Colts should re-sign eight pending free….

The Indianapolis Colts have a lot of decisions to make as the 2024 offseason begins, including what to do with the crop of players due to hit free agency.

According to Over The Cap, the Colts will have approximately $58.9 million in salary-cap space to re-sign a handful of pending free agents before they reach the market in mid-March.

Here are eight pending free agents that the Colts should consider re-signing this offseason:

The Colts’ first priority during the early part of the offseason is to re-sign Pittman to an extension. Though he stated that he would be happy to play under the franchise tag if it meant obtaining an extension, the Colts should attempt to sign their No. 1 wide receiver to a long-term contract. Despite a quarterback carousel, Pittman has been nothing short of effective, and he has demonstrated his ability to thrive in a leadership role. This is a no-brainer.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens to Moore. The Colts should aim to re-sign the dynamic slot defender, who bounced back significantly during the 2023 season. Moore returned to Pro Bowl form in his second year under Gus Bradley, and while Julius Brents and Jaylon Jones show promise, Moore has been the secondary’s leader in recent seasons.

In principle, missing six games due to a ban would reduce a player’s value in a contract year. Stewart’s situation could not be more contrary. While Stewart’s suspension was disheartening, we saw what the run defense looked like for six consecutive games without him. The unit’s performance was so dismal that Stewart may have gained an advantage during his absence. Stewart is in the peak of his career as a defensive lineman, and he’s also improving as a pass rusher.

Few players have garnered the level of respect that Lewis has. Despite suffering season-ending knee injuries midway through the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Lewis returned in 2023 to have a career year. Lewis is unlikely to sign for the $2.1 million he received last offseason, but as long as the money is reasonable, he should be maintained as a critical depth component.

This should be an interesting case. Moss and starter Jonathan Taylor formed a good 1-2 punch, and he earned his roses for his early-season production in 2023. Despite a drop in production with Gardner Minshew at quarterback, Moss demonstrated his ability to be a reliable change-of-pace back. The Colts should consider re-signing him, as long as it is not for starting money.

Sanchez is now a free agent for the first time in his career. Despite coming off an Achilles injury that cost him the whole 2022 season, Sanchez averaged a career-high 48.3 yards per punt attempt in 2023. He also downed 21 of 68 punts inside the 20-yard line, surpassing the record for the sixth time in six seasons.

The Colts should re-sign Minshew only if it is for backup purposes. After playing in that capacity for the most of the 2023 season, he may enter the market in search of borderline starter money. Minshew is a reliable backup and an excellent locker room presence. He understands the complexities of Shane Steichen’s offense and is an excellent mentor for Anthony Richardson. But the NFL is a business, and it’s probably not a good idea for the Colts to overspend on insurance, especially at the game’s most crucial position.

This is one of the Colts’ toughest decisions this offseason. Blackmon has definitely demonstrated skill, as he thrived as the strong safety in Gus Bradley’s defense. However, Blackmon continued to battle with injuries, which have been a recurring theme throughout his career. If a deal can be reached for $6-8 million, the Colts should take advantage of it while still adding to the roster through free agency or the 2024 NFL Draft.