Colts Free Agency: Should the Colts Re-Sign Cory Redding?

In order to prepare for free agency, we're in the midst of a series looking at each free agent to be from the Colts and whether or not the team should re-sign the player.  Today we're looking at defensive end Cory Redding, and in the case of Redding it's likely not as much of a question as whether the Colts should bring him back but whether he will choose to return to the NFL at all.

In 2014, Redding started all 16 regular season games (and all three playoff games), recording 35 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a pass defensed.  The 34-year old has spent the last three seasons with the Colts, starting 45 games and recording 107 tackles, 10 sacks, and seven passes defensed.  Redding has been the team's best defensive lineman for three years in a row and a very consistent player, but in addition he has also been a captain and a tremendous team leader.

It's clear that Redding loves playing for the Colts and especially for head coach Chuck Pagano, which he has repeatedly said is the reason why he came to Indianapolis in 2012.  He was a big part of the incredibly rapid turnaround that first season and since then he has been a consistent player who has played very good football for the Colts along the defensive line.

The real question with Redding is not whether the Colts should bring him back but whether Redding will decide to come back to the NFL or not.  The 12-year veteran is considering retirement this offseason, and that's the biggest question mark remaining between a return to the field for Redding and the Colts.  If he does want to play another year, it's pretty certain that the Colts would bring him back on another deal, and that would be a good move for the team to make as well.  The question here isn't so much a question of whether the Colts will bring Redding back or not but whether Redding will choose to retire or not.  If not, it's fully expected that he'll be a Colt again in 2015.