Two Colts’ players made the roster of the “best NFL team money can buy,” which was constructed by NFL .com.
NFL.com’s Tom Blair set out to build the best NFL roster while staying under the 2025 salary cap, and included were two members of the Indianapolis Colts.
“I embarked on a perfect July exercise,” wrote Blair, “building The Best Team Money Can Buy, assembling the most imposing 53-man roster I could under the 2025 NFL salary cap.”
Tanor Bortolini provided center depth–and an option at guard as well–while Zaire Franklin was a part of Blair’s linebacker unit. Neither Bortolini nor Franklin was a starter on this team.
As noted by Blair in the article, Bortolini comes with a cap hit of $3.66 million this season, and Franklin $4.38 million.
Bortolini is still relatively inexperienced with eight NFL appearances and six starts, but he performed well when called upon during his rookie season. He would rank 15th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric and was 22nd out of 40 centers in run-blocking grade.
“I saw a young player that got better each time he went out there,” offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. said. “The game wasn’t too big for him. Athletically, he has a ton to offer in terms of what he’s able to do on the move, in terms of how he’s able to mirror people in pass protection.”
Franklin, meanwhile, made his first Pro Bowl in 2024 and was named a second-team All-Pro after leading the NFL in tackles. He also set a career high with 15 quarterback pressures, four sacks, and two interceptions.
Also of note when discussing Franklin’s spot on Blair’s roster is that he has ample special teams experience, which is an important aspect of playing linebacker in the NFL, particularly for those who are backups.