Former undrafted free agent tight end Mo Alie-Cox has made a nice name for himself with the Indianapolis Colts, but six years of reliable play might not be enough to keep him from getting cut. Now entering the final season of a three-year, $17.5 million deal, James Boyd of The Athletic believes Indianapolis could part ways with their longtime veteran and move forward with younger, cheaper players.
Mo Alie-Cox currently carries a $5.9 million cap hit, and the Colts can clear all of that money if they cut him. This financial incentive combined with the return of 2022 third-round pick Jelani Woods makes this a fairly easy decision if Woods can recapture his old form.
As a fierce run blocker with the potential to make some plays in the passing game, Mo Alie-Cox should land with another team if cut by the Colts. While any team could make a move, the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers are the best fit.
Colts Could Cut Mo Alie-Cox; Chargers, Panthers Might Show Interest
First-year Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to run the ball as much as physically possible. Part of this stems from an unreliable Chargers wide receiver depth chart, but it’s also built into his philosophy as a head coach.
Los Angeles passed on Malik Nabers and selected offensive tackle Joe Alt because they believe the secret to winning games rests in the trenches. Mo Alie-Cox is a perfect fit for this type of team, as the cut candidate can clear running lanes for Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins.
Supporting Bryce Young on the Ground
Jim Harbaugh isn’t the only first-year head coach devoted to running the ball. After helping Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield in consecutive seasons, Dave Canales is off to work his magic on 2023 first-overall pick Bryce Young. Mo Alie-Cox could help restore Young’s career, but the cut candidate won’t do it in the passing game.
Canales has publicly stated that he wants to run the ball early and often, and his offseason moves reflect this philosophy. Carolina spent big on the guard duo of Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis and used a second-round pick on running back Jonathon Brooks. These three will improve Carolina’s inept run game, but Mo Alie-Cox would provide additional support if the Colts cut him.
As of this posting, Carolina’s tight end room consists of Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas, and fourth-round pick Ja’Tavion Sanders. Tremble and Thomas are nothing more than below-average journeymen, and Sanders projects as more of a pass-catching threat than a ferocious in-line blocker. Mo Alie-Cox might not be good enough to make the cut in Indianapolis, but he might be the most effective option in Carolina.
With Cox clearing run lanes, Bryce Young won’t have to throw the ball as frequently, which could be a key factor in making him more comfortable in this new offense. The former undrafted free agent won’t singlehandedly determine whether or not Young develops into a franchise quarterback, but it can’t hurt to provide as much support as possible.
Main Photo: Jenna Watson – USA Today Sports
