Keep or Cut Decisions for the Indianapolis Colts' 2015 Free Agents

The Indianapolis Colts' 2014 season is complete, and as we look ahead to the 2015 campaign, the first big event of the offseason will be the roster turnover that is free agency. 

This year, the Colts have 20 free agents, marking a significant part of the roster that could look completely different next year.

Today, we look at these free agents and make the call on whether to re-sign them or let them enter the uncertain world of unrestricted free agency. Last year, we saw the Colts sign guys like Vontae Davis, Pat McAfee and Adam Vinatieri to big contracts, which paid off brilliantly. 

The team doesn't have quite as big of decisions this year, but there are a large volume of smaller contracts that could be given out. 

All contract information comes from Spotrac.com. All snap information comes from Pro Football Focus.com.

Potential Retirees

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Reggie Wayne

He's a Colts legend, and if he wants to play longer, the franchise would be well within its rights to give him a "lifetime achievement" deal, though for significantly less than the $6.2 million he made this year. But Wayne aged quickly over the back half of 2014 and was a nonfactor in the Colts' playoff run. Odds are Wayne has played his last game, and the Colts won't have a decision to make. 

Cory Redding

While Redding is aging, he isn't quite to Wayne's level yet. Redding was still the Colts' best defensive lineman in 2014 and a key veteran leader. If he wants to play for another year or two, Indianapolis is the place for it.  

Matt Hasselbeck

Originally, the plan was for Hasselbeck to retire after 2014, but the quarterback expressed doubts this past offseason, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. If he does want to stay, Hasselbeck presents a bit of a conundrum. On one hand, he's a good presence in the locker room and has knowledge of Pep Hamilton's system if Andrew Luck ever did face an injury. 

On the other hand, Hasselbeck is one of the league's most expensive backup quarterbacks, costing $7.25 million against the cap over the last two seasons. Most top-end quarterbacks have young, cheap backups, and the Colts could certainly use the extra $3 million in cap room. 

Restricted Free Agent Tenders (Or Re-Signings)

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Tender or Re-Sign: LB Jerrell Freeman, RB Dan Herron, C A.Q. Shipley, LS Matt Overton

It seems likely that all four of these players would receive tenders to extend their stay in Indianapolis for at least one more year. Joel Corry of CBS Sports thinks Freeman will earn a second-round tender, while the rest would likely be the lowest level of tender for just over $1 million cap hits next year.  

Let 'Em Go: S Delano Howell, DT Jeris Pendleton

Unfortunately for Howell and Pendleton, injury has become too much of a risk for them to receive tenders. If they're back in Indianapolis next season, it's likely for vet minimum, non-guaranteed contracts.

WR Hakeem Nicks

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Previous Contract: 1 year, $3.975 million ($2 million guaranteed)

The Colts took a chance on a veteran wide receiver for a third season in a row in 2014, but invested the most they ever had. Unfortunately, it didn't pay off. 

Nicks finished with just 38 catches for 405 yards and four touchdowns, much of it coming in garbage time against the AFC South and in blowout losses. Nicks was overtaken by rookie Donte Moncrief midway through the season and would be the Colts' third receiver at best in 2015. 

On the other hand, Nicks knows the Colts system better now and has theoretically developed some chemistry with Luck. With Wayne likely out the door, Nicks would give the Colts a possession receiver they are currently lacking. 

Verdict: Let him go

Don't waste the cap on Nicks, but instead bring in another receiver in free agency. If the Colts could use the extra cap space to make a push for a guy like Torrey Smith, for example, it would be well worth it. 

However, if the team doesn't think it can bag any of the above-average free agents at the position, get Nicks back in Indianapolis. Going into the season with just T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief as the only receivers with significant experience would be dangerous.

CB Darius Butler

Don Wright/Associated Press

Previous Contract: 2 years, $4 million ($2 million guaranteed)

The Colts stole Butler off the street in late September of 2012, and he's turned into a decent slot corner for the team, which relies heavily on man coverage from its nickelback. 

Butler isn't irreplaceable by any means, but he fits in well with Vontae Davis and Greg Toler in Greg Manusky's scheme. The problem with Butler is that he struggles heavily when moved outside (see the back half of 2013, for example), so he's pretty limited in what he brings to Indianapolis. 

If Davis or Toler were to go down with an injury, the team wouldn't get much relief from Butler. 

Verdict: Bring him back

Unless Toler wants an egregious contract, he should be back in Indianapolis next year. Sign him to a two- or three-year contract for no more than $3 million per year, and you're golden. More than that, and the Colts may be better off drafting a corner early or signing a guy like Walter Thurmond in free agency.

OL Joe Reitz

USA TODAY Sports

Previous Contract: 1 year, $1.4 million (RFA tender)

The Colts tendered Reitz last season, and for good reason. The versatile offensive lineman can play guard or tackle and is a valuable utility lineman. While he's not an ideal starter on great teams, he's shown the ability to be a more than viable starter, especially inside. 

