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 running back Trey Sermon. 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
Sermon returned on a one-year free agent deal for the 2024 season and was the Colts’ second running back behind Jonathan Taylor.
On the year, Sermon carried the ball 56 times and averaged just 2.8 yards per attempt with two touchdowns–down from the 4.6 yards per rush on 35 carries the season prior. He would catch the ball 16 times for 99 yards as well.
While Taylor is still under contract for two more seasons, the running back position is still a need for the Colts this offseason.
For one, as I detailed here, I do believe the Colts could benefit from having more of a pass-catching presence out of the backfield, adding another dimension to the offense that defenses have to account for.
I also think having a secondary back who the Colts are more willing to give carries to could be beneficial for Taylor over the course of a season. Of course, he would still be the lead back, but lightening his workload a bit over 17 games might not be a bad idea.
So with those being boxes that the Colts should attempt to check this offseason, I would guess that they go in a different direction at running back rather than bringing back Sermon.
Adding to that, the team did already re-sign Tyler Goodson to a one-year deal for the 2025 season, and this year’s draft class at the running back position is absolutely loaded.
In fact, ESPN’s Jordan Reid has a whopping 33 running backs with draftable grades on his big board. So the opportunity to add young, high end talent at this position and do so on a relatively inexpensive rookie deal will very much exist for the Colts.
Prediction: Sermon signs elsewhere.
