Seventeen Indianapolis Colts players reach the end of their contract after the 2023 season, including two of their highest-paid players and their starting quarterback for most of the season. Also, three players drafted in 2020 are completing their rookie contracts.

The team and players have decisions to make, and these are key deadlines:

March 5, 2024: Team deadline to designate franchise or transition players.

March 11-13, 2024: Teams can negotiate with potential unrestricted free agents (UFA).

March 13, 2024: First day of the NFL year, allowing teams teams to sign players and make trades.

Here are the potential UFAs and exclusive rights free agents who played for the Colts in 2023.

Under contract: Colts player salaries for the 2024 NFL season

Salary cap space: How much money do the Colts have available to pursue 2024 NFL free agents?

Grover Stewart

Position: Defensive tackle

Age: 30

2023 salary cap hit: $10.25 million

With the Colts: The Colts' 4th-round NFL Draft pick in 2017 has been an understated key component in the middle of the defensive line, occupying opposing offensive linemen to allow the likes of Shaquille Leonard and Zaire Franklin to pile up tackles. He had career highs of 70 tackles and 9 tackles for loss in 2022.

He missed 6 games in 2023 with a PED suspension, and his absence showed. Opposing teams rushed an average of 153 yards per game. Their season average is 130.7 rushing yards allowed.

The Colts must decide if they think he has peaked and whether they believe they can find someone who can match his production at a price they can afford on the market or in the draft.

Kenny Moore

Position: Cornerback

Age: 28

2023 salary cap hit: $8.325 million

With the Colts: Moore has bounced back from an injury-filled and frustrating 2022 to play much closer to the form that yielded a Pro Bowl berth in 2021. He's second on the team in tackles (93) and interceptions (3).

Cornerback has been the Colts' shakiest position in 2023 because of a gambling suspension (Isaiah Rodgers Sr.), a team suspension (Tony Brown), injury (Dallis Flowers) and youth (rookies JuJu Brents, Jaylon Jones and Darrell Baker Jr. have seen extensive action). That complicates any decision regarding Moore.

Taven Bryan

Position: Defensive tackle

Age: 27

2023 salary cap hit: $3.51 million

With the Colts: He came to the Colts on a 1-year deal and has played about 30% of the defensive snaps, getting in on (30) tackles with (2) sacks.

Gardner Minshew

Position: Quarterback

Age: 27

2023 salary cap hit: $3.5 million

With the Colts: As much as anyone in the NFL, Minshew showed the value of a capable backup quarterback. He filled in three times when rookie Anthony Richardson went down with injuries, taking over for good in Week 5. (62.2% completions, 3,305 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, 9 interceptions) The Colts would likely want him back in a similar role, but can he get more years, money or a chance to start somewhere else?

Rigoberto Sanchez

Position: Punter

Age: 29

2023 salary cap hit: $2.9 million

With the Colts: He counts the 5th-most toward a salary cap among NFL punters. He's slightly above the middle of the pack in gross (48.3) and net (42.3) average. He's the NFL's only full-season punter with 0 touchbacks (68 punts).

Michael Pittman Jr.

Position: Wide receiver

Age: 26

2023 salary cap hit: $2.15 million

With the Colts: This is the highest-profile Colts UFA. The 2nd-round 2020 NFL Draft pick isn't a deep threat but is as dependable as they come, improving his production every season and clearing 100 catches in 2023 (109 catches, 1,152 yards, 4 touchdowns). Pittman's absence in a late-season game against Atlanta left the passing game rudderless. He will command a significant pay raise.

Tyquan Lewis

Position: Defensive end

Age: 28

2023 salary cap hit: $2.1 million

With the Colts: When Lewis is healthy, he's a good part of the pass-rush rotation. He posted career highs of 13 quarterback hits and 25 tackles, along with 4 sacks. Health has always been the key question with Lewis, who has appeared in more than 9 games in a season just twice in six years.

Isaiah McKenzie

Position: Wide receiver

Age: 28

2023 salary cap hit: $1.23 million

With the Colts: McKenzie was on a 1-year deal, and he became the primary kick and punt returner, and also had 11 catches. However, he was suspended for the final three games of the regular season for conduct detrimental to the team.

Tony Brown

Position: Cornerback

Age: 27

2023 salary cap hit: $1.23 million

With the Colts: Brown was an important special teams contributor and saw time on defense as various issues affected the cornerback position. However, he was suspended for the final three games of the regular season for conduct detrimental to the team.

Jake Martin

Position: Linebacker

Age: 28

2023 salary cap hit: $1.19 million

With the Colts: He had 7 tackles and 2 sacks in occasional action on defense. He also played special teams.

Julian Blackmon

Position: Safety

Age: 25

2023 salary cap hit: $1.15 million

With the Colts: The 2020 3rd-round draft pick was the Colts' 2nd-leading tackler (88), leader in interceptions (4) and had 8 passes defended before a shoulder injury knocked him out of the last 2+ games of the regular season. He will likely command a significant pay hike in his second contract.

Zack Moss

Position: Running back

Age: 26

2023 salary cap hit: $1.15 million

With the Colts: Moss has been an able fill-in when Jonathan Taylor has missed time with injuries. He led the Colts with 794 rushing yards and also scored 5 touchdowns. However, Taylor has a long-term contract with a significant pay bump. If Moss wants to stay, he may have to settle for a similar salary.

Genard Avery

Position: Defensive end

Age: 28

2023 salary cap hit: $1.08 million

With the Colts: He suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp.

Danny Pinter

Position: Offensive line

Age: 27

2023 salary cap hit: $910,925

With the Colts: The 5th-round 2020 draft pick missed the season with an ankle injury. He has been a versatile offensive lineman and even has a touchdown reception.

Exclusive rights free agents

Trevor Denbow

Position: Safety

Age: 25

2023 salary cap hit: $870,000

With the Colts: He has been a special teams performer in his two seasons.

Cameron McGrone

Position: Linebacker

Age: 23

2023 salary cap hit: $787,500

With the Colts: He has been a special teams performer in his two seasons.

Segun Olubi

Position: Linebacker

Age: 24

2023 salary cap hit: $750,000

With the Colts: He has primarily been a special teams performer in his two seasons, but has stepped in when injuries affected depth at linebacker.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts free agents: Players whose contracts expired after 2023 season