Colts convert $11 million of Bernhard Raimann's deal; what it means to salary cap

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Colts convert $11 million of Bernhard Raimann's deal; what it means to salary cap

Colts convert $11 million of Bernhard Raimann's deal; what it means to salary cap

Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star · Indianapolis Star

Wed, Mar 11, 2026 ·

2 min read

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INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts cleared the cap space necessary to become cap compliant by the start of the new NFL league year with one simple move.

Indianapolis converted $11 million of Bernhard Raimann 's $13 million base salary for 2026 into signing bonus, a source told IndyStar, instantly creating $8.25 million in cap space this season, more than enough to cover their deficit.

Raimann signed a four-year, $100 million extension in training camp last year, and he's only in the second year of that contract, making a conversion to his deal relatively low-risk.

The Colts had gone over the cap by placing the transition tag on starting quarterback Daniel Jones , a move that allocated the $37.833 million Jones would earn if he played on the transition tag onto the cap immediately.

Jan 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) is pushed out of bounds by Houston Texans cornerback Ja'marcus Ingram (42) during the second half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
(Thomas Shea, Thomas Shea-Imagn Images)

Dec 22, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches a pass Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, during a game against the Denver Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar, Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown (30) breaks up a pass intended for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar, Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) signals a first down during a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Colts defeated the Cardinals 31-27.
(Christine Tannous/IndyStar, Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Dec 28, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) warms up before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
(Robert Goddin, Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)

Jan 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches a touchdown pass against the Houston Texans during the first half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
(Thomas Shea, Thomas Shea-Imagn Images)

Oct 12, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)

Nov 23, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) makes a catch against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
(Denny Medley, Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

Sep 7, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) celebrates after making a catch during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)

Nov 30, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) makes a catch in front of Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter (4) for a touchdown during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
(Grace Hollars, Grace Hollars-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images)

Feb 2, 2022; Mobile, AL, USA; National squad wide receiver Alec Pierce of Cincinnati (82) and National squad wide receiver Romeo Doubs of Nevada (7) and National squad tight end Jeremy Ruckert of Ohio State (88) during National team practice for the 2022 Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
(Buckeyes Wire)

Oct 31, 2020; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Memphis Tigers defensive back John Broussard Jr. (9) reacts as Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce (12) catches a pass for a touchdown in the first half at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
(Aaron Doster, Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)

Sep 25, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches a pass in front of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson (35) during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
(Titans Wire)

Cincinnati's Alec Pierce (12) runs towards Notre Dame’s Cam Hart (5) during the Notre Dame vs. Cincinnati NCAA football game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.
(Robert Franklin, South Bend Tribune)

Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce (12) catches a pass as East Carolina Pirates cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian (21) tackles him in the first half of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, NC, on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021.
(Albert Cesare / The Enquirer)

Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce (12) bobbles a pass before bringing it in under pressure from Tulsa Golden Hurricane safety Brandon Johnson (8) in the first quarter of the NCAA American Athletic Conference game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane ay Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019.
(Sam Greene)

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 06: Alec Pierce #14 of the Indianapolis Colts catches a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on October 06, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
(Mike Carlson, Getty Images)

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) and wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) celebrate a touchdown by Pierce on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.
(Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK)

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 04: Alec Pierce #14 of the Indianapolis Colts catches a touchdown pass over Kelvin Joseph #1 of the Dallas Cowboys in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce (12) collects a pass during warm ups ahead in the of the College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the 86th Cotton Bowl Classic, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
(Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer)

Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce (12) catches a pass during Cincinnati Football Pro Day, Thursday, March 24, 2022, at the Sheakley Athletic Complex in Cincinnati.
(Albert Cesare/The Enquirer)

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) walks up the field during the pregame warm-up Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, ahead of a game against the Buffalo Bills at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)

Cincinnati's Alec Pierce (12) leaps by Notre Dame’s JD Bertrand (27) during the Notre Dame vs. Cincinnati NCAA football game Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. Notre Dame Falls To Cincinnati
(Cards Wire)

Sep 8, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches a long pass under coverage from Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward (20) during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images)

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) makes a catch during Colts Camp at Grand Park on Sunday, August. 4, 2024, in Westfield Ind.
(Eagles Wire)

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) catches the ball during pregame warm-up before the game against the Detroit Lions on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) makes a catch in front of Washington Commanders cornerback Benjamin St-Juste (25) on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, during a game against the Washington Commanders at Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Robert Scheer/IndyStar)

Indianapolis continues to work towards a long-term deal with Jones that would provide more relief, a source told IndyStar, but the Raimann conversion is a simple way to make sure the Colts are under the cap by the start of the league year.

Once the new league year begins at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the Colts should have space available.

Indianapolis will save a little more than $28 million in cap space by officially processing the trades of wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to Pittsburgh and linebacker Zaire Franklin to Green Bay, and even though the Colts will officially sign wide receiver Alec Pierce to a four-year contract worth up to $116 million, the deal is likely structured with a smaller cap hit in the first year of the deal, providing cap relief.

But the Colts have to be cap compliant by 4 p.m., creating the need to convert Raimann's base salary into signing bonus.

Raimann's new cap hits

2026: $9,261,200

2027: $30,605,200

2028: $26,917,200

2029: $31,261,200

Raimann's old cap hits

2026: $17,511,200

2027: $27,855,200

2028: $24,167,200

2029: $28,511,200

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Bernhard Raimann has $11 million of deal converted; what it means to Colts' cap

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Colts convert $11 million of Bernhard Raimann's deal; what it means to salary cap

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

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Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Colts WR Alec Pierce through the years

Raimann's new cap hits

Raimann's old cap hits