Colts Extend 2021 First-Team All-Pro to Record Breaking Deal
The Indianapolis Colts signed one of their players to a record-setting deal this summer after all. It just wasn't running back Jonathan Taylor.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Friday that the Colts agreed to a four-year contract extension with long snapper Luke Rhodes. The extension is worth $6.465 million with $2.5 million guaranteed.
Rhodes will also receive a $1.1 million signing bonus. He is now the highest-paid long snapper in the NFL.
Rhodes has been a member of the Colts since October 2016. He began his career as a linebacker with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2016. But the Buccaneers released him as part of their final roster cuts before the season.
The Colts added him to their practice squad on October 5. He played four games with Indianapolis as a rookie. Rhodes didn't record any statistics in 48 special teams snaps.
In 2017, the Colts named him their full-time long snapper. He won the job against rookie Thomas Hennessy. Rhodes has missed just one game since then.
Meanwhile, he's grown into one of the best long snappers in the NFL. Rhodes made second-team All-Pro in 2020 and then first-team All-Pro in 2021. He also made the Pro Bowl during the 2021 season.
Despite all those accomplishments, the decision to make Rhodes the highest-paid long snapper in NFL history appeared to leave Colts fans on social media baffled.
While the Colts haven't budged in their decision not to engage Taylor in contract negotiations, Indianapolis gave its long snapper a record deal just days before the regular season.
Even though Rhodes deserves the payday, the optics are not particularly good.
Rhodes has played 101 games for the Colts. That's the fifth-most for the team since 2010.
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