Why Colts' Mo Alie-cox Should Be A Priority In Free Agency

Veteran tight extremity Mo Alie-Cox is among nan longest tenured players connected nan Indianapolis Colts’ roster. He has been a staple of this Colts squad for nan long of nan Chris Ballard era, and his dependable beingness has ever brought inferior to nan discourtesy (and typical teams). Today’s free supplier floor plan looks astatine nan anticipation of nan 32-year-old tight extremity returning for a 10th twelvemonth successful Indy.

Alie-Cox had a very unorthodox travel to nan NFL, arsenic he only played 1 twelvemonth of shot successful precocious schoolhouse earlier transitioning to basketball. He excelled connected nan hardwood, earning a danasiwa to be VCU backmost successful 2013. He was a instrumentality favourite for nan high-paced VCU Rams, starting astatine powerfulness guardant for his last 3 seasons pinch nan program.

He vanished his assemblage profession arsenic nan Rams’ all-time leader successful section extremity percentage, while averaging 7.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. As his assemblage profession came to a close, though, it became clear that location wasn’t overmuch of a domiciled for a 6’6” defensive-focused powerfulness guardant successful nan NBA, truthful he went backmost to his roots pinch football. The Colts signed him arsenic an UDFA backmost successful 2017, and he became a roster champion by September of 2018.

Alie-Cox’s receiving prowess was connected afloat show successful his first afloat play connected nan Colts, arsenic he made a item reel 26-yard touchdown reception against nan Oakland Raiders successful October 2018. While he didn’t really nutrient overmuch arsenic a receiver nan remainder of nan season, his blocking prowess earned him a spot connected nan 53-man roster going forward. Sitting down Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron for nan 2018-2019 seasons, he developed into 1 of nan amended blocking tight ends successful nan league.

Sign Up For nan Colts Daily Digest - OnSI’s Indianapolis Colts Newsletter

The hype astir Alie-Cox continued to turn aft his receiving crippled took a measurement guardant pinch Philip Rivers astatine backmost successful 2020. He deed a career-high 394 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns that season, and past followed it up pinch different 316-yard play pinch 4 touchdowns successful 2021 pinch Carson Wentz. When Doyle retired astatine nan extremity of nan 2021 season, nan Colts quickly inked Alie-Cox to a three-year, $18 cardinal woody to beryllium nan team’s caller apical subordinate astatine nan position.

The consequence of that statement was little than ideal. Alie-Cox’s receiving accumulation dipped a bully spot arsenic nan Colts struggled to find immoderate hit connected that broadside of nan football. It became clear early connected that he wasn’t destined to beryllium a full-time walk catcher astatine nan position, and that his champion domiciled was arsenic a blocking tight extremity two. He still made a fewer high-leverage catches from 2022-2024, but he was miscast arsenic that apical feline astatine nan position (especially backmost successful 2023 pinch Shane Steichen’s dense 11 unit approach).

Alie-Cox deed free agency aft nan 2024 season, and it felt for illustration his clip pinch nan Colts mightiness yet beryllium over. The squad drafted Tyler Warren to switch his domiciled astatine nan apical of nan extent chart, but they still decided to bring backmost nan seasoned successful a TE2 role. With Warren intelligibly defining nan remainder of nan roster, Alie-Cox arguably had his champion play successful years pinch nan Colts successful 2025.

The receiving accumulation was still a spot lackluster (just 13 receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown), but he was nan cleanable brace arsenic an in-line blocker alongside Warren’s abilities arsenic a move tight end. He scored his highest blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus, since nan 2020 play and he was graded retired arsenic nan second-highest walk blocking tight extremity successful shot by nan site.

When looking astatine nan film, truthful overmuch of what nan Colts did this play was a consequence of Alie-Cox’s expertise to do nan soiled work. He took connected reliable assignments and freed up Warren to beryllium nan flashy rookie that he was. The 2 worked exceptionally good together, and some players were amended arsenic a result. Alie-Cox still made his fewer high-leverage plays successful nan walk crippled arsenic well, astir notably a touchdown drawback vs. Jacksonville successful week 17 and a clone punt reception vs. Houston successful week 18.

Overall, Alie-Cox isn’t a must-re-sign subordinate for nan Colts, but he is surely a feline that I’d for illustration to person back. He slides successful perfectly pinch Warren arsenic nan perfect 2nd tight extremity successful 12 unit looks, and he makes life easier for nan offense. He is an unsung leader connected this team, and nan inferior that he brings to nan discourtesy is valuable. Give him different one-year woody and bring Mo backmost location this offseason.

Recommended Articles