We know who the big unrestricted free agents are for the Indianapolis Colts, but who are their exclusive rights free agents and what’s the difference?
The Colts have only one exclusive rights free agent this offseason, according to Over the Cap, and that is offensive lineman Ryan Coll.
An exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) is a player with two or fewer accrued NFL seasons. In order to gain an accrued year, a player must be on a team’s 53-man roster for at least six regular season games.
While ERFA has the words ‘free agent’ in it, this isn’t like being an unrestricted free agent where that player can choose where they go. If an ERFA is extended a qualifying offer from their current team, they cannot negotiate with other organizations.
These qualifying offers are one-year deals at the league minimum amount based on the player’s tenure. If an ERFA is not extended that qualifying offer, they become unrestricted free agents.
Coll was signed by the Colts last August once training camp was already underway. He was added to bolster the offensive line depth after Wesley French was placed on injured reserve.
Coll himself was then placed on injured reserve a few weeks later with a shoulder injury, effectively ending his season.
Coll would go undrafted in 2024 out of Richmond, where he played left tackle and both guard spots, totaling over 2,600 snaps.
In 2023, his final college season, Coll allowed two sacks and just 14 pressures. For what it’s worth, he graded out better throughout his career as a pass-blocker than a run-blocker by PFF’s metrics.
Last summer, the Colts listed Coll on their depth chart as a center.
Given that Coll’s contract as an ERFA is a league minimum deal and that the Colts need interior offensive line depth on their 90-man offseason roster with Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Mark Glowinski, and Danny Pinter all free agents, I would guess that Coll returns.
(This article was updated to provide additional information.)