Report: Colts RT Braden Smith contract restructure saves practically $10M in cap area

Colts basic supervisor Chris Ballard revealed on the NFL Scouting Mix throughout his media availability that longtime Colts deal with Braden Smith was on the mend from his end-of-season private matter that prompted him to overlook the crew’s final 5 video games. Not solely that, however he needs to get again on the sector.

It was a tricky scenario for each events to be in. Smith is a mainstay starter as the correct aspect of the road’s bookend deal with, and his Professional Bowl-caliber of play was at all times evident when he was on the sector. The difficulty lies in the midst of mentioned sentiment although — Smith has struggled to stay on the sector, whether or not the explanations be an damage or a private matter.

Smith has solely completed one full season over the previous 4 years and this served because the driving pressure behind why the Colts primarily gave him an ultimatum to kick off free company: he both restructures his contract to extra precisely mirror his worth at this cut-off date or the Colts lower ties with their longtime beginning deal with — the Colts had been by no means going to trot an unreliable (when it comes to availability) deal with out onto the sector with a $19.75M cap hit.

A revised contract would find yourself settling the rating, however till now, followers and media alike had been not sure of simply how a lot the Colts can be saving from the restructure in query.

Per Over the Cap, Braden Smith’s revised deal places him at a $10.4M cap hit for the 2025 season, the final yr of his deal.

This transfer saves the Colts $9.35M in cap area and places the crew’s whole wage cap at $21.17M as we transfer into the subsequent section of free company. When you think about the projected draft class cap hit of $5.5M, the Colts have ~$15.67M of cap area left for the rest of the offseason — although this quantity doesn’t account for the unreported contract numbers of lately signed free brokers DT Neville Gallimore and RB Khalil Herbert.

When you think about his sturdiness considerations, Braden Smith’s restructured deal went from being an uncomfortable overpay to a worthwhile discount. His earlier $19.75M cap hit went from slotting in because the Eighth-highest cap hit amongst all proper tackles leaguewide, to being the Sixteenth-highest paid cap hit for a proper deal with within the 2025 season.

Despite the fact that it stays a thriller whether or not or not we’ll get a wholesome Braden Smith for what might be Chris Ballard and Co.’s remaining season in Indianapolis, the revised cap hit supplies monetary flexibility elsewhere whereas additionally creating extra worth on the place.

Chris Ballard mentioned throughout his media availability on the NFL Mix that Colts’ capologist Mike Bluem would have his work lower out for him this offseason, and to date so true — one restructured contract and two huge, backloaded exterior free brokers contracts later.