Colts progressing toward extensions for Darius Leonard, Braden Smith
The Indianapolis Colts are continuing their progress toward contract extensions for linebacker Darius Leonard and right tackle Braden Smith, per Zak Keefer of The Athletic.
Keefer reported that the team is still working out the details and hopes to get the deals done before Week 1 of the regular season.
Colts continue to make progress on extensions for two key players, Darius Leonard and Braden Smith, but still details to work out, owner Jim Irsay told me today. Vital will be "finding that sweet spot that's fair to both sides," he said. Goal is to have both done before Week 1.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) June 9, 2021
This comes as no surprise. The Colts have made it clear both in their words and their actions that they want to get these extensions done before the 2021 season arrives. They stayed relatively quiet in free agency in order to save some space in salary-cap room for this to happen.
Leonard and Smith are easy extensions to predict. Both have been incredible starters for the Colts since they arrived on the scene in 2018. The other to keep an eye on is All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson, but his extension can get pushed back a bit given that the team already exercised his fifth-year option for 2022.
Leonard could very well reset the market at linebacker on his new contract. Smith will get paid like an upper-tier right tackle given the progress he has made since moving from guard to tackle during his rookie season.
The summer months of June and July are typically dead, but keep an eye out for the possible extensions before the regular season arrives.
