In the coming weeks, we will be taking a closer look at each of the Indianapolis Colts’ unrestricted free agents and making a prediction as to whether or not they will return for the 2025 season.
Up next, let’s take a look at offensive lineman Danny Pinter. If you’ve missed any of our other free agency predictions, you can find them below.
Will Fries
Julian Blackmon
Grant Stuard
Ryan Kelly
Dayo Odeyingbo
Mo Alie-Cox
Trey Sermon
Ashton Dulin
Mark Glowinski
Taven Bryan
Sam Ehlinger
Ronnie Harrison
EJ Speed
Kylen Granson
David Long
After missing the 2023 season due to injury, Pinter made the Colts’ 53-man roster coming out of training camp in 2024.
Offensively, he would get two starts at center in Weeks 13 and 15 when both Ryan Kelly and Tanor Bortolini were out. In those two games, Pinter allowed three sacks and no pressures.
According to PFF’s metrics, he was really good as a run-blocker against New England, but struggled quite a bit against Denver in that regard. He did also play 55 snaps on the field goal blocking unit last year as well.
As the Colts gained more confidence in Bortolini, when both he and Kelly were healthy, we saw Pinter often inactive in those instances as the third center on the roster.
The case for Pinter returning is simple: the need for more depth at center. While it looks like Bortolini will be the starter in 2025, Kelly will likely be playing elsewhere and the Colts need a backup option at center, which Pinter could provide.
Now, this doesn’t mean that Pinter is going to make the final roster or that re-signing him to a contract–that isn’t going to break the salary cap bank–should stop the Colts from adding to the interior offensive line.
But with Bortolini only entering Year 2, there’s value in having an experienced and familiar face behind him on the roster. And if someone else emerges as the backup center, I’m going to guess that the Colts could get out of Pinter’s contract quite easily.
Prediction: Colts re-sign Danny Pinter.