With the NFL trade deadline behind us, what does the Indianapolis Colts' salary cap situation look like, particularly in 2027, when the rebuild can truly begin?
By trading away DeForest Buckner, Quenton Nelson, Josh Downs, and Keenan Allen, the Colts freed up some cap space for the 2026 season, since the team no longer has to pay out portions of those contracts.
The Buckner and Nelson contracts specifically cleared over $17.7 million in cap space, according to The Ringer's Tom Pelissero.
So, at the moment, the Colts have $33.876 million in available cap space, according to Over the Cap, which is the fourth-most in the NFL. Any unused cap space from the 2026 season can be rolled over into 2027.
Looking ahead to OTC's early Colts' cap projection for
the upcoming offseason, Indianapolis is projected to have $47.997 million in cap space. That is the 12th-most in football.
The Colts can create more space as well, most notably by moving on from Daniel Jones, along with a few other veteran contracts.
Of course, how a team utilizes its resources is what matters most, but the Colts will have ample cap space next offseason, along with 12 draft picks. That amount of capital can hopefully help accelerate the incoming rebuild.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts updated salary cap outlook after NFL trade deadline
