Colts' Ryan Grigson: "Active" contract negotiations ongoing with left tackle Anthony Castonzo

Last week, star Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton received a five-year contract extension worth $65 million that will run through 2020.  The two sides got the deal done now even though Hilton had one year remaining on his rookie contract, and that might happen again soon with another key offensive player.

Hilton was a priority for the Colts, but so is left tackle Anthony Castonzo.  Owner Jim Irsay previously said that he didn't see a reason why the two extensions couldn't get done before Labor Day, and the team is halfway to making that happen.  As training camp opened, Castonzo confirmed to the media that he and the Colts were in negotiations on a long-term extension, and general manager Ryan Grigson said as much when talking to the media today.  Grigson said he wouldn't comment on "active contract negotiations" and that "I'll leave it at that."

The key word in Grigson's comments was, obviously, him saying that negotiations are "active."  Which, in other words, confirms that the team and Castonzo are still working toward a long-term extension that will keep him as Andrew Luck's left tackle for many years to come.  It wouldn't be a surprise at all if the two sides reached an agreement before the regular season starts.

Castonzo is also entering the final year of his rookie contract, as his fifth-year option (as a first round draft pick in 2011) was picked up by the team - an option that will pay Castonzo $7.438 million in 2015.  He has been incredibly reliable for the Colts, and in fact he hasn't missed a single game in Andrew Luck's career.  His consecutive starts streak is at 62 games in a row, dating back to his rookie season (he has started 66 games total in the NFL).  Furthermore, in 2014, he played more snaps than any other lineman in football.  It's not just the fact that he's out there every single week that makes him valuable to the Colts, however - he's also very good at what he does.  He might not be among the "elite" left tackles in the league, but he's still somewhere among the top third of the list and the only reliable player along the line for the team.