How big of a need is the offensive line position for the Indianapolis Colts this offseason?
Well, it depends. To answer that, we have to know what happens in free agency with Will Fries.
Fries 2024 season was cut short due to a leg injury in Week 5. But before that, he was playing as one of the best guards in football, ranking fourth in PFF’s run-blocking grade and 10th in pass-blocking grade.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote recently that Fries is expected to “attract serious interest” this offseason, and after the guard market really took off last year, Fries is likely in store for a good-sized payday.
If Fries returns, then the Colts’ starting five along the offensive line is likely already on the roster with Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, Fries, and either Braden Smith or Matt Goncalves, if Smith is released.
In this scenario, however, depth is still very much a need. Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski, and Danny Pinter are all free agents, and if Smith is released, that leaves only Blake Freeland off the bench at tackle.
Excluding the aforementioned starters, here is who else is under contract currently along the offensive line: Freeland, Josh Sills, Atonio Mafi, Dalton Tucker, and Jack Wilson.
“I do think at the end of the year, the offensive line ended up playing better,” Chris Ballard said after the season. “We had some young guys that had to play…We need to make sure we’ve got the right talent level. I’m pleased with how these young guys came along, but we gotta make sure we got enough depth there.”
However, on the flip side, if Fries were to sign elsewhere, the need along the offensive line grows exponentially. At this point, the Colts are banking on Tucker, Mafi or Sills to be their starting right guard–a move that comes with obvious risks and one that Ballard has made previously at other position groups that hasn’t paid off.
In this scenario, either devoting real salary cap dollars in free agency to the position or an early round draft pick becomes a must.
Naturally, all eyes when it comes to the Colts’ offense are fixated on Anthony Richardson. But success for this unit starts with the offensive line play–which, at times, was up and down last year due to injuries.
A good offensive line gives the quarterback time in the pocket, and allows for a strong running game to lean on. This then keeps the offense ahead of the sticks and out of predictable passing situations where the defense has the advantage.