his troublesome plant leg recovers well from the surgery. Whether the knee should be blamed or not — the knee has bothered him for the past three years — Vinatieri missed 14 kicks in 2019, costing the Colts games at times, and Indianapolis has a young, talented replacement under contract for 2020 in Chase McLaughlin, a kicker they coveted and tried to pick up at various points last season. According to Ballard and Reich, no discussions about a return will happen until Vinatieri’s knee is healthy, but there is a chance here for the Colts to find a long-term replacement at a difficult position to fill.

Prediction: He moves on.

TE Eric Ebron

Age: 26

Outlook: One year after he turned in a Pro Bowl campaign, Ebron came crashing back to earth, his inconsistency and issues catching the football far more obvious in fewer targets, part of an offense that ran the ball far more often this season. Ebron expressed his displeasure with that lack of work and decided to undergo surgery on his ankle and go on injured reserve with five games left in the season. Ballard made it clear that the tight end will be playing for the third NFL team of his career next year.

Prediction: He moves on.

WR Devin Funchess

Age: 25

Outlook: Funchess caught a stroke of bad luck in a prove-it year. “The guy splinters his collarbone in five places and misses the entire season,” Ballard said. Funchess tried to come back from the injury at midseason, but the bone simply wouldn’t heal. Brought in on a one-year, $10 million deal last season, Funchess might be looking at another prove-it deal this offseason, though it’s hard to imagine he’ll get anywhere near the paycheck he was given last offseason.

Prediction: He moves on.

SS Clayton Geathers

Age: 27

Outlook: Geathers, who didn’t have much of a market in free agency last offseason, saw his playing time drop as the season went along due to the emergence of rookie strong safety Khari Willis, including a game that saw zero snaps against the Saints.

Prediction: He moves on.

WR Chester Rogers

Age: 25

Outlook: Rogers caught just 16 passes despite the Colts’ litany of injuries at wide receiver, and his own season-ending fractured knee led to the discovery of Nyheim Hines as punt returner. Hard to imagine a role for Rogers next year on an offense that needs more-explosive playmakers.

Prediction: He moves on.

OL Joe Haeg

Age: 26

Outlook: Haeg had to play just 73 offensive snaps this season, the product of remarkable health on the offensive line, but his value as a versatile lineman who can play all five positions outweighs what he’ll earn on the open market, unless he’s given a chance to start somewhere.

Prediction: He’s back.

G/C Josh Andrews

Age: 28

Outlook: Andrews earned the role as the Colts’ top interior backup and then barely had to play. Without a lot of tape for other teams, the guess here is the price will be right to throw him back into the competition next season.

Prediction: He’s back.

T Le’Raven Clark

Age: 26

Outlook: If Castonzo retires, Clark’s the top true tackle on the roster, and although he’s struggled, that likely means it wouldn’t cost much to bring him back.

Prediction: He's back.

RB Jonathan Williams

Age: 25

Outlook: Williams finally got a chance due to injury and posted back-to-back 100-yard games at midseason, but he’s clearly fourth on the Colts’ depth chart and might have earned the right to compete for a backup job elsewhere.

Prediction: He moves on.

Remaining unrestricted free agents: WR Dontrelle Inman, Briean Boddy-Calhoun; S Isaiah Johnson

Restricted free agents

An NFL team can place a first-round, second-round or original-round tender on a restricted free agent, forcing any team that signs the player to give up the corresponding pick to sign them. If the team does not place a tender on the player, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

DT Trevon Coley

Age: 25

Outlook: Coley played 68 snaps this season after being signed off of Baltimore’s practice squad to shore up a thin position.

Prediction: He moves on.

Exclusive-rights free agents

* If a team offers a tender to an exclusive-rights free agent at the league minimum, he cannot negotiate with another team and has to sign it. If a team doesn’t offer the tender, he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

WR Marcus Johnson

Age: 25

Outlook: Johnson caught 17 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns in eight games, proving that he has the speed to be a deep threat in the NFL.

Prediction: He’s back.

WR Daurice Fountain

Age: 24

Outlook: A dislocated and fractured ankle suffered at the end of training camp robbed Fountain of the chance to capitalize on the improvement he showed this August, and he deserves a chance to see if he can get back to that level.

Prediction: He’s back.

S Rolan Milligan

Age: 25

Outlook: Milligan showed he can play in the slot as well as playing safety, taking 134 defensive snaps, and he carries a role on special teams.

Prediction: He’s back.

Remaining exclusive-rights free agents: LB Skai Moore, S Kai Nacua.