INDIANAPOLIS – There should be zero debate on the status of things.
The Indianapolis Colts are better now than they were four months ago. Better after free agency delivered cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Cam Bynum. Daniel Jones? We’ll see.
And better after the draft added Tyler Warren, who automatically vaults into starting tight end status, and defensive end JT Tuimoloau, who’ll help fill the void created by the departure of Dayo Odeyingbo.
Better, but good enough to compete with the Houston Texans for AFC South supremacy? Or earn a wild-card playoff berth and end the unacceptable four-year postseason drought?
Our stance hasn’t changed, won’t and isn’t exactly unique.
The upcoming season and the franchise’s long-term relevancy hinge on whether Anthony Richardson finally becomes the quarterback General Manager Chris Ballard, coach Shane Steichen and owner Jim Irsay envisioned when they made him the No. 4 overall pick in 2023.
But since it never can be about one player – although it so often is about one position – here’s a look at the Colts’ roster. We’ve included the undrafted rookies that have been reported by IndyStar’s Joel A. Erickson, Spotrac.com and other outlets.
(* – denotes rookie)
QUARTERBACK
*Starter: Anthony Richardson/Daniel Jones.
*Depth: Jason Bean, Riley Leonard*.
*What’s up?: The competition between Richardson and Jones began last week, minus dueling spirals from 10 paces. The early portion of the offseason work is restricted to classroom and conditioning. The first on-field work begins in mid-May. That’s when Steichen, coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and Ballard really start charting the Colts’ most consequential positional battle.
Leonard’s early development will take a backseat to the main bout involving Richardson and Jones, and primarily consist of getting snaps with the No. 3 offense. His priority: Be a sponge.
RUNNING BACK
*Starter: Jonathan Taylor.
*Depth: Tyler Goodson, Salvon Ahmed, Khalil Herbert, DJ Giddens*, Ulysses Bentley*.
*What’s up?: Giddens represents the young back everyone expected Ballard to find on Day 3. The 21-year-old is the youngest of the eight draft picks – three months younger than JT Tuimoloau – and brings three-down potential. He piled up 1,601 yards and eight TDs from scrimmage at Kansas State last season – 1,343 rushing, 258 on 21 receptions – and was a willing blocker even though a hand/wrist injury limited his effectiveness.
This position still belongs to Taylor. Since being selected in round 2 of the 2020 draft, he ranks 2nd in the NFL in rushing yards (6,013) and yards per game (89.7), tied-2nd in yards per attempt (4.9), and 3rd in attempts (1,228) and rushing TDs (51).
WIDE RECEIVER
*Starters: Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Josh Downs.
*Depth: AD Mitchell, Anthony Gould, Ashton Dulin, D.J. Montgomery, Laquon Treadwell, Ajou Ajou, Landon Parker*, Coleman Owen*, Blayne Taylor*.
*What’s up?: Position coach Reggie Wayne probably didn’t expect an influx of fresh talent from free agency and the draft, and he was spot on. The returning group was set and only the pecking order behind Pittman, Pierce, Downs and Mitchell must be determined. It’s no secret the Colts need Mitchell to take a big leap in year 2.
TIGHT END
*Starter: Tyler Warren*.
*Depth: Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory, Jelani Woods, Sean McKeon, Albert Okwuegbunam Jr.
*What’s up?: The first pick in the draft was the most significant. Everyone expected Ballard to target a tight end with the No. 14 overall pick, and he got his man in Warren. The 6-5, 256-pounder will enable Steichen to use his entire playbook this season, and not ignore the chapters dealing with tight ends. Either Richardson or Jones will have an incredibly versatile option that should enhance efficiency and consistency in the offense.
Last season, the Colts ranked tied-22nd in red-zone efficiency (53.9%) and 18th in third-down conversions (37.9%). Warren’s presence should be boost to each situation.
OFFENSIVE LINE
*Starters: LT Bernhard Raimann, LG Quenton Nelson, C Tanor Bortolini, RG Matt Goncalves, RT Braden Smith.
*Depth: C Danny Pinter, G Wesley French, T Blake Freeland, G Dalton Tucker, T Luke Tenuta, T Jake Wilson, G Atonio Mafi, G Josh Sills, T Jalen Travis*, T/G Marshall Foerner*.
*What’s up?: Travis is massive – 6-8, 339 – and has played a ton. He appeared in 34 games with 26 starts at Iowa State and Princeton. Even though area scout Chad Henry described Travis as “a little bit developmental,’’ he could serve as the swing tackle as a rookie. That would enable 2024 third-round pick Goncalves, who’s probably a long-term tackle, to slide in and fill Will Fries’ void at right guard.
