BREAKING: Three Colts' impending free agents who shouldn't be re-signed
Posted October 20, 2025
Chris Ballard has decisions to make.
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.
Jalen Hurts Sends Strong 1-Line Message to Eagles Teammates Right After Vikings Win
After two losses in five days at the beginning of October, the Philadelphia Eagles were back in the win column Sunday. Quarterback Jalen Hurts led the Eagles to a 28-22 against the Minnesota Vikings during Week 7.
Hurts appeared so excited about ending the team’s losing streak, he started celebrating just before entering the locker room. According to ESPN’s Tim McManus, the quarterback yelled a message to his teammates as he walked into the locker room.
“We aren’t [expletive] losers (or losing) no more,” said Hurts.
McManus reported the audio he captured on video was unclear whether the quarterback said “losing” or “losers”. While interchanging those two words alters the meaning of Hurts’ message, either one is a strong 1-liner for the signal-caller to deliver after the win.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was also “fired up” after the win.
“Turn that s— up!”
Nick Sirianni fired up as Eagles get back on track.
Hurts was impressive in the victory, completing 19 of 23 passes for 326 yards. Hurts averaged 14.2 yards per attempt and had three touchdowns with zero interceptions.
Jalen Hurts Stars to End Eagles Losing Streak
The “noise” in the Philadelphia media was loud even when the Eagles started 4-0. The criticism of the team then became deafening after the Eagles lost back-to-back contests in Weeks 5 and 6.
In the two defeats, Hurts didn’t post poor numbers. But he didn’t make big plays when the offense needed them. Hurts also threw a costly interception against the New York Giants on October 9.
The Eagles quarterback was clutch Sunday against the Vikings. He connected with Devonta Smith for a 79-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give his team a double-digit lead.
Then in the fourth quarter, Hurts found A.J. Brown for a score.
Hurts hooked up with Brown again for arguably the most important play of the afternoon. Brown hauled in a 45-yard pass on third-and-9 with 1:45 remaining in the fourth quarter and Philadelphia leading by six.
The reception essentially ended the game.
Smith and Brown accounted for 304 of Philadelphia’s 326 receiving yards. Smith led the Eagles with nine catches and 183 yards. Brown averaged 30.3 yards per reception with 121 receiving yards and scored twice.
Hurts Carries Eagles to Week 7 Victory Against Minnesota Vikings
A lot of Eagles players, including Hurts, have stressed that the team’s offense needs to run the ball better.
On Sunday against the Vikings, the Eagles stayed dedicated to the run. But it was widely ineffective.
All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley rushed for just 44 yards despite 18 carries. He averaged 2.4 yards per carry.
Fellow running back Tank Bigsby ran for 11 yards on a single rush. However, Hurts was credited with minus-10 yards on four rushes.
So, as a team, the Eagles ran for 45 yards and two yards per carry.
Those putrid rushing totals make Hurts’ passing totals in Week 7 even more impressive. Philadelphia averaged 12.2 yards per pass versus two yards per run against Minnesota.
With his performance versus the Vikings, Hurts has 11 touchdowns versus only one interception this season. He’s also now averaging about 7.7 yards per pass.
Last season, Hurts had 18 passing touchdowns versus five interceptions while averaging 8 yards per attempt.
