Heading into the 2026 NFL offseason, the Indianapolis Colts find themselves in a solid position when it comes to salary cap flexibility - not flush with cash like a few teams at the top, but certainly not handcuffed either. With $26.9 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap, the Colts rank 12th in the league, giving general manager Chris Ballard some breathing room as he looks to shape the next phase of this roster.
Ballard, known for his methodical approach to roster construction, has started to shift gears in recent years - something owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon acknowledged when speaking to the media after the season. She pointed to a more aggressive tone in Ballard’s recent moves, and it sounds like that mindset is going to carry over into this offseason.
That’s significant, because the Colts have some key areas to address, especially on the defensive side of the ball. While the offense has pieces in place - and a young quarterback to build around - the defense could use reinforcements if Indy wants to stay competitive in a rising AFC.
There’s also work to be done when it comes to the Colts’ own free agents. Among the more notable names hitting the market are Daniel Jones, Alec Pierce, and Nick Cross. Ballard will need to decide who fits into the long-term vision and who might be better replaced through free agency or the draft.
But the $26.9 million figure could grow. Ballard has options to create more room via contract restructures, extensions, or veteran cuts - all standard tools in the GM toolkit this time of year. Plus, any unused cap space from the 2025 season rolls over, giving the Colts another lever to pull if needed.
So how does Indy stack up league-wide? Here’s the full rundown of 2026 salary cap space, from the most flexible to the most strapped:
- Titans - $93.5M
- Raiders - $81.3M
- Chargers - $80.5M
- Seahawks - $66.8M
- Jets - $66.3M
- Commanders - $63.4M
- Bengals - $46.9M
- Steelers - $37.6M
- Rams - $37.3M
- Patriots - $31.2M
- Cardinals - $30.4M
- Colts - $26.9M
- 49ers - $23.3M
- Broncos - $20.4M
- Falcons - $17.4M
- Buccaneers - $16.7M
- Ravens - $13.8M
- Eagles - $10.4M
- Panthers - $9.1M
- Giants - ($58,866)
- Packers - ($10.6M)
- Bills - ($13.96M)
- Texans - ($14.1M)
- Lions - ($16.7M)
- Bears - ($17.6M)
- Saints - ($21.6M)
- Jaguars - ($21.9M)
- Browns - ($23.9M)
- Dolphins - ($30.3M)
- Cowboys - ($39.4M)
- Vikings - ($48.9M)
- Chiefs - ($62.5M)
The takeaway? The Colts are in a healthy middle ground.
They're not sitting on a mountain of cap space like the Titans or Raiders, but they’re also not staring down a financial mess like the Chiefs or Vikings. That gives Ballard the ability to be selective and strategic - traits that have defined his tenure in Indy.
With a young core, room to maneuver, and a front office that’s shown a willingness to adapt, the Colts are entering the 2026 offseason with a chance to make meaningful upgrades - especially on defense - without mortgaging the future. That’s a good place to be.