The Indianapolis Colts head into the 2026 offseason with a familiar dilemma-only this time, it’s not about quarterbacks or cornerbacks. It’s about kickers.
And after the carousel that spun through the position last season, Indy has a decision to make: **Blake Grupe or Spencer Shrader? **
Let’s rewind a bit. The Colts were hit hard by injuries in 2025, and kicker wasn’t spared.
Spencer Shrader won the job out of camp and looked solid early on. But in Week 5 against the Raiders, Shrader tore his MCL and ACL-an injury that ended his season and left the Colts scrambling for answers at the position.
Enter Michael Badgley. The veteran filled in, but while he was steady on field goals, his extra point struggles were baffling. In today’s NFL, you can’t afford to leave points on the board, and Badgley’s inconsistency opened the door for another change.
That’s when Blake Grupe stepped in-and made the most of his second chance.
**Grupe’s late-season run wasn’t just impressive. It might’ve been career-defining.
** The former Saints kicker went a perfect 11-for-11 on field goals and nailed all 10 of his extra point attempts. Most notably, he went 4-for-4 from beyond 50 yards.
That’s the kind of leg strength that changes games-and maybe even seasons.
Compare that to Shrader’s numbers before the injury: 13-of-14 on field goals, perfect on extra points, with his lone miss coming from beyond 50. That’s a strong showing, no doubt. But Shrader doesn’t have Grupe’s range, and coming off a major knee injury, there’s no guarantee he’ll return at full strength in 2026.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting.
Shrader is under contract for 2026 at $1.2 million-a manageable number, but not insignificant for a kicker. If the Colts decide to move on, they’d only take a $175,000 dead cap hit.
On the other hand, Grupe is an exclusive rights free agent, meaning Indianapolis can retain him simply by extending a qualifying offer. Low risk, potentially high reward.
So what’s the play here?
If you’re looking purely at performance, Grupe has the edge. He was flawless in his five-game audition and showed the kind of range that can flip field position-and swing close games.
In a season that could come down to one or two wins for a playoff spot, that matters. A lot.
But Shrader has a case, too. Before the injury, he was reliable.
He did everything asked of him and missed only one long-range attempt. If he’s healthy, he’s a quality option.
The problem is, the Colts can’t afford to carry two kickers on the 53-man roster. It’s going to be one or the other.
That puts general manager Chris Ballard in a tough spot. This isn’t just a kicker decision-it’s a roster decision with real implications.
If the Colts are hovering around .500 again in 2026, a couple of long field goals might be the difference between sneaking into the playoffs or missing out. And in a results-driven league, that could be the difference between Ballard keeping his job in 2027-or not.
Bottom line: Grupe’s leg strength and clean track record in Indy give him the inside track. But if Shrader proves he's healthy and ready to go, the Colts will have a tough call to make. Either way, this is one of those under-the-radar offseason decisions that could quietly shape the outcome of next season.