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Of the Indianapolis Colts' 2026 undrafted free agent class, five different players received guarantees of at least $200,000.
This includes linebacker West Weeks receiving the sixth-most guaranteed money of any UDFA signing across the NFL.
Altogether, the Colts guaranteed $1.591 million at signing to these players, which is the eighth-most in the NFL, according to Spotrac.
The 2025 season was Weeks' first as a starter. Playing 564 snaps, Weeks found success as a blizter, totaling 13 pressures with three sacks. He recorded 66 tackles, missing 11, and in coverage, held opponents to 9.1 yards per catch. Weeks is an experienced special teams player as well, with 454 career snaps, contributing to five of the six different phases.
Can Weeks make a roster push? Of the UDFAs, Weeks may be best positioned to make the 53-man roster, with two to three roster spots at the linebacker position possibly up for grabs.
Brown played 1,528 defensive snaps over four seasons at Wisconsin, with 672 of those snaps coming last year. He has experience playing deep safety, in the box, and at the nickel. Brown generated seven pass breakups over the last three years and allowed 10.5 yards per catch in coverage over his career. He had a missed tackle rate of 12%, according to PFF. Brown is an experienced special teams contributor, with 441 career snaps.
Can Brown make a roster push? AJ Haulcy, Jonathan Owens, and Juanyeh Thomas joined Cam Bynum and Hunter Wohler as offseason additions. That is already five roster spots accounted for. Can Brown be the sixth safety or take the roster spot of Owens or Thomas?
Ball has played 1,864 career snaps on defense, which includes being a starter the past two years. He's routinely graded out well as a run defender throughout his career by PFF's metrics. This past season, Ball recorded a career-high 21 pressures. The bulk of Ball's snaps have come lined up in the A or B gaps. He also has a good amount of special teams experience, playing 467 career snaps.
Can Ball make a roster push? Given the construction of the Colts' defensive tackle position, making a roster push may not be easy here, with this being a crowded unit after Chris Ballard reshaped it this offseason.
VanDeMark has played over 1,500 career snaps over his four seasons -- two of which came at Michigan State and the last two at Alabama. He has experience playing all three interior offensive line positions, with most of his snaps coming at right guard. Last season, he allowed two sacks and 12 pressures over 365 pass-blocking snaps and was penalized just once. Out of 190 eligible guards, he ranked 106th in PFF's pass-blocking efficiency metric and 84th in run-blocking grade out of 331 linemen.
Can VanDeMark make a roster push? Tanor Bortolini leads the way, but the only other true center on the roster is Jimmy Morrissey, who has seen little playing time on offense in his career.
Over the last two seasons, Rucci surrendered only two sacks over 599 pass-blocking snaps. In 2025 specifically, Rucci gave up 16 pressures and ranked 160th among tackles in PFF's pass-blocking efficiency metric. He was penalized only once and was tied for 31st in run-blocking grade.
Can Rucci make a roster push? The opportunity does seem to exist. Rucci will be competing with Luke Tenuta and Blake Freeland. Tenuta has minimal NFL experience, while Freeland hasn't played much since his rookie season and is coming off an injury.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Colts five highest-paid undrafted rookies
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This includes linebacker West Weeks receiving the sixth-most guaranteed money of any UDFA signing across the NFL.
Altogether, the Colts guaranteed $1.591 million at signing to these players, which is the eighth-most in the NFL, according to Spotrac.
LB West Weeks: $286,500 guaranteed
The 2025 season was Weeks' first as a starter. Playing 564 snaps, Weeks found success as a blizter, totaling 13 pressures with three sacks. He recorded 66 tackles, missing 11, and in coverage, held opponents to 9.1 yards per catch. Weeks is an experienced special teams player as well, with 454 career snaps, contributing to five of the six different phases.
Can Weeks make a roster push? Of the UDFAs, Weeks may be best positioned to make the 53-man roster, with two to three roster spots at the linebacker position possibly up for grabs.
S Austin Brown: $272,500 guaranteed
Brown played 1,528 defensive snaps over four seasons at Wisconsin, with 672 of those snaps coming last year. He has experience playing deep safety, in the box, and at the nickel. Brown generated seven pass breakups over the last three years and allowed 10.5 yards per catch in coverage over his career. He had a missed tackle rate of 12%, according to PFF. Brown is an experienced special teams contributor, with 441 career snaps.
Can Brown make a roster push? AJ Haulcy, Jonathan Owens, and Juanyeh Thomas joined Cam Bynum and Hunter Wohler as offseason additions. That is already five roster spots accounted for. Can Brown be the sixth safety or take the roster spot of Owens or Thomas?
IDL Cam Ball: $272,500 guaranteed
Ball has played 1,864 career snaps on defense, which includes being a starter the past two years. He's routinely graded out well as a run defender throughout his career by PFF's metrics. This past season, Ball recorded a career-high 21 pressures. The bulk of Ball's snaps have come lined up in the A or B gaps. He also has a good amount of special teams experience, playing 467 career snaps.
Can Ball make a roster push? Given the construction of the Colts' defensive tackle position, making a roster push may not be easy here, with this being a crowded unit after Chris Ballard reshaped it this offseason.
C Geno VanDeMark: $240,000 guaranteed
VanDeMark has played over 1,500 career snaps over his four seasons -- two of which came at Michigan State and the last two at Alabama. He has experience playing all three interior offensive line positions, with most of his snaps coming at right guard. Last season, he allowed two sacks and 12 pressures over 365 pass-blocking snaps and was penalized just once. Out of 190 eligible guards, he ranked 106th in PFF's pass-blocking efficiency metric and 84th in run-blocking grade out of 331 linemen.
Can VanDeMark make a roster push? Tanor Bortolini leads the way, but the only other true center on the roster is Jimmy Morrissey, who has seen little playing time on offense in his career.
OT Nolan Rucci: $210,000 guaranteed
Over the last two seasons, Rucci surrendered only two sacks over 599 pass-blocking snaps. In 2025 specifically, Rucci gave up 16 pressures and ranked 160th among tackles in PFF's pass-blocking efficiency metric. He was penalized only once and was tied for 31st in run-blocking grade.
Can Rucci make a roster push? The opportunity does seem to exist. Rucci will be competing with Luke Tenuta and Blake Freeland. Tenuta has minimal NFL experience, while Freeland hasn't played much since his rookie season and is coming off an injury.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Colts five highest-paid undrafted rookies
Continue reading...
