The Colts are heading into a season that could reshape more than just the standings. If Indianapolis falls short of the postseason, the ripple effect could reach Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen, and that kind of change usually doesn’t stop at the top. It can spread fast.
That’s why this year matters so much for a handful of key players, too. A strong season could make them too expensive to keep if the organization changes direction. A down year, on the other hand, could leave them staring at a very different future.
DeForest Buckner sits near the top of that list. The 32-year-old defensive lineman has already earned enough to live comfortably for the rest of his life, and retirement is very much on the table after 2026 if that’s the route he wants to take. But if he keeps playing, the next step could be another run at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Health is the big variable. Buckner dealt with a neck injury last season, and if that issue flares up again in 2026, he may decide the risk is no longer worth it. If he does play into 2027, the market for him should be strong, and any team that lands him will have to pay up.
Quenton Nelson is in a different spot, but the money story is just as real. Reports say extension talks between Nelson’s agents and the team have stalled.
Even so, a trade feels highly unlikely. Nelson remains one of the Colts’ best players, and Ballard can’t afford to start shipping out elite talent if he’s trying to save his own job.
There’s also the simple reality that Ballard hasn’t exactly been eager to lock players up early. The extension with Jonathan Taylor before the season was the exception, not the rule.
The more likely path is that the Colts wait until after the season to handle Nelson, assuming Ballard is still running the show. At 30, and still playing at a high level, Nelson should have no trouble drawing a major payday by the time the 2027 season opens.
Anthony Richardson’s situation is more complicated, but the contract-year pressure is still there. The Colts would rather Daniel Jones be their long-term starter, which makes Richardson’s future in Indianapolis look shaky beyond 2026. He remains the QB2 to start the season, though Jones’ injury history gives Richardson a real shot to see the field.
If he finally puts together high-level play, the market could move quickly. The source material points to Malik Willis landing with the Miami Dolphins after spending much of his career as a backup, and Richardson could set himself up for a similar jump if he performs. He still has not rescinded his trade request, but a move now seems unlikely, so this season may end up giving him the reps he needs to rebuild his value.
Josh Downs rounds out the group, and his path to a bigger payday looks very straightforward. He’s set to be the Colts’ WR2, and with Alec Pierce still unproven as a target magnet, Downs could see a major bump in volume. That matters, because a strong 2026 would put him in position to cash in during 2027.
Downs has mostly worked out of the slot, but there’s a sense he can do more than that. Week 1 is the start of that opportunity.
If he keeps producing at a high level, Indianapolis will eventually have to decide whether he’s worth paying to stay or whether they’re willing to let him walk and potentially rebuild the receiver room, especially if Keenan Allen is only in town for one season. Either way, a big year would leave Downs in a favorable spot.
In Other News...
C.J. Stroud Just Gave Colts Fans Fresh Ammo In AFC South Debate
The AFC South is never short on offseason chatter, and C.J. Stroud just added another layer to it for Colts fans watching Houston closely. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reported that the Texans quarterback is expected to pass on an extension that would have pushed him past $50 million per year, a striking choice for a young star whose rise has already changed the balance of the division.
Houston already has Stroud on the books through his fifth-year option, which means this is not an immediate contract crisis. Still, the decision keeps the spotlight on where the Texans go from here, especially with an offense built around a quarterback who has quickly become the centerpiece of the conversation in the AFC South. For Indianapolis, any hint of hesitation in Houston only sharpens the sense that this race could stay tighter than it looked a year ago. [Read more 🡒]
Former Colts Starter Suddenly Has A Real Chance To Rebuild Value
Rodney Thomas IIs path out of Indianapolis looked like the sort of quiet departure that can easily get lost in the shuffle, but his move to Seattle has suddenly turned into something more interesting. After the Colts moved on and he signed with the Seahawks in free agency, Thomas landed in a situation where opportunity arrived sooner than expected, thanks to injuries at safety and an opening in a defense that needs dependable depth.
For a player whose calling card has been solid coverage, this is the kind of chance that can reshape how teams view him. Seattle is expected to lean on him as a third safety, even if his run defense remains a limitation and the long-term picture is still unsettled. For the Colts, it is another reminder that a former starter can sometimes rebuild his value quickly once the right snap count and the right circumstances show up. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Still Have One Massive Roster Issue Hanging Over The Season
Quenton Nelson remains one of the central figures in the Colts' long-term picture, but his contract situation is still unresolved as he enters the final year of his deal. Indianapolis gave him a four-year, $80 million extension in 2022, and he has continued to play at a high level since then, which only keeps the focus on what comes next for one of the league's best interior linemen.
The holdup is not about Nelson's value on the field, which has never really been in question. It is about the shape of his next contract and whether the Colts are ready to meet the going rate for a player at his position, with any new deal likely needing to reset the market for interior offensive linemen before the two sides can move forward. [Read more 🡒]