The big man has proven his worth. Will the Colts give him what he wants?
Anthony Castonzo was an anchor along the offensive line for the Indianapolis Colts from 2011-2020. He was one of the best at that position and proved his worth year in and year out. Left tackle is a hard position to nail down. It is so difficult that is normally one of the most coveted and expensive positions in the game. Protecting the quarterback’s blindside is of upmost importance, so the fact that the Colts found someone like Bernhard Raimann relatively quickly after Castonzo’s retirement is extremely fortunate. The question on the table for the Colts to answer is where they can meet Raimann at to ensure he continues his career with the horseshoe.
According to Raimann, he and the Colts are not on the same page as he enters a contract year. Originally, a third round pick in the 2022 draft, Raimann did not burst onto the scene but has seen steady development and improvement during his career. He is may not be a household name, but his value is there. In 2024, he ranked as the 8th highest overall tackle with a rank of 8th in pass block and 11th in run block. Those are some extremely solid numbers and make him deserving of a new and lucrative contract. He will certainly get it, whether it be with the Colts or not.
The Colts generally like to take care of business during the offseason when it comes to extending players. There are exceptions such as Jonathan Taylor, but the Colts are not looking for a repeat of that drama. Taylor held more cards than Raimann on one level, but on another, Raimann plays a position that is in much higher demand. His contract will be hefty as it will easily clear $20 million a year. The Colts budget is getting tighter than it has been in the past, but Chris Ballard should find a way to keep Raimann in the fold. Ballard truly values rewarding his own and won’t be apt to repeat the disaster that was the two years between Castonzo and Raimann. Ballard simply won’t let that happen again.
Bernhard Raimann will never be a household name, but the NFL isn’t made for everyone to be a star. Successful teams have strong foundations at the game’s most important positions. Quarterback, cornerback, defensive end, receiver, and left tackle are some of the most sought after every year. Those are the positions that break the bank. Those are the players that teams desperately try to keep or if they can’t, make breaking news when they are traded. The Colts are not quite there at the other positions, so they can’t afford to lose the one they currently have in house.