Colts: 3 cut candidates on Indianapolis’ roster entering 2024 offseason

The Colts have over $66 million in cap space but can still open up even more room by releasing a few players.

Coming off a 4-12-1 year, the Indianapolis Colts entered the 2023 NFL season with low expectations and a plethora of unknowns. For all that uncertainty, Indy had a successful bounce-back campaign and set a strong foundation for the future.

Quarterback of the future Anthony Richardson became QB of the present but then went down with a season-ending injury in Week 4. Backup Gardner Minshew was a more-than-worthy replacement, leading the Colts to a 9-8 record and just a few plays away from the team’s first playoff berth since 2020.

Acquisitions are usually the focus once the season ends, but some of the toughest decisions are internal debates over which veteran players to cut to save money. The Colts enter the offseason in a favorable position with over $66 million in cap space but can still open up even more room by releasing a few players and reallocating funds. Here are the top three cut candidates for the Colts this offseason.

DeForest Buckner (Defensive End)

Few defensive linemen have played better football in recent years than DeForest Buckner. A Pro Bowler and All-Pro with the San Francisco 49ers, Buckner has earned one of those honors in three of his four seasons with the Colts and is coming off another great year. Bucker had eight sacks, two forced fumbles, and a touchdown in 2023 as he returned to the Pro Bowl.

But the veteran defensive end turns 30 in a few weeks and is entering the final year of his contract with the Colts. The good news for Indy is that this is a team-friendly deal. DeForest Buckner carries a $22.75 million cap hit for 2024 but the franchise eats just $2.5 million in dead cap if it releases him at any point this offseason. The production is still there, but now is the ideal time for the Colts to release their star defensive end — especially if a contract extension or trade is not forthcoming.

Ryan Kelly (Center)

Ryan Kelly is another talented Colts veteran who is slated to be a free agent in 2025. The Indy center has earned a Pro Bowl nod in four of the last five years and allowed just one sack this past season. But as is the conundrum with many talented players entering the latter stages of their careers, the Colts must decide whether to re-sign the 30-year-old or let him walk.