Colts' Big Three Face Contract Crossroads | Indianapolis Colts News

The Indianapolis Colts face a high-stakes cap crunch as three cornerstone players—Quenton Nelson, Jonathan Taylor, and DeForest Buckner—hit the final year of their contracts in 2026, carrying a combined $66M hit. Nelson, a six-time All-Pro guard, could command $27.5M–$29M/year, setting a new guard benchmark. Taylor, fresh off a 1500-yard, 20-touchdown season, wants to stay for life and may seek $18M–$20M/year amid a booming RB market. Buckner’s $23M salary and recent neck surgery add health uncertainty; his return could justify a similar deal, but lingering issues might lower his value. The Colts’ 2026 performance will be the ultimate test of whether they can afford to keep this elite trio together. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3cb7334cb6041717