The Colts already learned one expensive lesson about timing, and Alec Pierce is the proof.
After the 2024 season, Indianapolis had a decision to make on its young receiver. Pierce had only 37 catches, sure, but he also led the NFL in yards per catch and found the end zone seven times.
Chris Ballard chose to wait, wanting another season of evidence before handing out a bigger deal. That patience made sense at the time.
It also got a lot pricier in a hurry.
Pierce backed it up in 2025, and the Colts ended up committing 114 million dollars to keep him for four more seasons. The contrast with Buffalo’s Khalil Shakir only sharpens the point.
Shakir, who came into the league the same year as Pierce, was extended for four years at 53 million dollars after the 2024 season. He wasn’t nearly as explosive, but his deal shows how much money can disappear when a team waits too long.
That’s why the 2026 season matters for a few lesser-known Colts. They are not stars, but if they pop this year, they could force Ballard’s hand and put themselves in line for early extensions before their current deals run out in 2028.
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger is the newest name in the mix, and his path is pretty straightforward. Indianapolis brought him in to shore up backup center, a spot that had become a problem once Danny Pinter was gone. The Colts spent the preseason trying to find dependable help behind rising star Tanor Bortolini, who is also scheduled to hit free agency in 2028 and figures to be near the top of Ballard’s extension priorities.
Van Pran-Granger may never become more than insurance, but that can still matter. If Bortolini’s eventual price gets too high, a capable backup becomes a real asset.
The Ravens are a useful example here, having dealt with a similar situation around Tyler Linderbaum this offseason and signing Pinter back in March. Van Pran-Granger is still a fresh evaluation for Indianapolis, though, and he may or may not play his way into a longer-term role.
If he does show well in practice or in games, he could become a low-cost safeguard.
Matt Goncalves is a different case because he already matters on Sundays. He’s a starter and a good one, and he’s only 25.
On paper, he looks like the kind of young lineman Ballard would want to secure early. But the Colts’ offensive line picture complicates that plan.
Goncalves and Bortolini entered the league in the same draft class, and both are tied to the same contract timeline. They’re also working next to each other at center and right guard, which makes the financial puzzle even tighter.
Quenton Nelson is due a costly new deal. Bernhard Raimann is already on a healthy contract.
Bortolini won’t be cheap either. And with Jalen Farmer on a rookie deal for three more years, the Colts have to ask whether they can afford to lock up Goncalves too.
For him to become an early-extension candidate, he has to keep developing.
Then there’s Jaylon Carlies, whose stock has gone on a real ride. At one point, he looked like the next linebacker to step into E.J.
Speed’s role in 2025. Then an ankle injury before the 2025 season pushed him into the background.
This offseason, Ballard signed Akeem Gaither-Davis and used two draft picks on linebackers, which seemed to bury Carlies even further.
But preseason changed the picture. The rookies struggled, while Carlies looked sharp.
That opens the door for a very different outcome in 2026. He could end up becoming the Colts’ best linebacker as the season unfolds, especially since the rookies are tied up cheaply for three more years and Gaither-Davis is only under contract through this season.
If Carlies stays healthy and keeps producing, an early extension is on the table.
None of these players fits the usual star-label standard. Van Pran-Granger is a backup.
Carlies might be a rotational piece or more. Goncalves is the only established starter, and he also brings tackle flexibility.
But that’s exactly how teams get ahead of the market. One good season can change the math fast.
Alec Pierce already showed the Colts what that looks like.
In Other News...
Colts Just Sent A Clear Message With This Late Roster Shakeup
The Colts made a late roster tweak this week, moving offensive tackle Luke Tenuta from the practice squad onto the 53-man roster and waiving cornerback Jaylon Jones to open the spot. Its the kind of transaction that can get overlooked on a busy roster sheet, but it points to where Indianapolis wanted a little more security heading into the stretch run: the backup tackle group.
Tenuta gives the Colts added depth behind the starting offensive line, while the corresponding practice-squad move brought in tight end Kenny Fletcher Jr. to fill the vacancy. Small as it may seem, the shuffle says plenty about how the team is trying to balance protection up front with the flexibility to keep the rest of the roster stocked. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Made A Secondary Decision Fans Didn't See Coming
The Colts kept tweaking the bottom of the roster by moving offensive tackle Luke Tenuta up from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, a shift that opened a spot for the team to make another pass at its depth. To keep the practice squad balanced, Indianapolis also brought in free agent tight end Kenny Fletcher Jr., an undrafted rookie out of Rutgers who made his college move from defensive end to tight end.
The move that stands out most is on the other side of the ball, where the Colts waived cornerback Jaylon Jones, a two-year starter for the team before this latest shake-up. Tenuta brings prior NFL stops with the Bills, Packers and Cardinals, but Jones departure adds a layer of intrigue because it trims from a position group that has mattered for Indianapolis, and it leaves one more roster question hanging as the team sorts out what it wants its secondary to look like next. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Secondary Draws Fresh Scrutiny Right Before The Opener
The Colts secondary is getting a little unwanted attention as the season opener approaches, with two defensive backs landing on the NFLs fine list for preseason infractions. Cam Taylor-Britt was hit for unnecessary roughness on a tackle in the finale against the Lions, while Trey Washington was fined for a facemask in a preseason game against the Falcons, adding a late-week reminder that discipline has been part of the conversation around this group.
The bigger issue for Indianapolis is the timing. Taylor-Britt is already set to miss the opener because of a separate suspension tied to a violation of the leagues personal conduct policy, leaving the Colts to sort out their back end without one of its most recognizable defenders. For a unit trying to settle in before the games start counting, the added fines only underscore how little margin there is for error. [Read more 🡒]