Do the Colts’ inactive trade deadline indicate they’re getting ready to extend a few key players?

Following the season-ending surgery on his shoulder, highly valued rookie Anthony Richardson, the Indianapolis Colts entered the trade deadline with a 3–5 record.

Despite rumors that some players will be traded on Tuesday, general manager Chris Ballard and his team decided to stick with the group they had.

The Colts’ choice to keep onto a number of players whose contracts are about to expire is indicative of things to come, even though they aren’t anticipated to contend for a postseason berth in 2023. It appears Indianapolis may be getting ready to shell out a significant sum of money because a number of important players are either leaving or needing new contracts.

The Colts fielded bids for two players whose contracts were about to expire: CB Kenny Moore II and RB Zack Moss. Despite having the second-highest amount of rushing yards in the NFL, teams appeared to believe that Indianapolis would trade Moss cheaply because he is the team’s backup running back behind Jonathan Taylor. The Colts’ young DB room has Moore as its unquestioned leader, so the organization wasn’t in a rush to let him go.

Still a contender?

The Colts’ resistance to closing a trade appears to be an indication that they think they can compete this year and in the future. Ballard demonstrated confidence in his team’s ability to be competitive on a day when non-playoff clubs frequently accept lowball offers in order to receive some compensation on their expiring contracts.

Time for a payday

The Colts might be preparing to give their players extensions if his efforts prove to be fruitful. Moore, Moss, DT Grover Stewart, and WR Michael Pittman Jr. are a few Colts who have big paydays coming up. The team shouldn’t hang onto them for the remainder of the season—during which the playoffs are unlikely—just to let them go in free agency a few months later.

Next season, the Colts will have plenty of room under the salary cap to permanently sign that group. They will rank seventh in the league with their almost $63 million in space next year. The four players mentioned above are probably going to want big contracts, but Indianapolis has plenty of space to keep them.

We may anticipate a series of extensions to be revealed over the coming months, based on the Colts’ actions during the trade deadline. Several key players with expiring contracts will be essential to the Colts as they try to make their way back into the picture.