INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts have 13 unrestricted free agents: quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, receiver Reggie Wayne, receiver Hakeem Nicks, offensive lineman Joe Reitz, running back Ahmad Bradshaw, defensive lineman Cory Redding, defensive lineman Fili Moala, linebacker Andy Studebaker, cornerback Josh Gordy, cornerback Darius Butler, safety Sergio Brown, safety Mike Adams and safety Colt Anderson
Moala, Studebaker and Gordy are probably the longshots to return. So with that said, we’ll rank the Colts’ top-10 free agents based on priority to re-sign them.
Anderson and Bradshaw were No. 10 and 9 on the list.
8. QB Matt Hasselbeck
Stats: Four games, 30-of-44, 301 yards, two touchdowns
Note: The Colts didn’t sign Hasselbeck in 2013 to play. That’s Andrew Luck’s job. Hasselbeck was brought in for insurance in case Luck got injured and because of his veteran experience, which includes a Super Bowl appearance. Luck is already one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Next step for him is to be one of the elite ones, meaning one of the top three in the league. Luck acknowledged countless times over the past two seasons how much Hasselbeck has helped his development -- from game film, to what he sees during games from the sideline, to being a sounding board. The 39-year-old Hasselbeck hasn’t decided if he’ll return for a 17th season.
7. WR Hakeem Nicks
Stats: 16 games, 38 receptions, 405 yards, four touchdowns
Note: The vision was there last March when Nicks signed with the Colts. Nicks is a former back-to-back 1,000-yard receiver who was teaming with Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton to give Luck even more targets to work with. That was the hope at least. Nicks spent the entire season being inconsistent. He had a solid start then tailed off during the middle portion of the season before closing the regular season with 162 yards and a touchdown on 14 catches in the final three games. He added an additional 98 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs. Where Nicks stands with the Colts is uncertain. Hilton and Donte Moncrief are the only two receivers from last season under contract. The Colts signed former Canadian Football League player Duron Carter earlier this week, and it’s uncertain if Wayne will continue to play.
