Colts Offensive Line in Shambles: Indy Faces Uncertain Future Up Front
General Manager Chris Ballard has always been a fan of building the Indianapolis Colts through the trenches, opting to spend big on offensive and defensive lines. Heading into a pivotal offseason for the team, he has several massive decisions to make along the offensive line.
The Colts offensive line was a strength heading into last season, headlined by superstar left guard Quenton Nelson. The team returned all five starters from the year prior, and 2024 got off to a red-hot start for the veteran offensive line. Right guard Will Fries looked like an All-Pro through six weeks and left tackle Bernhard Raimann continued his strong stretch of play from the prior years.
The high level of player up front began to fade in week six, however, as Fries suffered a season-ending ankle injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Replacing him was undrafted rookie Dalton Tucker who was a major downgrade for seven weeks until he was benched for veteran Mark Glowinski. This hole on the right side was further exasperated by injuries/personal issues that limited Braden Smith to just 12 games played.
Add time missed by Ryan Kelly and Raimann and the Colts’ offensive line faded down the stretch a good bit. As the team heads into this offseason, several questions must be asked along the trenches. Should the team entertain re-signing Fries and Kelly? What should the team do about Smith? Are Matt Goncalves and/or Tanor Bortolini ready to start next season?
Let’s dive into these questions today.
Massive Pending Free Agents
Two of the Colts’ five starters on the offensive line are set to become free agents this offseason. Kelly, the long-time captain is currently the longest-tenured player on the roster. A former first-round pick under then-general manager Ryan Grigson, Kelly is one of the few players who’s survived the roster purges.
At his peak, Kelly is a four time pro bowler and a second-team All-Pro in his nine year career with the Colts. He has been a team captain for a majority of his tenure, and his chemistry with Nelson has been a staple of the Colts’ offensive line for years. Even last year, in a down season, he played quite well down the stretch as the Colts’ run game caught fire to close out the season.
The reality of the situation is that Kelly is a 31-year-old player with an extensive injury history at his position. The Colts would probably be wise to let the veteran walk, even if that means starting a player who isn’t quite as good on the field. According to Mike Chappell of Fox59, that appears to be the direction this is heading.
The other major internal free agent is Fries. Fries is a former seventh-round pick who gradually grew into his starting role on the right side. He was enjoying a massive breakout season this past year prior to breaking his ankle in week six. A source inside the Colts’ building recently said that Fries was the Colts’ best player on the offensive line in that six-game stretch.
The decision to re-sign Fries should be much easier than the Kelly decision, but it doesn’t come without questions as well. How much will the 26-year-old guard command on the open market? He doesn’t have accolades to his name and is coming off of a season-ending injury, but this is an offensive lineman-starved league. Does he approach $12 million a year? Maybe up to $15 million per year?
Even if his pricetag does hit that high, are the Colts in a position to let a talented young player walk? If they are already letting Kelly hit the market, letting another strong starter on the offensive line test as well could be dangerous. Unlike with Kelly, the Colts don’t have an internal option to replace Fries either. It would almost be roster malpractice to let a player of Fries’ caliber touch the market this offseason.
Even if it would be insane though, there is always the possibility of the Colts losing Fries on the open market come March.
