BREAKING: Former offensive lineman Confirms he will be Re-Signing With Colts
After a breakout 2023 season, Will Fries aimed to carry his momentum into a contract year, but his plans were derailed when he fractured his right tibia in Week 5, cutting his 2024 campaign short.
Now 26, Fries faces not only the challenge of recovering for the 2025 season but also securing his next contract. Despite his impending free agency, the offensive lineman hopes to stay with the only NFL team he’s ever played for—the Colts.
“This place is special,” Fries told Nate Atkins of the Indy Star. “… From coming in as a rookie with guys having my back when I didn’t play much and then getting an opportunity to start and then being able to start the year after that. There’s so many good people here.
“All I want to do is repay them with how hard I can work, playing the best I possibly can for those who believe in me and for my family and for myself. That’s what it’s meant to me to be here.”
A former seventh-round pick, Fries saw limited action early in his career, appearing in three games as a rookie before making nine starts as an injury replacement in 2022. By 2023, he earned a full-time starting role, starting all 17 games and ranking as Pro Football Focus’ 32nd-best guard. He appeared to take another step forward in 2024, as PFF graded him as the second-best guard before his injury.
Fries has proven he belongs in a starting lineup, but his injury complicates his free agency outlook. As Atkins notes, he might have to accept a one-year deal to rebuild his value. However, he could also argue he’s the second-best guard available this offseason—trailing only Kansas City’s Trey Smith—which could attract interest from teams willing to bet on his potential and recovery.
The Colts may be one of those teams, as retaining Fries would provide stability alongside Quenton Nelson. While they drafted Tanor Bortolini in the fourth round with the expectation he’d eventually start, he’s projected to replace center Ryan Kelly. Meanwhile, backup guards Mark Glowinski and Danny Pinter are also set to hit free agency, making Fries an important piece to maintain continuity on the offensive line.