The Indianapolis Colts made a bold statement at the trade deadline by acquiring All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets. This blockbuster move saw the Colts parting with two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. At that point, the Colts were sitting pretty at 7-2, leading the AFC South.
Unfortunately, the season took a nosedive as the Colts stumbled to a 1-7 finish, ending at 8-9 and missing the playoffs. To make matters worse, quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a torn Achilles on December 7.
Despite the rough ending to the 2025 season, the Colts are doubling down for 2026. They've re-signed Jones to a two-year deal worth up to $100 million and locked in wide receiver Alec Pierce with a four-year, $114 million contract.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer points out that the Colts are clearly committed to their current core. Gardner tops their payroll at $30.1 million per year, with six other players earning between $25 million and $14 million annually.
Breer defends the re-signing of Jones and Pierce, highlighting the financial landscape of the quarterback and wide receiver markets. He emphasizes Pierce's unique big-play ability, which is harder to find compared to Michael Pittman Jr.'s toughness and reliability. The Colts recently traded Pittman to the Steelers in a late-round pick swap.
With Chris Ballard entering his 10th year as GM and Shane Steichen in his fourth year as coach, the pressure is on. Ballard has made the playoffs twice, with the last postseason victory in 2018. Steichen is still seeking his first playoff appearance.
Before his injury, Jones provided stability at quarterback, posting 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions on a 68% completion rate over 13 games. He started strong with 13 touchdowns and just three interceptions in the first two months of the season, but turnover issues resurfaced in November. The Colts are banking on his early-season form to carry into 2026.
Alec Pierce, at 25, has emerged as a premier deep threat, leading the league in average yards per reception over the past two seasons. Last year, he racked up 1,003 yards and six touchdowns on 47 catches, showcasing his ability to stretch the field.
The Colts are clearly all-in, aiming to turn their aggressive moves into success on the field.