The Colts are expecting second-year linebacker Jaylon Carlies to take over a starting role under new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
The team let veteran E.J. Speed walk this offseason and could not find a replacement in free agency or the draft, according to Joel Erickson of The Indianapolis Star.
Instead, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said (via Erickson) that Carlies “can really ascend” in 2025 after completing a transition from college safety to NFL linebacker as a rookie. The 2024 fifth-round pick started six games and appeared in four more, playing a total of 353 snaps across defense and special teams. Carlies did not stuff the stat sheet, but he was reliable in the open field with just two missed tackles all year.
The 23-year-old’s health will be a key factor in his push for a starting job. Carlies missed seven games last year with a leg injury, and shoulder surgery earlier this offseason sidelined him for spring practices, delaying his acclimation to the team’s new defensive scheme. However, as Erickson notes, Carlies’ history as a defensive back at Missouri could make him an excellent fit for Anarumo’s matchup-driven system.
“If the offense puts out a certain personnel group, you want to be able to match it with what they’re doing. Especially on third down,” explained Anarumo (via Erickson), adding, “putting linebackers on tight ends is not ideal for the defense.”
Anarumo’s philosophy could lead to a three-down role for Carlies in 2025. He may be listed as a linebacker, but he has the length and speed of a safety, which could help him cover NFL tight ends. More than 60% of his rookie snaps on defense came against the run, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), though he earned a team-high 83.1 grade on his 86 coverage snaps, indicating he has more to contribute to the Colts’ pass defense.
Carlies is expected to be ready for training camp, where he will likely take first-team reps alongside Zaire Franklin with minimal competition from a thin Colts linebacker room.