The Indianapolis Colts weren’t actively signing their own players to contract extensions this offseason due to the mystery of the future salary cap implications brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While general manager Chris Ballard said at the start of training camp that some players may begin talking about a potential new deal, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton doesn’t have an idea as to what his future with the Colts holds.
He has said he would love to play a few more years and finish his career in Indy, but he also admitted to reporters Monday that the decision may not be up to him.
“I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. It could be my last year, it could not be. I could get an extension, I could not,” said Hilton. “I’m just going out there and just play it out. If this is my last year, then I’ll give it everything I’ve got no matter what. Even when I’m on the field, I really don’t concentrate on that. That is between Chris (Ballard), Mr. (Jim) Irsay and my agent. It’s up to them. My body of work speaks for itself so the ball is in their court.”
It is no secret what type of impact Hilton has on the Colts offense. The passing game simply isn’t as explosive or consistent when he’s not on the field. He’s dealt with some ailments in recent seasons, but has also proven to be one of the toughest players on the team.
Even though he’d love to finish his career with the team that drafted him in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Hilton understands this may be his final year wearing the horseshoe.
“Absolutely. I mean it’s my last deal on my contract,” Hilton said of 2020 potentially being his final season with the Colts. “I mean, it is what it is. We are going to concentrate on right now and then at the end of the season we will go from there.”
The Colts are still pretty well-situated when it comes to the future salary cap, which is projected to drop down to $175 million in 2021. But Hilton is still a vital piece of the offense and one of the Colts may not want to be without.
It will certainly be something to monitor throughout the season as to whether Hilton gets a new deal, but the 30-year-old is simply focusing on the upcoming campaign.