INDIANAPOLIS – In typical Chris Ballard fashion, he’s letting several of his own starting free agents hit the open market.
How many will Ballard try to bring back though?
Tyquan Lewis has returned on a one-year deal.
E.J. Speed is also back on a 2-year contract.
Special teams ace Ashton Dulin is also returning to Indy, also on a two-year deal. Speaking of 4th down impact, the Colts are bringing cornerback Tony Brown back, too, who was 2nd to Speed in special teams snaps last season
With free agency now 3 weeks old, there’s not many names left on the open market.
Here are where the Colts free agents have ended up this offseason:
WR-Ashton Dulin (Age: 25): Re-signed by the Colts on a 2-year deal.
WR-Parris Campbell (Age: 25): Signed with Giants on a 1-year deal.
OT-Dennis Kelly (Age: 32): The Colts signed the Purdue product at the start of camp. Kelly started 3 games for the Colts, with the team opting to go for the younger Bernhard Raimann as the left tackle issues began.
OT-Matt Pryor (Age: 27): Signed with the 49ers on a 1-year deal.
DE-Yannick Ngakoue (Age: 27): Ngakoue gave the Colts availability (played in 15 of 17 games) and production (9.5 sacks) they haven’t had in years off the edge. Still though, it doesn’t feel like Ngakoue had the most impactful double-digit season. How much will the return of Gus Bradley influence how the Colts entertain keeping Ngakoue around? Seems not much after the Colts signed Samson Ebukam to a 3-year deal on Tuesday.
DE-Ben Banogu (Age: 26): Honestly, it’s a bit of an accomplishment Bangou finished out his rookie contract still in Indy. He never looked like a reliable defensive end, on any down, and was a major miss as a second-round pick. Banogu didn’t have a sack, QB hit or tackle for loss in 115 defensive snaps this season.
DL-Tyquan Lewis (Age: 27): Re-signed by the Colts on a 1-year deal.
DT-Byron Cowart (Age: 26): Signed with the Chiefs on a 1-year deal
LB-Bobby Okereke (Age: 26): Signing with the Giants on a 4-year deal.
LB-E.J. Speed (Age: 27): Re-signed by the Colts on a 2-year deal.
CB-Brandon Facyson (Age: 28): Signed with the Raiders on a 1-year deal.
CB-Tony Brown (Age: 26): Re-signed by the Colts on a 1-year deal.
S-Rodney McLeod (Age: 32): Like Mike Adams and Mike Mitchell before him, McLeod was a really nice find for the Colts. He took over for Nick Cross in September and started every game the rest of the season. Given his age, does McLeod still want to play?
S-Armani Watts (Age: 26): Watts got hurt in the final preseason game and never played for the Colts in 2022. He was thought to be a special team body in coming over from Kansas City this offseason.
K-Chase McLaughlin (Age: 26): Signed with the Buccaneers on a 1-year deal.
P-Matt Haack (Age: 28): With Rigoberto Sanchez expected to return from his torn Achilles, it’s unlikely Haack will be back. Haack was a decent fill-in for Sanchez, but the latter is definitely a weapon the Colts missed.
