How Zaire Franklin’s new 3-year contract breaks down for Colts

Here’s how Zaire Franklin’s new contract breaks down.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker and defensive captain Zaire Franklin signed a three-year contract extension with the team just before the start of free agency.

Franklin is the only player thus far to sign an extension this offseason with a full year remaining on his deal. The Colts tacked on the three-year contract to his existing deal, meaning the contract runs through the 2027 season.

The three-year deal is worth $31.26 million, including $17.62 million guaranteed, and ranks eighth among linebacker contracts. Here’s how the deal breaks down after the 2024 season, according to Over The Cap:

Three years, $31.26 million

$5 million signing bonus

2025
– $5.74 million base salary (guaranteed)
– $30,000 per game roster bonus
Cap Hit: $7.5 million (2.3%)

2026
– $6.24 million base salary
– $45,000 per game roster bonus
Cap Hit: $8.255 million (2.9%)

2027
– $8.24 million base salary
– $45,000 per game roster bonus
Cap Hit: $10.255 million (3.3%)

Franklin doesn’t have any guaranteed money on the contract after the 2025 season, which is when he’ll be entering his age-30 campaign.

The Colts can save $5.755 million in cap space while incurring a $2.5 million dead cap hit if he’s released or traded during the 2026 offseason. They would save $9 million in cap space and incur $1.25 million in dead cap if he’s released or traded during the 2027 offseason.

Franklin has earned a new contract after being one of the most productive linebackers in the NFL over the last two seasons. He’s a team captain every season, and he gets a nice chunk of change upfront.

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Colts free-agent DE Jacob Martin signs with Bears

Jacob Martin is heading to the Bears.

Indianapolis Colts free-agent defensive end Jacob Martin agreed to a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears on Friday.

While the Colts have been busy re-signing a handful of their own players, Martin will be heading elsewhere after a solid campaign working as a rotational pass rusher.

Martin spent one season with the Colts, which came in 2023, and he fared pretty well considering his limited role.

In 17 games (no starts), Martin recorded 2.0 sacks and three quarterback hits on 16% of the defensive snaps. That may not seem all that significant, but he also added 14 total pressures and a team-high 17.3% pass-rush win rate, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Colts have their solid rotation of four edge rushers so bringing back Martin would have been a luxury.

Now, he joins former Colts defensive coordinator and current Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.

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How Kenny Moore’s 3-year contract with the Colts breaks down

Kenny Moore is once again the NFL’s highest-paid slot CB. Here’s how the contract breaks down.

The Indianapolis Colts re-signed cornerback Kenny Moore II to a three-year contract, keeping him in the Circle City through the 2026 season.

Though it wasn’t totally clear whether Moore would return, the two sides eventually got a deal done to secure the talented slot cornerback for the next three campaigns.

The three-year deal is worth $30 million with $16 million fully guaranteed at signing.

Here’s how his contract breaks down, according to Over The Cap:

Three years, $30 million

$6.75 million signing bonus (guaranteed)

2024
– $4.24 million base salary (guaranteed)
– $30,000 per game roster bonus
Cap Hit: $6.97 million (2.7%)

2025
– $7.99 million base salary ($5.01 million guaranteed)
– $30,000 per game roster bonus
Cap Hit: $10.75 million (4.1%)

2026
– $9.49 million base salary
– $30,000 per game roster bonus
Cap Hit: $12.25 million

With Anthony Richardson currently on his rookie contract, the Colts have had a clear theme of front-loading these three-year deals with guaranteed money during the first two seasons. This gives them an out if needed going into 2026.

If the Colts needed to cut or trade Moore going into the 2026 offseason, they would save $10 million in salary-cap space while incurring just a $2.25 million dead cap hit.

Moore returned to form as one of the best slot defenders in the NFL during the 2023 season. This came off the back of a poor season in the first year within Gus Bradley’s defense.

On this new deal, Moore is now the highest-paid slot cornerback in the NFL—the second time in his career he’s achieved the feat.

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DL Raekwon Davis posts ‘bittersweet’ farewell to the Dolphins

Raekwon Davis shares emotional farewell post to the Dolphins.

The Miami Dolphins have lost a number of players from their 2023 roster by way of free agency in the last week, including defensive lineman Raekwon Davis, who signed a deal to join the Indianapolis Colts.

Davis was Miami’s second-round selection in the 2020 NFL draft out of Alabama, and while he may not have been a Pro Bowl player in aqua and orange, he played a key role as the team’s nose tackle for the past four seasons.

After signing his contract to play for the Colts, Davis took to social media to share his thoughts and feelings about leaving the team that brought him into the NFL.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C4ijI-ML812/

 

Miami is set to play Indianapolis this upcoming season, so we’ll get to see Davis take on his former team in just a few months.

Here are the details of Michael Pittman Jr.’s new contract with Colts

Here’s our breakdown of Michael Pittman Jr.’s contract extension.

The Indianapolis Colts and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. got a deal done on a new three-year contract that will keep him with the team through the  2026 season.

After using the franchise tag to extend their window of negotiation, both sides were able to get a deal completed in what should be a win-win for either party.

The three-year deal is worth $70 million and includes $41 million guaranteed at signing and up to $46 million guaranteed.

Here’s how the contract breaks down, according to Over The Cap:

Three years, $70 million

$15 million signing bonus

2024
– $8 million base salary (guaranteed)
– $5 million roster bonus (guaranteed)
Cap Hit: $18 million (6.9%)

2025
– $18 million base salary ($13 million guaranteed)
– Remaining $5 million guaranteed if on roster fifth day of 2025 league year
Cap Hit: $23 million (8.8%)

2026
– $22 million base salary
– $2 million roster bonus (fifth day of league year)
Cap Hit: $29 million (10.2%)

Going with the theme of the other contracts the Colts have signed this offseason, this shapes up to be essentially a two-year deal with a team option in 2026.

