Fooch’s note: We had a delay in these articles once the GM/HC search began. Now is as good a time to pick it back up!
I will be doing a series of articles that will be taking a methodical team by team approach to next year’s possible free agents. I will be starting with the team that has the least amount of salary cap space and ending with the team with the most. I will try to give a brief description of as many of the possible free agents as I can. I will also be looking for players that might be salary cap cuts in order for their teams to make room to sign some of these possible free agents. Any information anyone else can contribute on these players would be very much appreciated.
The Indianapolis Colts projected to be $42,330,123 UNDER the cap (all salary info via Over The Cap) for 2017 and with 50 players under contract.
(EastBayNinerFan has the combined total of the salary cap surplus carry over from 2016 and the cap space for 2017 as $56,015,216).
Dollar figures listed are player’s 2016 cap hits.
34OLB Robert Mathis - $5,000,000
Robert Mathis is 35 years old and was drafted by the Colts in the fifth round of the 2003 draft. Mathis announced on December 30 that he would be retiring after the season ended.
34OLB Trent Cole - $5,093,750
Trent Cole is 34 years old and was originally drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2005 draft. The Colts signed Cole in March of 2015 after he was released by the Eagles. Cole had the second most sacks in Eagle history behind only Reggie White. He has 16 tackles and two sacks this year.
34OLB Eric Walden - $4,250,000
Eric Walden is 31 years old and was originally drafted by the Cowboys in the sixth round f the 2008 draft. Walden signed with the Colts in 2013 after spending three years with the Packers. Walden has 42 tackles, 11 sacks and two forced fumble this year. Not bad numbers at all. However, PFF only has him rated as the 106th best outside pass rusher in the NFL. What’s up with that? Maybe he can’t set an edge?
CB Darius Butler - $3,000,000
Darius Butler is 30 years old and was originally drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2009 draft. Butler was signed by the Colts in 2012 after being waived by the Panthers. He has 33 tackles, seven passes defended, three interceptions and one forced fumble this season. PFF has him rated as the 21st best cornerback in the NFL this season.
S Mike Adams - $2,209,375
Mike Adams is 35 years old and was originally picked up as an undrafted free agent by the 49ers in 2004. Adams signed with the Colts in June of 2014 after being released by the Broncos. Adams has 79 tackles, two passes defended, two interception and two forced fumbles. What is with all of these geriatric overachievers?
TE Jack Doyle - $1,671,000
Jack Doyle is 26 years old and was originally picked up by the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2013. The Colts signed him after the Titans waived him in 2013. Doyle has 59 receptions for 584 yards and five touchdowns this season.
34OLB Chris Carter - $705,882
Chris Carter is 27 years old and was originally drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 2011 draft. Carter was signed by the Colts in October after being released by Ravens. He has eight tackles this season.
RB Jordan Todman - $600,000
Jordan Todman is 26 years old and was originally drafted by the Chargers in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. The Colts signed Todman in March of the year. He has nine carries for 59 yards and 16 kickoff returns for 478 yards and one touchdown this season. He had 38 kickoff returns for 972 while playing for Jacksonville in 2014.
RB Robert Turbin - $600,000
Robert Turbin is 27 years old and was originally drafted by the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2012 draft. I can still hear the Seahawk fans saying RTIOF. Turbin signed with the Colts in March of this year. Turbin has 47 carries for 164 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
RG Hugh Thornton - $1,807,345
Hugh Thornton is 25 years old and was drafted by the Colts in the third round of the 2013 draft. Thornton has been on injured reserve since December of last year. PFF did not have him rated all that high before his injury.