Ought to the Colts re-sign Dayo Odeyingbo?
Dayo Odeyingbo has emerged as one of many higher younger gamers on the Colts protection over the previous couple of seasons. Compiling 11 sacks, 16 tackles for losses and some pressured fumbles, he has exceeded expectations in his function as a rotational defensive lineman. He has expertise inside and on the sting and has discovered success from each areas. Dayo will probably be 26 years outdated in September and is up for a brand new contract this offseason. He was drafted within the 2nd spherical in 2021 by the Colts and the query is: does he deserve a 2nd contract with the crew? The reply is clearly sure, however can the Colts afford to pay his projected asking worth and if they will, ought to they?
Projected Contract
In response to Tom Pelissero’s latest article highlighting under-the-radar free brokers, he says that “it wouldn’t be a shock to see Odeyingbo land a deal within the vary of $16 million to $20 million per yr.” It’s an honest start line to work with.
It’s extra correct to think about Dayo an edge rusher since 78% of his snaps are on the skin. From there, we will use the next gamers to check:
- Arik Armstead
- Carl Granderson
- Osa Odighizuwa
- Dre’Mont Jones
Please observe that Dayo Odeyingbo is a novel participant and doesn’t have an actual comparability, so discovering gamers with some comparable traits is difficult.
If we take a look at all 4 contracts, we see that:
- Arik Armstead signed for 3 years, 43.5M with 28M assured in 2024
- Carl Granderson signed for 4 years, 52M with 22.1M assured in 2023
- Osa Odighizuwa signed for 4 years, 80M with 39M assured in 2025
- Dre’Mont Jones signed for 3 years, 51M with 23M assured in 2023
The common of these 4 contracts, adjusted for inflation, could be:
4 years, $72M with $36M assured
Primarily based on the typical and the experiences we’re seeing/listening to, we will count on Dayo to signal for across the cash listed above.
Is it Value it?
There’s two components to it: Dayo is a younger upstart participant who’s about to enter his athletic prime on a crew that might use the assistance on the sting. The opposite half to it’s that Dayo’s manufacturing up so far has not made him an $18M-a-year participant.
In the event that they’re optimistic about his potential and imagine the Colts badly want the assistance on the sting, then the Colts ought to maintain him.
In the event that they’re wanting it at on the subject of his manufacturing and his numbers, he’s merely not price $15M+ a yr and extra within the $8M-$12M a yr vary.
A contract just like the one listed above would put him within the higher echelon of complimentary edge rushers and make him one of many 15 highest paid defensive ends within the NFL. I don’t suppose anybody can argue that Dayo is among the 15-20 greatest within the league in the mean time.
Personally, I prefer to pay for one thing primarily based on what has been proven, even when it’s flashes. Dayo could be very athletic and is clearly on the rise, however to pay a relative unknown that a lot cash that makes him one of many highest paid gamers on the crew appears an excessive amount of. The Colts nonetheless have critical points within the secondary, they may have a gap to fill at linebacker and there may be holes looming with the offensive line, so cash may be tight.
Chris Ballard in his make-or-break yr won’t care in regards to the long-term ramifications and signal him to a contract just like the one above, but it surely’s dangerous. Ballard is ready now the place he’ll should take dangers so he may chunk the bullet and never essentially see the destructive fallout of the contract (if he underperforms).
It’s additionally price noting that the defensive finish market is comparatively robust with names like Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Trey Hendrickson, Dee Lawrence and Josh Sweat. The Colts may discover somebody on the market for cheaper with higher short-term worth than Odeyingbo.
For me, making Dayo a high 5 paid participant on the crew appears an excessive amount of and never a contract the crew ought to look to tackle, particularly with some new defensive finish names on the free company and commerce market such because the names listed above.
