NFL salary cap: Indianapolis Colts salaries for 2023 NFL season
The Indianapolis Colts (4-12-1) have a lot of decisions to make in the wake of a lost season. They have a lot of money tied up in several key players – especially quarterbacks – but it would also cost them to part with some of those players.
Here are the 2022 and '23 salary-cap hits, as well as the dead cap figure, for players under contract for next season, according to Spotrac.
Dead money is salary cap space a team must allocate to a particular player who has been cut. The point is that every dollar a team has paid players eventually goes toward its salary cap.
Matt Ryan quarterback
It was a rough season for the 37-year-old Colts quarterback. He arrived to Indianapolis via a trade with the Atlanta Falcons to replace Carson Wentz but struggled throughout the season and was benched twice. In 12 games, he completed 67% of his passes for 3,507 yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He was sacked 38 times and fumbled 15 times.
2022 salary cap: $18.7 million
2023 salary cap: $35.2 million
Dead cap: $18 million
Shaquille Leonard, linebacker
The 27-year-old's fifth season was his worst because of injury. Coming off of offseason back surgery, he only appeared in three games, the last in Week 9.
2022: $11.16 million
2023: $20.21 million
Dead cap: $24 million
Here's who can walk:Colts eligible for free agency in 2023
Looking forward:Colts 2023 schedule: Here are their opponents for next season
DeForest Buckner, defensive lineman
The 28-year-old's third season in Indianapolis included 8 sacks, 19 quarterback hits, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
2022: $16 million
2023: $19.75 million
Dead cap: $0; potential out is 3 years, $56.4 million.
Braden Smith, offensive lineman
The 26-year-old right tackle played almost every snap during the 2022 season. He had a career-high 8 penalties, with 2 holding calls.
2022: $16 million
2023: $19.75 million
Dead cap: $0; potential out is 3 years, $56.4 million.
Stephon Gilmore, cornerback
The 32-year-old made several critical plays late in Colts victories (most notably vs. Denver and Kansas City). He had 2 interceptions, 11 passes defended and a career-high 66 tackles.
2022: $7.75 million
2023: $12.98 million
Dead cap: $2 million
Ryan Kelly, center
The 29-year-old spent a lot of time on injury reports, but he played every game. A three-time Pro Bowl player, he missed the cut this season.
2022: $9.75 million
2023: $12.37 million
Dead cap: $4.5 million
Quenton Nelson, guard
The Colts' lone Pro Bowl player in 2022 says he didn't play up to his standard. "I've had some bad reps and some good ones, too, but overall, I'm not super happy with it."
2022: $10.2 million
2023: $12.2 million
Dead cap: $30.8 million
Grover Stewart, defensive lineman
The 2017 4th-round draft pick has improved in each of his seasons with the Colts, posting career highs in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks in 2022. He also blocked a field goal in an overtime win over the Broncos.
2022: $10.62 million
2023: $10.62 million
Dead cap: $1.25 million
Kenny Moore II, cornerback
Coming off of a Pro Bowl year, injuries shortened his season to 12 games. He defended 4 passes and had 65 tackles.
2022: $6.75 million
2023: $7.54 million
Dead cap: $0
Mo Alie-Cox, tight end
The 29-year-old in his fifth season was targeted less with the emergence of Kylen Granson and rookie Jelani Woods and a desperate need for blocking help. Alie-Cox had 19 catches for 189 yards and 3 touchdowns.
2022: $5.31 million
2023: $5.92 million
Dead cap: $0; potential out is 2 years, $11.63 million
Kwity Paye, defensive end
The 2021 first-round draft pick made a greater impact in his second season, registering 6 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits.
2022: $3.1 million
2023: $3.72 million
Dead cap: $3.64 million
Nick Foles, quarterback
The 33-year-old played little (224 passing yards, 4 interceptions, sacked 8 times) and suffered a season-ending injury against the New York Giants.
2022: $2.6 million
2023: $3.6 million
Dead cap: $1.5 million
Zaire Franklin, linebacker
The 2018 7th-round draft pick stepped up in the absence of Shaquille Leonard, racking up a franchise-record 167 tackles, 12 for loss. He also defended 6 passes and forced 3 fumbles.
2022: $3.61 million
2023: $3 million
Dead cap: $900,000; potential out is 1 year, $3.61 million.
Rigoberto Sanchez, punter
He missed the 2022 season with an Achilles injury.
