Which in-house free agents will the Colts re-sign

The NFL's legal tampering period begins at 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Monday, March 11th. 

This means all players not under contract with a team will be free to speak with and verbally agree to contracts across the NFL.

So I felt it was time to give my official prediction on which of the Indianpolis Colts' top in-house free agents will return in 2024 and which will leave this offseason.

Kenny Moore II, CB

The Colts' CB room is full of youth and question marks, but Kenny Moore II's stellar play out of the slot was a staple for the group last season. I've been told both the Colts and Moore II want to sign a new deal to keep the CB in Indianapolis, and they need his veteran presence in the room more than ever at this point. 

Prediction: Re-signed

Gardner Minshew, QB

Gardner Minshew started significantly more games than expected last season and helped lead the team to a 9-8 record. He, like the Colts as a whole, outplayed expectations. But with Anthony Richardson expected to be healthy to be the team's starter, will Minshew want to be re-signed as the expected backup? Even if he doesn't get offered an outright starting job, I think he will certainly get offered a job with the chance to battle for a starting job in training camp.

Prediction: Not Re-signed

Grover Stewart, DT

If you didn't see Grover Stewart's value to the Colts before his suspension, you definitely saw it while he was off the field. The team's run defense regressed dramatically without Stewart. Like Moore above, I believe both parties want to stay together and hope for a new deal to get worked out this offseason. 

Prediction: Re-signed

Zack Moss, RB

Zack Moss's play while Jonathan Taylor was on the PUP list was spectacular. He even had the second-most rushing yards in the NFL multiple weeks during the season. Moss went from being a throw-in player during the trade that sent Nyheim Hines out of town to being a solid contributor for the Colts. I think the Colts and Moss hold each other in high regard, but there are so many teams looking to start running backs this offseason that you have to wonder if Moss will get one of those jobs.

Prediction: Not Re-signed

Julian Blackmon, S

The veteran safety market being so deep this offseason helps the Colts in multiple ways. They need an FS, and they will have multiple options to consider, but it also should help them retain Julian Blackmon if they elect to do so. Blackmon is coming off a career year, his first at SS after switching his position.

Prediction: Re-signed

Tyquan Lewis, DE

Like many, I am a fan of Tyquan Lewis. He has been a solid depth defensive lineman for the Colts who has played on the edge and inside. Last year, they were able to retain him on a one-year friendly deal. And while I think they'd love to do that again, I have a feeling there may be a better market for the lineman than people realize.

Prediction: Not Re-signed

Rigoberto Sanchez, P

The Colts got their starting punter back last season after he missed all of 2022 due to an injury he suffered in training camp. He had a rough start early in the season, but as the year went on the better he looked. And near the end of the season, he looked like his old self and was back to being one of the best punters in the NFL.

Prediction: Re-signed