The NFL is a cold, hard business. In Indianapolis, the clock is ticking louder than ever. If the Colts flop in 2026, expect the front office to grab the dynamite. Heads will roll. Coaches, executives, players—nobody is safe. Especially not the guys playing on the final year of their deals. By 2027, the roster could look entirely different. Here are five crucial starters playing for their next paycheck.
DeForest Buckner remains a problem. For opponents, that is. Even a banged-up 2025 campaign couldn’t stop him from wrecking game plans. He finished 24th in pass rush win rate and 14th in PFF’s run stop metrics among defensive tackles. He is the anchor. Lose him, and the line collapses.
Grover Stewart does the dirty work. You won’t see him flashing on fantasy football trackers, but his value is immense. He eats double teams. He clogs gaps. By absorbing blocks, he frees up everyone else to make the flashy plays. He is the unsung hero of this defense.
Jonathan Taylor is still a workhorse. The three-time Pro Bowler racked up 1,431 rushing yards in 2024 despite missing four games, then followed it up with a grueling 1,585-yard campaign in 2025. Running backs age in dog years, but Taylor still has the juice. He is the engine of this offense.
Pay Quenton Nelson. Seriously. It is that simple. The guard is an eight-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro who still dominates the trenches. Last year, PFF ranked him fourth in both pass-blocking efficiency and run-blocking grade. He is the offense’s heartbeat. Letting him walk would be sheer malpractice.
Josh Downs is about to get busy. With Michael Pittman packing his bags for Pittsburgh, Downs is the undisputed safety valve. He moves the chains. He finds the soft spots. Expect his target share to skyrocket as he enters his contract year. He is ready for the spotlight.
