might seem a little early to consider priority free agents for 2019 Nyheim Hines Color Rush Jersey , but an NFL front office can never sleep on the future of its franchise. What Indy has accomplished this season is certainly worthy of considerable recognition and excitement but the team has to continue building toward a brighter future and one way to make that possible is to retain those “home grown” (current) players who can create a more solid foundation for the next season.While the Colts don’t have monster contracts to concern themselves with as they ponder how to approach the off-season, there are numerous pending free agents who can still play an important role in the team’s future. We will take a look at the list of priority free agents, those who might be on the bubble, and those who may be looking for a new home in 2019.PRIORITY FREE AGENTSK — Adam Vinatieri — Even through a groin injury this year, Vinatieri remains a reliable kicker. He is hitting from outside of 50 yards with room to spare. If Vinatieri wants to keep playing, Irsay/Ballard will continue signing him to a new contract — and rightfully so.CB — Pierre Desir — Chris Ballard brought Pierre Desir back to Indianapolis on a one-year prove-it contract for just over $1.5 million. Desir responded by producing 79 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 8 passes defensed and an interception. He played a primary role in shutting down DeAndre Hopkins and Amari Cooper during Indy’s late-season push to the playoffs.G — Mark Glowinski — When Chris Ballard selected Braden Smith at the top of the second round in the 2018 NFL Draft, he likely was projecting him to fill the right guard spot. However, Smith looks like he can kick out to right tackle and have a bright future there. Ballard snagged Mark Glowsinski off of waivers from the Seattle Seahawks at the end of 2017, and saw him help the offensive line go on a historic sackless streak. Glowinski will be 27 years old in 2019.DT — Margus Hunt — There may not be a bigger underdog player on the Colts roster than Hunt. After he had a productive 2017 season, fans were calling for his job at final cuts in the new 4-3 defensive scheme in favor of veteran John Simon. Hunt has responded by tallying 30 tackles, 5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 2 passes defensed https://www.coltsfanshop.com/Johnny-Unitas-Jersey , 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. He has been a dominant force for much of the season as a line penetrating defensive tackle. He can play at the nose, at 3-tech or slide out to defensive end depending on down, distance, or offensive front. S — Matthias Farley — Another highly underappreciated player in Indianapolis. Few teams can feel as confident as the Colts if they need a backup safety to come in and make a major impact in a game. Farley is a restricted free agent and will only be 27 years old in 2019. Bringing him back helps maintain depth in the secondary.LS — Luke Rhodes — There are three things to know about Rhodes. First, he snaps the ball a long way and hasn’t made a lot of mistakes. Second, he shouldn’t command a monster contract. Third, he does a nice job in coverage as a former linebacker and has made numerous special teams plays. BUBBLE FREE AGENTSS — Clayton Geathers — While Clayton Geathers has suffered through injuries over the past few seasons, he has also played in a hybrid safety/linebacker role that no other player on the Colts roster can currently fill. Other moves in free agency could change that but fans might be surprised at his production this season. In 12 games, Geathers tallied 89 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 QB hits, 3 passes defensed and 1 forced fumble.WR — Dontrelle Inman — Some thought that Inman had a chance to be a priority free agent before the 2018 season started. He had a history with Frank Reich during his time with the Chargers and seemed like a possible plug-and-play receiver in the system. While he ended up joining the team in the middle of the year, his 304 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns, with a catch percentage north of 70%, turned out to be very valuable. WR — Chester Rogers — Early in his career, Rogers flashed tremendous potential. Unfortunately, he has never fully capitalized on his opportunities and spent too much time this season behind players like Zach Pascal. He is a restricted free agent who can double as a punt returner Jacoby Brissett Jersey , though, so it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see him in training camp again.WR — Reece Fountain — It might seem unlikely that Ballard would give up on a small school receiving prospect so soon but Colts fans know he won’t hesitate to pull the trigger if better options are out there. Fountain has been unable to crack into any meaningful role on the team in 2018, despite a lack of talent at the receiver position. It doesn’t bode well for his future. He is an exclusive right free agent and that could get him a spot on the off-season roster.WR — Zach Pascal — There were times this season that Pascal was a liability, allowing passes to bounce off of his hands for easy interceptions that had a major role in Colts losses. He has settled down in the back half of the season and flashed a bit more of his potential. Is it enough to stay around? He is an exclusive rights free agent so he may find his way back to training camp.WR — Marcus Johnson — There are a whole lot of exclusive rights free agent wide receivers on the bubble. Chris Ballard was going to leave no stone unturned and gave a lot of youngsters a shot to show something. Johnson did show flashes early in the season before suffering a season-ending injury. Was it enough?TE/H Back — Ryan Hewitt — Hewitt serves his purpose and is a reasonably strong blocker. His role will always keep him on the roster bubble, however, as more talented options who play a bigger offensive role may come along.CB — Chris Milton — A liability on defense but one of the best special teams players on the team. If a better defensive corner or safety comes along, Milton is expendable. Otherwise, he is a nasty gunner on the punt team and a key contributor to numerous Colts punts pinned deep inside opponent territory.TE — Ross Travis — Frank Reich loves using tight ends in his passing game. Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron create a devastatingly talented tandem. Mo Alie-Cox is starting to look like a very promising, well-rounded option in his own right. Does the team have room for a receiving specialist at the position? Would he see snaps? Does he need to move to receiver? WE WISH YOU THE BESTDT — Al Woods — While Woods wasn’t quite as important to the 2018 Colts defense as he was to the 2017 version, he is still one of the most consistent nose tackles and run lane cloggers on the roster. What makes him a bubble player is that the Colts defensive scheme asks for gap shooters and penetrators and that isn’t his strong suit. At 32 years old, it won’t be a surprise if Ballard lets him enter free agency.WR — Ryan Grant — Brought in to serve as a reliable possession receiver, Grant never really separated himself from other young options on the team. If there is one veteran receiver worthy of bringing back into the fold, Inman seems like he would get the nod over Grant.S — Mike Mitchell — Mitchell burst onto the scene with an impressive two-game run prior to suffering a calf injury. He is a solid and experienced veteran but if one of Farley or Geathers returns, it won’t be surprising to see Ballard look for a younger prospect.G — Matt Slauson — Slauson fulfilled the role the Colts needed in his short tenure. He solidified the right guard spot prior to suffering a fractured vertebrae and allowed younger players the chance to take over. He has received numerous compliments for his role as teacher on the sidelines but will likely not rejoin the team as a player.LB — Najee Goode — Once considered the front runner to start. Rarely saw the field. We wish you the best of luck.QB — Brad KaayaT — Jamarcus WebbC — Josh AndrewsS — Corey MooreS — Ronald MartinRB — Jonathan Williams INDIANAPOLIS 鈥?Andrew Luck spent last January just like the previous two 鈥?watching playoff games from afar and hoping for a chance to return.This weekend he's officially back.After a coaching change and a major roster overhaul and nearly two years removed from shoulder surgery, the Indianapolis Colts' quarterback celebrated New Year's Day by prepping for Saturday's wild-card game in his hometown of Houston."I'm having fun and that's the most important thing," Luck said Tuesday. "The fact that we get to play another game in the playoffs, that's stinking awesome and I think a small part of us understands how special it's been so far. I've said this before Reggie Wayne Color Rush Jersey , it's been fulfilling. But satisfied? No, not at all."At least not until he wins a championship.Until then, proving the doubters wrong must suffice.While some questioned whether Luck would ever be the same after missing the entire 2017 season to rehab from a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, many believed the injury would prevent him from fulfilling the championship expectations applied to the top overall pick in the 2012 draft and Peyton Manning's hand-picked replacement.Now, after a three-year playoff drought, a healthier Luck seems to have the Colts back on track.He produced single-season career highs in almost every significant passing category this season and finished second in the NFL with 39 touchdown passes 鈥?one short of his total from 2014, when the Colts previously made the playoffs.Traditional stats reflect only part of Luck's tale.He helped the Colts (10-6) rebound from an abysmal start by leading them to nine wins in their final 10 games. Indy became only the third team in league history to reach the postseason after going 1-5.And for the second time, Luck made the prognosticators look silly by taking a team that was lightly regarded by some to the playoffs. Those who were around for Luck's first act, in 2012, haven't forgotten how it felt then or how familiar it all seems now as he prepares for his fourth playoff appearance."He's doing a great job," receiver T.Y. Hilton said. "He's having fun, and after all the work he's put into it, he's looking good."What Luck has done best this season is adapt to a continually evolving environment.First-year coach Frank Reich wanted Luck to get the ball out of his hands quicker and exploit the mismatches created by his cadre of tight ends. He's done both.Luck also thrived behind a revamped offensive line, which regularly starts two rookies. He was sacked a league-low 18 times while running back Marlon Mack ran for more than 100 yards four times, providing Luck with the kind of balance team owner Jim Irsay long envisioned.Luck quickly acclimated to the rotating receivers, throwing TD passes to 13 different players. It could come in handy against the AFC South champion Texans (11-5), too.Hilton injured his ankle Dec. 8 and has spent more time getting treatment than practicing over the past three weeks. But he has yet to miss a game https://www.coltsfanshop.com/Rigoberto-Sanchez-Jersey , continues to make big plays and is eager to return to Houston, where he already has four 100-yard games, including nine catches for 199 yards in the Colts' previous visit."That's probably why it's starting to feel better," Hilton joked before sitting out Tuesday's walkthrough.He's not the only receiver battling injuries. Ryan Grant (ankle) and Zach Pascal (knee) both sat out Tuesday while Daurice Fountain (ankle) and Dontrelle Inman (shoulder/finger) did limited work.All of it could make Luck's job more complicated Saturday.But with a more balanced attack, a rapidly improving defense and a chance to jump back on the postseason stage for the first time since "Deflategate," Luck embraces the opportunity to let everyone else see what he and his teammates can do."It feels like we've been playing in the postseason for quite a while now, and I don't think anybody's approach will change in this locker room," Luck said."If you've played five, six, seven years in this league, you've overcome something. So there are a lot of folks who have overcome a lot. I was talking to my folks about this and it's hard when you're in the weeds to sort of flip the switch and zoom out and get a little different perspective and appreciate or understand what happens because if you're in it, it's like you're on and you don't want to get out of it."NOTES: Indy signed defensive end Geneo Grissom and waived cornerback Jalen Collins on Tuesday. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Grissom played in 37 games over the past four seasons with New England. He has seven tackles in his career and was a third-round draft pick in 2015.100View Gallery Gallery:View from the sidelines: NFL cheerleaders 2018Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports | Raj Mehta