The top six, potentially, is a good group but we’re a little concerned with the depth behind it. Players get dinged up – or worse – over the course of 17 games, and position coach Tony Sparano Jr. more than likely is going to have to rely on his depth at some point.
DEFENSIVE LINE
*Starters: E Kwity Paye, T DeForest Buckner, T Grover Stewart, E Laiatu Latu.
*Depth: E Samson Ebukam, E/T Tyquan Lewis, T Adetomiwa Adebawore, E Durell Nchami, T Pheldarius Payne, E Isaiah Land, Neville Gallimore, E JT Tuimoloau*, DT Tim Smith*, T Joe Evans*, E Desmond Little*, T Devonta Davis*.
*What’s up?: Tuimoloau should see significant reps as a rookie. The extent of his playing time might depend upon Ebukam’s rehab status from the Achilles injury, but he just has too much to offer. The 23.5 sacks. The 43.5 tackles for loss. The two interceptions and 12 passes defensed. The national championship pedigree.
Ballard never will allow his d-line room to lack competent bodies, and he reinforced that with Tuimoloau and Smith in round 6.
LINEBACKER
*Starters: Zaire Franklin, Jaylon Carlies, Segun Olubi.
*Depth: Cameron McGrone, Liam Anderson, Jacob Phillips, Austin Ajiake, Hunter Wohler*, Solomon DeShields*.
*What’s up?: By all accounts, the draft simply didn’t offer a valued option at replacing departed weakside starter E. J. Speed. Ballard mentioned coordinator Lou Anarumo’s scheme will probably be two-‘backer heavy with a WILL and MIKE. Franklin is the cornerstone MIKE while Carlies, a 2024 fifth-rounder, is the front-runner at WILL. Carlies is recovering from shoulder surgery but expected to do some work during the offseason and be cleared for training camp.
The position arguably is the team’s most top-heavy, and thinnest in experience. Franklin has 582 tackles in 65 starts and 115 games over seven seasons. He’s had at least 166 tackles in each of the past three seasons, including a franchise-record 179 in 2023. The other six ‘backers – excluding seventh-round pick Wohler, who was a safety at Wisconsin – have combined for 143 tackles and 19 starts. Carlies had 36 tackles in six starts and 10 games as a rookie.
CORNERBACK
*Starters: Charvarius Ward, Kenny Moore II, Jaylon Jones.
*Depth: JuJu Brents, Samuel Womack III, Alex Johnson, Corey Ballentine, David Long Jr., Justin Walley*, Johnathan Edwards*.
*What’s up?: The offseason investment in Ward immediately upgraded the position, and the addition of third-round pick Walley further reinforced the depth. The prevailing issue with the 5-10 Walley is he lacks the measurables the Colts prefer at the position. However, the team is impressed with his speed (4.37) and toughness. He went through drills at the NFL Scouting Combine with a cast on his wrist.
A wild card in the effectiveness of cornerback play is whether Brents can stay on the field. The Warren Central H.S. product and 2023 second-round pick has missed 23 of 34 regular-season games with a variety of injuries. The 6-3, 198-pounder would challenge to start alongside Ward . . . if he’s healthy.
“We still like JuJu,’’ Ballard said. “Let’s don’t just flush him.’’
SAFETY
*Starters: Cam Bynum, Nick Cross.
*Depth: Rodney Thomas II, Daniel Scott, Trevor Denbow, Marcel Dabo, Trey Washington*.
*What’s up?: This is another area that still needs help. Bynum and Cross form a solid tandem. The backup? That’s another question entirely. Rodney Thomas II hasn’t been able to hold a starting spot and Daniel Scott has missed his first two seasons with significant injuries. The draft was no help.
SPECIAL TEAMS
*Kickers: Spencer Shrader, Maddux Trujillo*.
*Punter: Rigoberto Sanchez.
*Long snapper: Luke Rhodes.
*What’s up?: Ballard mentioned the team would be looking to add a kicker with a strong leg to push Spencer Shrader, and that comes in the form of Trujillo, an undrafted rookie. He knocked down five field goals of at least 50 yards last season at Temple, including a 60- and 64-yarders. The move to jettison Matt Gay and transition to Shrader was a result of Gay’s unreliability on 50-plus attempts (3-of-9 last year, 11-of-22 in two seasons).
Shrader is the guy to beat, but it’s impossible to ignore his small sample size. After signing with the Colts 12 months ago as an undrafted free agent, he converted three PATs in the season-opening loss to Houston before going 5-for-5 on field goals with the Jets and Chiefs with a long of 45.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.