Reitz struggled at times in the postseason when forced to play right tackle, but the athletic 29-year-old is arguably the best guard in Indianapolis when given a chance to play. I've been a big proponent of his since 2011, when he started next to rookie Anthony Castonzo with pleasant results. 

Unfortunately, Reitz has struggled with small, frequent injuries throughout the last three years. That will likely keep him from getting much guaranteed money. 

Verdict: Bring him back

The Colts haven't solidified the interior line yet, not by a long shot, and Reitz is the kind of player that helps stabilize a line. He's a bit of an injury risk, but I can't see any other team offering him the kind of money that would give gneral manager Ryan Grigson pause in bringing him back. Plus, he's reportedly hilarious in the locker room. 

CB Josh Gordy

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Previous Contract: 1 year, $1.4 million (RFA tender)

Like Reitz, Gordy was tendered as a restricted free agent last year. But unlike Reitz, he didn't do much in 2014 to earn a future spot in Indianapolis. 

Gordy is a big drop-off after Davis and Toler on the outside, and with the Colts' lack of safety help in Greg Manusky's scheme, he's prone to getting picked on and giving up big plays. According to Pro Football Focus, he gave up a 121.4 passer rating when in coverage this year. 

Since he's not one of the top special teamers on the team, Gordy is simply a body at this point. 

Verdict: Let him go

The Colts need to develop some young cornerbacks so they can have a potential replacement for Greg Toler after next year. Gordy isn't that guy, so the Colts would be better off drafting a corner and developing him at the fourth spot. 

S Sergio Brown

Previous Contract: 1 year, $1.4 million ($300k guaranteed)

After his rookie contract, Brown signed a cheap one-year deal last offseason to come back to Indianapolis and compete for a starting safety job after Antoine Bethea's departure. He was already a key special teamer, but Brown wanted a chance to do more. 

Brown was eventually beat out by Mike Adams, but he'd play an integral part when LaRon Landry was later benched for four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He ended up starting nine games and playing over 500 snaps for the Colts. 

Verdict: Bring him back

Unless he desperately wants to go elsewhere to start, Brown should be back in Indianapolis. He has been a special teams captain, a more than competent starter and a strong locker room presence. Given Landry's uncertain future in Indianapolis and Mike Adams' impending free agency, the Colts would do good to keep familiar faces around.

S Mike Adams

David Richard/Associated Press

Previous Contract: 1 year, $1.02 million ($165k guaranteed)

Chalk Adams up as one of Grigson's steals. 

The 33-year-old safety was named a Pro Bowl alternate after a solid year in the Indianapolis secondary. While Colts fans will forever miss Antoine Bethea, Adams was a consistent, stabilizing force in the defensive backfield. 

Is he really one of the league's best safeties? Probably not, but he is always in the right place and rarely gives up a big play. The Colts could use a bigger playmaker at safety, to be certain, but Adams is a quality safety even at his age. 

How much longer does he want to play? And how much does he want to be paid? Those will be the key questions in his potential return. 

Verdict: Bring him back

Adams will get a raise after a Pro Bowl year, but given his age, it won't be a back-breaking one. If he wants a two-year contract, I say give it to him. This gives the Colts the flexibility needed to cut LaRon Landry, which may be worth it all by itself. 

RB Ahmad Bradshaw

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Previous Contract: 1 year, $855k 

Basically the veteran minimum, Bradshaw signed in Indianapolis for an extremely cheap price after missing the vast majority of 2013 . While he was stellar for half of the season, his season-ending ankle injury (fractured fibula) will cause grave concerns. At this point, the chances that Bradshaw would finish the season in 2015 seem slim to none. 

Make no mistake, Bradshaw is talented, and the Colts certainly have reason to believe he could add to the offense. The Colts were most effective with Bradshaw in the middle parts of the season, including a six-game winning streak when the offense was on pace to break franchise records. 

Bradshaw is an extremely effective red-zone weapon in addition to his pass protection and tough, downhill running. But he turns 29 in March and has missed 30 games over the last four years. 

Verdict: Push

Honestly, I'm torn with Bradshaw. I certainly wouldn't keep him around for more than the veteran minimum, or slightly higher. But I also don't want to see the Colts in a situation at the end of the year where they are down to practice squad players. 

Regardless of what happens with Bradshaw, the Colts need to add somebody else, whether it be a veteran free agent or a draft pick. And Trent Richardson, well, good luck elsewhere.

KR/PR Josh Cribbs

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Previous Contract: 1 year, $855k

Cribbs tantalized Colts fans and media with a few "almost" big plays at the beginning of his time as a Colt, but by the end of his tenure, he was a liability more than anything else. 

He was a constant turnover threat with little production from the return game. His botched punt at the beginning of the AFC Championship Game was the beginning of the end for Indianapolis. 

Verdict: Let him go

This doesn't really need explanation.