Tag: Isaiah McKenzie

Predicting the fate of every Colts’ pending free agent in 2024

Predicting which Colts’ free agents stay and go in 2024.

The Indianapolis Colts are just over a week away from the start of free agency, and there are some big decisions to make when it comes to the players set to hit the market.

Expected to have roughly 14 unrestricted free agents set to hit the market this offseason, the Colts won’t be able to bring all of them back. In fact, it’s likely that most of them find a new home in 2024.

The team’s current standing with the salary cap is among the strongest the NFL.

We took a look at the players the Colts should let walk into free agency and the players who should be re-signed this offseason.

Now, it’s time to predict the fate of every pending free agent for the Colts in 2024.

Grading the Colts’ 2023 free agent signings one year later

One year later, grading the Colts’ 2023 free agent signings.

With the benefit of hindsight, we now have a full season’s worth of information to judge the signings the Indianapolis Colts made during the 2023 offseason.

Some of them panned out better than expected. Others not so much.

Simply looking at the outside free agents brought onto the roster last offseason, we’re here to re-grade the signings the Colts made one year later. So we won’t be discussing the re-signings of players like Tyquan Lewis and E.J. Speed, both of which turned out exceptionally.

For reference, we’ll compare the initial grade we gave at the moment to how we currently feel about the signing.

Without further ado, here are our grades for the Colts’ free-agent class of 2023 one year later:

Ranking Colts’ pending free agents by importance

Ranking the Colts’ most important pending free agents.

The Indianapolis Colts have 14 players set to be unrestricted free agents this offseason with a number of players from that list who were major contributors for the team in 2023.

The Colts, despite having the fifth most cap space in the NFL (roughly $58.9 million) according to Over The Cap, will have to make some potentially tough decisions in regard to how they allocate those funds this offseason

Here, we are ranking these 14 players by their importance to retain for general manager Chris Ballard and Indianapolis in 2024.

 

4 pending free agents the Colts should let walk

The Colts should not re-sign these four pending free agents.

The Indianapolis Colts have plenty of decisions to make over the next month when it comes to their in-house free agents.

While we already looked at which pending free agents they should bring back, now it’s time to take a look at which ones they should let walk into the market.

These decisions are difficult for just about everyone, but the NFL is a business.

Here are four pending free agents the Colts should let walk this offseason:

Colts’ special teams unit ranked middle of the pack

Colts sit middle of the pack in Rick Gosselin’s special teams rankings.

The Indianapolis Colts special teams unit underwent a slight makeover during the 2023 offseason following the departure of Bubba Ventrone and the arrival of new coordinator Brian Thomas.

As a whole, the unit had its ups and downs. There were bright moments like the two big plays on blocked punts against the Tennessee Titans. There were also some lapses. They allowed the ninth-most punt return yards (360) and the seventh-most yards per kick returns (26.1).

Rick Gosselin released his annual special teams rankings for the 2023 season, and the Colts found themselves right in the middle of the pack at No. 16 overall.

There is always an adjustment period when a new coordinator takes over, regardless of whether it comes on offense, defense or special teams. Losing Ventrone was going to make life a bit difficult on the unit, especially considering how well they ranked throughout his tenure with the Colts.

There were some injuries that played a factor as well. Losing Ashton Dulin, one of the best gunners in the NFL, due to a torn ACL was a huge blow. Then, the team lost cornerback and return man Dallis Flowers to a torn Achilles a year after he led the NFL in yards per return. Both players were regarded as two of the best special teamers on the entire roster.

Meanwhile, punter Rigoberto Sanchez was working his way back from a torn Achilles that claimed his entire 2022 season.

On punt returns, Isaiah McKenzie spent the majority of the season as the return man. He was pretty inefficient, though, averaging 8.9 yards per return on 23 returns. The team as a whole only return nine total kicks during the season thanks to the new kickoff rules.