The Colts can save $24 million in cap space while incurring a $5 million dead cap hit if they need to cut or trade Pittman after the 2025 season. It also gives them the opportunity to extend Pittman if things go well.

This is also a win for Pittman because he gets a market-level deal with a ton of guaranteed money upfront, and he potentially gets to hit the market again before the age of 30. That’s huge for a wide receiver of his caliber.

Overall, this is a solid contract for both sides. The Colts retain their WR1 for at least the next two years and can revisit the deal in any capacity if needed after 2025.

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Best photos of new Dolphins LB Anthony Walker Jr.

Best photos of new Dolphins LB Anthony Walker Jr.

The Miami Dolphins, after releasing Jerome Baker before the start of free agency, needed to add at least one linebacker, and they added multiple with Jordyn Brooks and Anthony Walker Jr. joining the team.

Today, we’re going to focus on Walker, who lands in South Florida following stints with the Indianapolis Colts (2017-20) and Cleveland Browns (2021-23).

As Dolphins fans familiarize themselves with one of the team’s newest linebackers, we’ve put together a gallery of photos from his time in Indianapolis and Cleveland.

Take a look:

Watch: New Colts QB Joe Flacco appears on ‘Pat McAfee Show’

Here is Joe Flacco’s full appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show”

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco hasn’t been introduced to the local media yet, but he did make an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” shortly after signing with the team.

Going into his 17th season, Flacco will be joining the Colts as the backup to young quarterback Anthony Richardson. He signed a one-year deal worth up to $8.7 million.

Flacco earned the AP Comeback Player of the Year award in 2023 after helping the Cleveland Browns reach the playoffs despite not being on a team at the beginning of the season.

Here’s his full appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday.

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What is holding up potential Colts trade for L’Jarius Sneed?

Here’s the latest update on a potential Colts trade for L’Jarius Sneed.

The Indianapolis Colts have been reported as a team with serious interest in trading for Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed so what is holding up the potential move?

After Sneed was slapped with the franchise tag before free agency, this became a tag-and-trade situation. That means not only does an inquiring team have to give up draft capital, but they also have to draw up a new contract for Sneed.

Agreeing on trade details can be difficult in itself. But Stephen Holder of ESPN reported it’s the latter that’s keeping a move on hold.

The 27-year-old Sneed is coming off the best season of his career and has only gotten better since entering the NFL in 2020. He was a key piece to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run, and he’s a perfect fit for the Colts defense.

Holder also reported the trade for Sneed isn’t coming from the Chiefs being unreasonable in their asking price. They understand it will be difficult to sign Sneed to a long-term deal, but it appears their asking price isn’t through the roof.

The Colts have spent over $200 million in re-signing their own players in free agency. They’ve added two outside free agents in the form of defensive tackle Raekwon Davis and quarterback Joe Flacco.

We’ll see if this trade continues to be stalled by contract talks, but it appears that’s where the situation stands.

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How we graded Michael Pittman Jr. re-signing with the Colts

Here’s how we graded the contract extension for Michael Pittman Jr.

Michael Pittman Jr. and the Indianapolis Colts agreed to a three-year contract extension on Monday. The deal keeps Pittman in Indianapolis through 2026 after the Colts applied the franchise tag earlier in March ahead of free agency.

Per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, the contract is worth up to $71.5 million with $46 million guaranteed. At full value, it would pay Pittman just under $24 million per year.

In 2023, Pittman tallied 1,152 yards, 109 receptions and four touchdowns. His 1100-plus yards were good for fourteenth in the NFL, and his 109 receptions placed him fourth among receivers.

One of his best performances of the season came against the Tennesee Titans in Week 13. Pittman ended his day with 11 receptions, 105 yards and a touchdown during Indy’s overtime win.

General manager Chris Ballard made it clear that Michael Pittman was a priority. Applying the franchise tag to Pittman while they actively continued negotiations was a good sign that the Colts were serious about retaining him.

Pittman has endured a lot. He’s had a different quarterback in every season he’s been with the Colts, and despite the quarterback carousel, he’s answered the call nearly every time the Colts have asked him to produce. Per PFF, since 2021, he’s been top-15 or higher in targets and receptions, which is a testament to his bell-cow work ethic.

If the Colts let Pittman truly hit the open market and walk away, it would have looked pretty awful on their brass. Pittman is a franchise staple, and you should pay not only for his production and reliability but also because Anthony Richardson needs weapons around him to succeed.

On the other hand, Pittman deserves stability at the quarterback position because he has yet to hit his full potential. If the Colts can unlock that, the possibilities are infinite.

Grade: A

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Colts re-sign DE Genard Avery

Genard Avery returns on a one-year deal.

The Indianapolis Colts re-signed defensive end Genard Avery to a one-year deal, per multiple reports Wednesday.

Avery spent the entire 2023 season on the Reserve/Injured list after he picked up a knee injury during joint training camp practice. The injury was to Avery’s LCL and meniscus and required season-ending surgery.

A fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft out of Memphis, Avery was selected by the Cleveland Browns. He spent one and a half seasons in Cleveland before they traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles at the trade deadline in 2019.

Avery then spent the next two and a half seasons with the Eagles before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2022 offseason. He was cut during the preseason before the 2022 campaign and eventually signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In 62 career games (17 starts), Avery has recorded 106 tackles (65 solo), 8.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 29 quarterback hits.

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