Ballard will almost certainly want to extend several of his most prominent performers. Daniel Jones heads that list, with Alex Pierce and Nick Cross right behind him. Price will figure into a few other decisions concerning the likes of Braden Smith and Kwity Paye.
Ballard needs to determine the market before choosing a path with those players. But these three don’t offer much to the club at this point.
Samson Ebukam, Edge
Ebukam will be 31 by the time next season kicks off. He has been able to stay healthy so far this year after missing all of 2024 with a torn Achilles. But he is no longer the potent pass rusher who racked up 9.5 sacks in 2023.
He may still have a place in the league as a backup, but in Indy, his presence would only serve to block the development of prospects like JT Tuimoloau, Durell Nchami, and whoever else they may bring in in the upcoming offseason.
Many of the early mock drafts I am seeing have Ballard choosing a pass-rushing edge in the first round next year. The last three I saw had the Colts taking Damon Wilson, LT Overton, and David Beasley. Different skill sets, but all can play on the edge.
Chad Muma, Linebacker
Muma was a third-round draft pick of Jacksonville back in 2022, but he never really carved out a niche for himself with the Jags. Desperately in need of linebacking help, the Colts snatched him when Jacksonville let him go as part of their final roster cuts. Unfortunately for Muma, he has not been able to crack a lineup that needs linebackers.
He has been with the team since opening day, but his 32 defensive snaps are still fewer than the recently released Cameron McGrone and the recently arrived Germaine Pratt.
Even with nominal starter Joe Bachie’s trip to the IR (and eventual release), Muma remains behind Pratt and Austin Ajiake – and perhaps behind Olubi as well. If he can’t earn playing time at linebacker this season, there is little reason to believe next year would be any better.
Drew Ogletree, Tight End
Let me say right up front that this has nothing to do with the unfortunate pre-game collision that knocked starting cornerback Charvarius Ward out of the Week 6 game against Arizona. That was a fluke. Tyler Warren is not. Warren clearly has the market cornered at flex tight end in Indy. In order for a tight end to stick, he will have to be a very good blocker.
Both Ogletree and veteran Mo Alie-Cox will be UFAs this offseason. All things being equal, you’d prefer to keep the younger player, Ogletree. But things are not equal. Alie-Cox has been a more consistent performer. He’ll turn 33 next season, but that is not too old for a quality inline tight end.
Besides, there will be other blockers on the market next season. Veterans like Eric Saubert and younger players like Daniel Bellinger might prove more attractive if Ballard wants to upgrade the blocking behind Warren.
And to the best of my knowledge, none of them have ever knocked a teammate out of a game during pre-game warm-ups.