2022: $2.34 million
2023: $2.9 million
Dead cap: $0
Michael Pittman Jr., wide receiver
He's the Colts' top wide receiver, snagging a career-high 99 catches for 925 yards and 4 touchdowns in this third season.
2022: $2.34 million
2023: $2.74 million
Dead cap: $955,973
Jonathan Taylor, running back
One year after being the NFL's leading rusher, injuries and a lack of holes limited Taylor in 2022. He appeared in 11 games, rushing for 861 yards and 4 touchdowns.
2022: $2.13 million
2023: $2.49 million
Dead cap: $813,482
Dayo Odeyingbo, defensive end
The 2021 2nd-round NFL draft pick registered 31 tackles, 5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits. He got on the field much more in the second half of the season.
2022: $1.4 million
2023: $1.68 million
Dead cap: $463,188
Alec Pierce, wide receiver
The 2nd-round rookie's use fluctuated through the season. He finished with 41 catches for 593 yards and 2 touchdowns.
2022: $1.2 million
2023: $1.5 million
Dead cap: $2.49 million
Julian Blackmon, safety
Injury interrupted the third-year player's progress early in the season, but he was on the field for almost every defensive snap in the final weeks. He had 50 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown.
2022: $1.24 million
2023: $1.4 million
Dead cap: $231,609
Jelani Woods, tight end
The 3rd-round rookie had two particularly big outings, with 2 touchdowns against Kansas City, and 8 catches for 98 yards against Pittsburgh. He finished the season with 25 catches for 312 yards and 3 TDs.
2022: $976,813
2023: $1.22 million
Dead cap: $815,439
Bernhard Raimann, offensive lineman
The 3rd-round rookie got thrown into the fire by Week 9 against the Patriots, and he has started at left tackle since. He was called for holding 4 times.
2022: $963,993
2023: $1.2 million
Dead cap: $776,979
Luke Rhodes, long snapper
2022: $1.57 million
2023: $910,000
Dead cap: $0
Zack Moss, running back
Moss came to the Colts in the Nyheim Hines trade and became the Colts RB1 after Jonathan Taylor's season ended with injury. He rushed for 365 yards (4.4 per carry) in 8 games with the Colts. He had 114 yards in the season finale.
2022: $543,750
2023: $1.16 million
Dead cap: $228,604
Nick Cross, safety
The 3rd-round rookie played a lot on defense the first two weeks of the season, but has been used almost exclusively on special teams since.
2022: $921,025
2023: $1.15 million
Dead cap: $648,075
Kylen Granson, tight end
His use increased significantly in his second season, and he finished with 31 catches for 302 yards.
2022: $836,592
2023: $1 million
Dead cap: $529,776
Danny Pinter, offensive lineman
He started the first three games of the season at right guard but was used little the rest of the way.
2022: $697,175
2023: $867,175
Dead cap: $261,525
Isaiah Rodgers, cornerback
He transitioned from primarily being a kick returner to a starting cornerback by Week 7. He had 34 tackles and 4 fumble recoveries before his season ended on injured reserve.
2022: $931,281
2023: $1.04 million
Dead cap: $36,281
Sam Ehlinger, quarterback
The 2021 late-round draft pick started three games as part of the Colts' quarterback carousel. He completed 63% of his passes for 573 yards, 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He was sacked 14 times.
2022: $857,677
2023: $972,677
Dead cap: $65,354
Mike Strachan, wide receiver
He had 3 catches for 59 yards in his second season.
2022: $853,708
2023: $968,708
Dead cap: $57,416
Will Fries, offensive lineman
The late-round 2021 draft pick became a fixture at right guard in Week 10.
2022: $846,343
2023: $961,343
Dead cap: $42,689
Eric Johnson, defensive lineman
The rookie 5th-round draft pick played sparingly.
2022: $785,185
2023: $950,185
Dead cap: $240,555
Rodney Thomas, safety
The late-round rookie draft pick has been a pleasant surprise, with a team-leading 4 interceptions, 6 passes defended and 52 tackles.
2022: $728,846
2023: $893,846
Dead cap: $71,538
Jojo Domann, linebacker
The special teamer caught a blocked punt and returned it for a touchdown.
2022: $710,000
2023: $875,000
Dead cap: $10,000
Dallis Flowers, cornerback
The former NCAA Division II player joined the Colts before Week 5 and started providing electrifying kickoff returns in Week 12. He averaged 32 yards per return, including an 89-yarder.
2022: $706,666
2023: $871,666
Dead cap: $3,334
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NFL salary cap: Indianapolis Colts salaries for 2023 NFL season
