Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson will have the ability to be a big spender once free agency starts next month.
The Colts are projected to have the second-most salary cap space to work with. The Colts will have about $33.1 million in cap space. Only the Oakland Raiders will have more cap space to work with. The Raiders are projected to have a whopping $58.2 million of salary-cap space.
The Colts’ cap number, which includes salaries, penalties, dead money and future money, is $92,903,156. The estimated salary cap for the 2014 season is $126 million.
The Colts need help on the offensive and defensive lines and adding depth at receiver won’t hurt, either. Indianapolis has 18 unrestricted free agents. Grigson noted last month the importance in re-signing cornerback Vontae Davis and safety Antoine Bethea.
Don’t be surprised if the Colts leave some of their cap space unspent. They have to plan ahead and be prepared to pay franchise quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck is headed into the third year of his four-year contract.
"You have to be smart about it,” Grigson said. “We're always forward thinking. Before we make any type of move, [we] are looking down the line. Because you don't want to hamstring yourself and you don't want to lose your franchise. So, obviously I have very smart people around me that remind me, including our owner. So we'll be smart about that and we'll make sure that we keep our best players here as best we can."