The Colts have some interesting decisions to make along the offensive line before the regular season begins.
General manager Chris Ballard was aggressive adding talent in the trenches this offseason by drafting guards Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith with two of his first three draft picks, signing Matt Slauson and Austin Howard in free agency, and re-signing Jack Mewhort.
The crowded offensive line depth chart could leave Deyshawn Bond out in the cold when it comes time to make some cuts.
Indianapolis signed Bond as an undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati last season, and he was forced into action right away
Bond started the first four games of last season at center filling in for an injured Ryan Kelly. He didn’t play particularly well in those four starts, and he suffered a season-ending torn quad in a week four game against the Seahawks.
The Colts don’t currently have a true backup center on the roster, but Matt Slauson has plenty of experience at the position and he could fill in for Ryan Kelly in a pinch. Indianapolis also has plenty of capable guards on the roster that would play ahead of Bond at those positions if necessary.
Indianapolis really doesn’t have room for Bond this season with all of their offensive linemen that are either ready to play right away or developing for the future.
The Colts would only sacrifice $2,000 in dead cap money by cutting Bond in the second season of his three-year $1.67 million contract, and I’d expect Chris Ballard to make that move before the regular season begins.