The Indianapolis Colts are in need of some major changes after they suffered a hugely disappointing 4-12-1 season in 2022.
They traded standout cornerback Stephon Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys while releasing veteran quarterback Matt Ryan, which may make it seem on the surface like they’re just gutting their roster.
However, both moves will reportedly create $27.1 million in salary cap space, which will allow them to go out and bring in some reinforcements.
Between trading Stephon Gilmore and releasing Matt Ryan, the Colts will have created $27.1M in cap space.
Flexibility for the team to reshape the roster. https://t.co/fg4lv9bsb9
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 14, 2023
Indianapolis traded for Ryan last offseason, and had some legitimate hope of finishing first in the anemic AFC South and returning to the NFL playoffs.
But Ryan played poorly and was benched late in the season following a blown 33-point lead against the Minnesota Vikings, and it was clear the 37-year-old wouldn’t be the solution.
Moving forward, the Colts have star running back Jonathan Taylor, who missed six games due to injury, as well as a solid wide receiver in Michael Pittman Jr., who had 925 yards and four touchdowns in 2022.
But they were weak on the defensive side of the football, as they ranked 28th in points allowed.
The Colts will also have the fourth overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft, and if they’re very lucky, perhaps they will have the opportunity to draft a potential franchise quarterback such as CJ Stroud, Will Levis or Anthony Richardson.
The future starts now for Indianapolis, as the team can start to put the 2022 season behind them with a new QB and a new head coach in Shane Steichen, the Philadelphia Eagles’ former offensive coordinator.
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The Colts Have Reportedly Made A Decision On Matt Ryan
