FanPost

Another Look at Indianapolis Colts Free Agents 2015

Every off-season NFL franchises have to go through a round of reflection on the strengths and weaknesses on their team rosters. The NFL Draft will approach, providing an opportunity for teams to select the best young talent to improve areas of need or uncover future superstars who will lift the team to a new level. Free agency will provide teams the opportunity to reload by out-bidding or out-courting other NFL franchises for the services of superstar players or veteran role players who can help provide the caulk the holds teams together at their weakest points.

The first step, though, for every NFL team is to consider who on their own roster will be heading into free agency, which of those players to bring back, and how much money they are willing or capable of spending in order to keep their own pieces in place. Let's get that process started for the Indianapolis Colts by taking a look at the team's 2015 free agents.

UNRESTRICTED

WR Reggie Wayne (2014 Salary $6,166,668)
DE Cory Redding (2014 Salary $4,391,667)
WR Hakeem Nicks (2014 Salary $3,975,000)
QB Matt Hasselbeck (2014 Salary $3,750,000)
CB Daris Butler (2014 Salary $3,000,000)
DE Fili Moala (2014 Salary $1,600,000)
OL Joe Reitz (2014 Salary $1,431,000)
CB Josh Gordy (2014 Salary $1,431,000)
S Sergio Brown (2014 Salary $1,400,000)
LB Andy Studebaker (2014 Salary $730,000)
S Colt Anderson (2014 Salary $635,000)
S Mike Adams (2014 Salary $635,000)

Unrestricted free agents are free to discuss a new contract with all NFL teams once the new league year officially begins on March 10, 2015. Their current teams have no special authority over the players and must compete with all other NFL teams in order to sign unrestricted free agents. More often than not, absent significant discrepancies on salaries or in the promise of on-field opportunities, or occasionally if there is a major restructure organizationally, unrestricted free agents will give their current franchises a close look.

The Indianapolis Colts have a long history of retaining their own free agents with a high level of priority. Additionally, Indy has a league-wide reputation as one of the best locker room cultures and family atmospheres. Selling players on the organization is never a hard time. Still, some players may be attracted to larger markets or warmer clients -- a phenomenon not limited to professional football.

RESTRICTED

LB Jerrell Freeman (2014 Salary $576,000)
LS Matt Overton (2014 Salary $570,000)
C AQ Shipley (2014 Salary $570,000)
RB Dan "Boom" Herron (2014 Salary $570,000)
S Delano Howell (2014 Salary $570,000)
RB Ahmad Bradshaw (2014 Salary $486,353)
DT Jeris Pendleton (2014 Salary $318,000)
WR Josh Cribbs (2014 Salary $301,764)
RB Michael Hill (2014 Salary -----)
CB Chris Rucker (2014 Salary -----)
CB Antonio Fenelus (2014 Salary -----)
CB Cameron Chism (2014 Salary -----)
S Matt Merletti (2014 Salary -----)
OL David Arkin (2014 Salary -----)

Restricted free agents are players who are free to speak with other teams once the new NFL season begins. If one of these players receives an offer from a new team and presents the written offer from that team to his current team, the current team has the right of first refusal to match the competing offer or to allow the player to sign with the new team.

In order to protect a coveted player, teams may choose to counter the competing teams by placing a tender offer that would require the competing team to give up a draft pick in the upcoming draft in order to sign the player. The values with the corresponding draft pick levels are listed below from 2014.

$1.323 million tender offer from current team requires no compensation from competing team in order to sign the restricted player. This is most often used for players who entered the NFL as undrafted free agents.

$1.431 million tender offer from current team requires competing team to give up a draft pick in the upcoming draft at the players original draft position in order to sign the restricted player.

$2.187 million tender offer from current team requires competing team to give up a second round draft pick in the upcoming draft in order to sign the restricted player.

$3.113 million tender offer from current team requires competing team to give up a first round draft pick in the upcoming draft in order to sign the restricted player.

Needless to say, the likelihood of the current team to retain restricted free agents is much higher than unrestricted free agents. Competing team are rarely quick to part ways with draft picks for players that current teams are unwilling to pay more than $3.113 million a year to retain. The most common exceptions to the rules would be when players current or projected production levels far exceed the salary levels they have on their current teams and their current teams either 1) cannot afford to retain the player at a a salary level commensurate with the players performance or 2) require a focus on adding young talent through the draft in order to rebuild the franchise.

The restricted free agency process ends on April 29, 2015, one day before the 2015 NFL Draft.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS

LB Cam Johnson (2014 Salary $495,000)
LB Josh McNary (2014 Salary $495,000)
OL Xavier Nixon (2014 Salary $411,706)
LB Daniel Adongo (2014 Salary $318,000)

Exclusive rights free agents have two realities to face at the end of an NFL season. 1) They do not have a contract to play in the NFL in the upcoming season. 2) If their current team offers them a contract, regardless of the amount (within minimum salary rules), they must accept that salary or choose to not play in the NFL. The current team has all of the power with players under this designation.



This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.