Barring a surprising move, Mason will be back for his second season as the special teams coordinator in 2024, and it will be interesting to see if the return of both Dulin and Flowers can get this unit back to where it was before.

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Colts’ Shane Steichen on suspensions: ‘There are standards’

Shane Steichen didn’t go into details about the suspensions, but he did mention the need for accountability.

The Indianapolis Colts made a somewhat surprising move Tuesday announcing the suspensions of wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie and cornerback Tony Brown for conduct detrimental to the team.

In meeting with the media Wednesday for the first time since those suspensions were announced, head coach Shane Steichen didn’t offer much in the way of details.

But he did mention the standard the team is trying to build.

“I’ll start off, as you guys have seen, we’ve suspended Isaiah McKenzie and Tony Brown. I know you guys are going to have questions regarding specifics, but it’s a matter that we’re handling internally and I’ve got nothing to add on that,” Steichen said.

When asked about the difficulty of deciding to self-impose suspensions, Steichen mentioned the importance of accountability.

“Yeah, no I think there are standards around here and we’ve got to hold people accountable. That’s it,” Steichen said.

Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reported Wednesday that both players’ lockers were cleared out.

It still isn’t clear what led to the team suspending two key special teamers, and it isn’t clear when (or if) we will find out what happened.

What is clear is that Steichen is going to run a tight ship while trying to build a winning culture, something the players seemingly have responded to during the early part of his tenure.

“I think everything is case by case. There are certain things that happen on football teams, but again, there is going to be a standard set around here and people are going to be held accountable.”

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Colts make several roster moves after suspending two players

The Colts made some roster moves after suspending two players.

The Indianapolis Colts made several roster moves Tuesday after announcing self-imposed suspensions of cornerback Tony Brown and wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie, the team announced Tuesday.

It isn’t clear what led to the suspensions, which were listed due to conduct detrimental to the team. Both Brown and McKenzie were healthy scratches for the Week 15 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers so there is likely a connection.

The Colts announced more roster moves after the suspensions Tuesday, including one player being added to the active roster.

Colts suspend WR Isaiah McKenzie, CB Tony Brown

The Colts suspended WR Isaiah McKenzie and CB Tony Brown for conduct detrimental to the team.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie and cornerback Tony Brown were suspended by the team three games for conduct detrimental to the team.

It isn’t clear what happened behind the scenes, but it explains why both players were healthy scratches during the Week 15 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

McKenzie was replaced by rookie Josh Downs as the punt returner in Week 15. He averaged an impressive 12.7 yards per return on three punts during the 30-13 win.

The Colts will have two roster spots to fill so it’s likely some move will be coming as they prepare for the Week 16 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

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Colts vs. Jaguars: 5 things to know in Week 1

Here are five things to know for the Week 1 matchup between the Colts and Jaguars.

Regular season football is officially back, and the Indianapolis Colts start their 2023 season against the reigning AFC South division winners.

The Jacksonville Jaguars return to Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 10, to defend their crown.

Indianapolis has a new coaching staff, quarterback, and team identity built around youth. It’s all hands on deck as the team looks to win its first game in the Shane Steichen era.

Here are five things to know entering the Week 1 matchup:

Colts re-sign former Georgia WR Isaiah McKenzie

McKenzie re-signs with the Colts after being cut earlier this week…

It’s been a dramatic week for former Georgia wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie. The seventh-year NFL pro was cut earlier this week by the Indianapolis Colts before re-signing on Wednesday.

McKenzie spent the last five seasons in Buffalo after his rookie season with the Denver Broncos.

Through six seasons McKenzie has amassed 141 receptions for 1,345 yards and 11 touchdowns, while adding another 1,630 yards and a score as return specialist.

McKenzie earned the nickname ‘The Human Joystick’ for his knack for making defenders miss during his career as a Bulldog.

McKenzie will play with former Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. The Colts have a young roster and are looking to make some noise in the AFC South.

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