Updating Colts 2025 Free Agents Additions And Departures
Updating Colts 2025 Free Agents Additions And Departures
INDIANAPOLIS – The comings and goings have begin for the 2025 Colts.
It won’t be run it back in 2025, with the Colts already re-tooling their defense to start free agency in ’25. Chris Ballard has already signed his highest number of free agents (6), while also seeing 7 other in-house Colts stay or go.
This article will keep you updated throughout free agency of the comings and goings.
Here is an updated list of the Colts 2025 free agency.
Newcomers/Re-Signs
TE-Mo Alie-Cox (Age: 31): One of the longest tenured Colts, Alie-Cox does not have the skillset to be a team’s No. 1 tight end. He is a strong blocker though and that’s how the Colts must acknowledge his return on a one-year deal. For Alie-Cox to return, a big pay cut was also needed. Again, just because Alie-Cox is back, doesn’t mean the Colts should undermine the dynamic pass catching need that remains at tight end.
CB-Corey Ballentine (Age: 28): Mainly a special teams player in his 6-year career, Ballentine is the second cornerback signing in a changing Colts secondary. The 28-year-old Ballentine has only made 11 starts in his career (1 INT, 9 passes defensed), with his consistent presence being on special teams, including as a kick returner. Ballentine was drafted by the Giants in 2019 (Round 6), playing for the Jets, Lions and Packers since.
K-Spencer Shrader (Age: 25): I guess competition will include kicker this year as the Colts are bringing back the former undrafted free agent. Shrader kicked with the Jets and Chiefs last year, going a total 9-of-9 on all kicks (nothing from longer than 50 yards). Conversely, Matt Gay was 61-of-61 inside of 50 yards, but 3-of-9 from longer than 50. Gay should still be used as the favorite here, but his contract guarantees (signed through 2026) are dwindling.
DT-Neville Gallimore (Age: 28): While in Cincinnati, Lou Anarumo made sure he had some big dudes among his defensive line depth. That’s where Neville Gallimore enters. Gallimore, a former 3rd round pick of the Cowboys, has played in 52 NFL games (18 starts). He’s had 109 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits in his career. Think of the 6-2, 315-pound Gallimore as mostly a space eating defensive tackle reserve, trying to serve a role that the recently cut Raekwon Davis could not.
RB-Khalil Herbert (Age: 26): Re-tooling the running back insurance behind Jonathan Taylor was a needed focus for the Colts in 2025. In 4 NFL seasons, Herbert has averaged 4.8 yards per carry (1,905 rushing yars on 400 carries and caught 53 balls for 312 yards in his 56 games played. Even with the addition of Herbert, the Colts would be wise to spend a Day 3 draft pick at the running back position next month.
QB-Daniel Jones (Age: 27): Quarterback competition in 2025 will come in the form of a the 2019 top-10 pick of the Giants. Jones had little team success with the Giants, despite getting several yeas of chances with multiple coaching staffs. Jones was most recently with the Vikings to end the ’24 campaign. Style wise, Jones does bring some dual-threat ability, albeit nowhere near at the level of Anthony Richardson.
S-Camryn Bynum (Age: 26): In my opinion, safety was the biggest need for the Colts and Chris Ballard seemed to agree with that, sending a big contract to the former Vikings defense. View Bynum as a healthier Julian Blackmon, as the former 4th round pick out of Cal hasn’t missed a game in 3 years. Bynum has the potential to be a longer-term answer at safety (4-year deal) which is something the Colts haven’t found in recent band-aid finds at safety.
CB-Charvarius Ward (Age: 28): A former undrafted free agent turned Pro Bowler, Ward has had quite the NFL journey. He should definitely bolster the Colts cornerback room, after a difficult season on and off the field. With the Colts wanting to play more coverages and even blitz more, acquisitions like Bynum and Ward are important for a secondary that needed attention.
WR-Ashton Dulin (Age: 27): Dulin has carved out a really nice NFL career as a former undrafted free agent, so his return on a two-year deal, reportedly for $8 million total is no surprise. A consistent special teams presence, with occasional offensive contributions, makes Dulin a strong back end of the roster possibility.
OL-Wesley French (Age: 28): With Ryan Kelly gone, and Danny Pinter still a free agent, some interior offensive line depth answers are up in the air. So the Colts are bringing back French, who missed all of last season after an August ankle injury. French did start 3 games in 2023, when Kelly was out. Exploring some OL depth moves is certainly something the Colts need to do as March plays out.
C-Danny Pinter (Age: 29): The Colts actually went 3-deep at center this season, with Pinter seeing his first game/starting action since the 2022 season. And with the Colts seeing Ryan Kelly and Will Fries walk in free agency, the need for interior bodies back has served Pinter well. The Ball State product is back for a 6th season with the Colts.
Departures
QB-Joe Flacco (Age: 39): Flacco expressed plenty of hope wanting to play football at the age of 40, and he’s doing that in returning to the Browns on a one-year deal. With this move official, the Colts will have a new No. 2 (Flacco-Browns) and No. 3 (Ehlinger-Broncos) in 2025. It’s been a while since the Colts have needed new answers there, and at starter, too.
