Throughout the offseason, the Indianapolis Colts will be faced with tough decisions everywhere. That could include parting ways with some players currently on the roster as free agency and the 2020 NFL draft approaches.
During the offseason, a player is cut most of the time because of salary cap implications. Given how the Colts have operated over the last three years, they have enough salary-cap space to where they don’t need to release a player simply so they can free up some money.
Even with that said, there are a few players that are eligible candidates to be cut this offseason. Whether it’s because the Colts upgraded at their position or whether they’ve become an expendable piece, there are two Colts who have the most realistic chance of being let go this offseason.
Margus Hunt | DT | Age: 32
The first one comes in the form of the veteran from Estonia. Since being signed in 2017, Hunt has been a big part of the defensive line. He’s spent most of his time working on the interior and while he had some success in 2018, his time with the Colts could be coming to an end.
Hunt has just about everything working against him. He’s approaching his age-33 season. He was a big reason the interior defensive line was so unproductive in 2019 and there is a high chance the Colts invest heavily in a younger, more talented player at the position. The other part comes with his contract.
If the Colts part ways with Hunt before June 1, they will save $4 million, per Over The Cap. They won’t owe any money at all because of the way the Colts structured the contract.
Again, the Colts don’t need the money. But if and when they add to the position—which could be in free agency or early in the 2020 NFL draft—it might not be long until he’s gone.
Brian Hoyer | QB | Age: 34
This is contingent on whether the Colts bring in a quarterback. If they wind up going with a veteran like Philip Rivers, Hoyer’s contract is likely released that same day. The more likely option is that the Colts draft a quarterback in April.
There is a world where the Colts keep the rookie quarterback, Jacoby Brissett and Brian Hoyer all on the roster at the same time. But the Colts typically don’t like to carry three quarterbacks on the active roster—something they did for the second half of the 2019 season.
If the Colts take a quarterback in the first round of the draft, Hoyer could see his way out at some point during the preseason. It might be a different story if they wait to draft a quarterback later, because that rookie won’t be ready to step in if something happens to Brissett.
Cutting Hoyer before June 1 would net $2 million in dead salary cap but it would save $3 million.
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