INDIANAPOLIS – In one week, the career path for players all over the NFL will change.
Dwayne Allen is one of those potential players.
Allen, an unrestricted free agent, believes he won't see free agency, when it commences on March 9.
"Hopefully we don't get to that point," Allen said on 1070 The Fan.
"It's in my gut that I'm here (next season)."
In an ideal world, Allen would be entering a new contract this offseason with a bit more momentum.
The numbers and usage of Allen last season are well documented.
The 2015 numbers for Allen don't look like someone who played in 13 games.
29 targets, 16 catches, 109 yards, 1 touchdown, 6.8 yards per catch, 4 first downs.
Allen's receiving production in 2015 was a fraction of what he provided the team the year prior, also playing 13 games.*
50 targets, 29 catches, 395 yards, 8 touchdowns, 13.6 yards per catch, 24 first downs.*
Then, there's the injury conundrum with Allen missing 21 games in the past three years.
What Allen does bring with him to free agency is two specific years of tape that puts him among the top tight ends in the NFL.
Allen's 2012 and 2014 campaigns showed off his unique skillset as a true dual-threat tight end.
It's part of the reason Allen made a switch in agents this offseason, hiring long-term agent Drew Rosenhaus.
"Coming off the season…it was a difficult year for everyone and especially me," Allen said last week. "I just thought I needed someone with a certain expertise to really show teams and get teams to understand that one season doesn't define my career, that I am an elite tight end in the National Football League, which my film shows."
On 1070 The Fan, Allen said there has been dialogue between his representation and the Colts.
One aspect of free agency that is different to the Colts this season comes with two new coordinators.
Ryan Grigson spoke last week how his scouts have had to meet with Rob Chudzinski and Ted Monachino to hear what they desire from specific positions.
For example, Monachino might want his safeties to be rangier, so scouts need to know that when they are grading out draft prospects.
The same could be said when evaluating current personnel, too.
At tight end, is Chud looking for something closer to Allen's skillset or more of a Coby Fleener-type?
That's something we will likely find out over the next seven days.