K-Matt Gay (Age: 31): Arguably the biggest surprise of the offseason was the Colts cutting Matt Gay on April 10. The date is important because the timing of the release was a bit odd. This move came nearly a month into free agency and several weeks after the team had added some kicking competition in re-signing Spencer Shrader. Gay certainly didn’t sniff living up to the big contract he signed, but it’s not like Shrader has earned the right to be the team’s kicker without adding some competition for him. This was another sign of Chris Ballard acting differently this offseason.
QB-Sam Ehlinger (Age: 26): Ehlinger has had quite the NFL ride as his rookie contract comes to an end and he heads to join the Broncos. I thought the Colts could bring Ehlinger back for what he brings off the field, and to support Anthony Richardson. But a different 3rd QB will be in Indy next season. Remember, Ehlinger was the Colts backup for more than a dozen games the last two years so a 3rd QB in Indy could very well have a key role, given Richardson’s injury history. Jason Bean, a 2024 undrafted free agent, is currently the 3rd QB. Will the Colts add to that QB room come draft time?
LB-E.J. Speed (Age: 29): Speed was a bit inconsistent in his first full season starting. How the Colts view rookie Jaylon Carlies moving forward is probably a factor in whether or not to bring Speed back as a starter. In joining the Texans, Speed’s departure confirms the Colts still probably need some resource at linebacker this offseason. Historically, Chris Ballard has drafted tremendously well at linebacker. Will that continue under Lou Anarumo?
TE-Kylen Granson (Age: 26): Without question, the Colts need to bolster what they have at tight end. And that only increases with Granson joining the Eagles on a one-year deal. After some decent second and third seasons, Granson had just 14 catches in 31 targets in his final year with the Colts. Of the NFL’s 81 tight ends with at least 10 targets last season, Granson finished 80th with a 45.2 percent catch percentage.
LB-Grant Stuard (Age: 26): The special teams demon was needed for a bigger defensive role in 2024, making 5 starts and playing 229 defensive snaps. I thought it made complete sense to bring Stuard back for his stout play on 4th down. But the Lions are reportedly bringing Stuard in on a one-year deal. No matter the Stuard status, linebacker was a need for the Colts this offseason. That has only grown, with a huge special teams void, too.
G-Will Fries (Age: 26): An underrated storyline of the Colts 2024 season was how well Will Fries was playing before a broken leg ended his season in early October. The Colts shuffled some right guards in and out after the Fries injury. One would think his return is something the Colts want for the former 7th round pick. So the Colts will be replacing two offensive linemen in 2025, with both Fries and Ryan Kelly heading to the Vikings. Fries is headed on a 4-year deal, reportedly for around $17 million annually. What will the Colts do at right guard? Matt Goncalves? Re-sign an aging Mark Glowinski? Spend an early pick there?
C-Ryan Kelly (Age: 32): The most decorated name on this list, Kelly has acted like a guy who wants to play (at least) a 10th NFL season. And that will happen in Minnesota with Kelly signing for 2 years. The Colts elected not to extend Kelly before the start of 2024, after selecting Wisconsin center Tanor Bortolini in Round 4 of April’s Draft. So this is where they pass the torch at center and let Kelly walk in free agency. Kelly missed 7 games this past season and was very emotional at season’s end discussing his 9 years in Indy. Bortolini has to be viewed as the Colts starting center in ’25.
DL-Dayo Odeyingbo (Age: 25): A $16 million annually deal for the former 2nd round pick sends Odeyingnbo to the Bears. The former 2nd round pick didn’t have the biggest jump in the final year of his rookie contract, but he’s still been a productive and versatile defensive line presence. He hasn’t missed a game in the last 3 years. More pressure falls now on the likes of Kwity Paye (in a contract year), Samson Ebukam coming off a torn Achilles and Laiatu Latu. Remember, no Colts defensive lineman played more snaps last season than Odeyingbo.
DT-Raekwon Davis (Age: 26): This was not a good free agent signing by Chris Ballard. Davis signed a 2-year deal for $14 million in 2024 and was cut after one season in Indy, with little impact. Davis did play north of 300 rotational snaps so the Colts will need to divvy those up somehow. But Davis was cut for a reason, as a far too penalized, too little impact big body.
To Be Determined
RB-Trey Sermon (Age: 25): Running back depth has to be upgraded this offseason, right? Sermon has done little to change that thought as the main backup to Jonathan Taylor this past season.
DT-Taven Bryan (Age: 29): Bryan has kept his depth spot at defensive tackle in Indy, rotating into games on a weekly basis. His return is not pressing.
S-Julian Blackmon (Age: 26): For a second straight year, the Colts will have to debate the free agency status of Julian Blackmon. Unlike some other spots, there’s not much depth at safety though with an obvious guy to rise up the depth chart if Blackmon walks. Blackmon’s playmaking really decreased in 2024, as he was needed to move back to free safety and battled a lingering shoulder injury from the season opener.
