Training camp outlook of Colts 2025 draft class

The Colts managed to address a variety of different position groups during free agency and the NFL Draft to revamp the roster ahead of the 2025 season.

In four weeks at the start of training camp, the Indianapolis Colts 2025 draft class will take their first stroll through the blue trail at Grand Park in Westfield before stepping foot on the practice fields in front of a stampede of football fans. The Colts managed to address a variety of different position groups during free agency and the NFL Draft to revamp the roster ahead of the 2025 season.

First round draft pick Tyler Warren already made an instant impression in veteran minicamp and began to develop a connection with the quarterback who took all the first-team reps, Daniel Jones. The First-Team All-American is a natural pass catcher in open space and will be an additional chess piece for head coach Shane Steichen to motion around the field and build play packages for. Warren has an opportunity to claim his role as the Week 1 starter at tight end during training camp once he gets to showcase more of his skills when the pads come on in late July.

Second round edge rusher JT Tuimoloau adds depth to a unit that has just one projected starter, Laiatu Latu, under contract past the 2025 season. One intriguing note to take during training camp will be how the Colts rotate the backup edge rushers on specific downs. At 6-foot-4, 269-pounds, Tuimoloau could potentially battle with Tyquan Lewis and Samson Ebukam to hear his name called as the next man up. Snaps will have to be earned on the edge more than any other position for the Colts after the departure of Dayo Odeyingbo, who signed with the Chicago Bears in free agency. The returning veterans Ebukam and Lewis have a combined 98 NFL starts compared to Tuimoloau’s zero, so it may be a tough hill to climb for the 22-year-old with limited opportunities.

Third round draft pick Justin Walley is a versatile cornerback who could move inside to play nickel in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defensive schemes. Walley made his first impression with the Colts by showcasing his competitiveness and running a 4.40, 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine despite wearing a cast on his hand. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound cornerback has elite speed to keep up with receivers in man coverage, plus the instincts to cut in front of routes for pass deflections or gamble for picks to the house. Anarumo mentioned there was “a very teachable moment” with Walley during minicamp, so the rookie is getting those opportunities to make those rookie mistakes and refine his skills among NFL veterans. With the second starting cornerback job opposite Charvarius Ward potentially up for grabs, Walley could make the most of every opportunity to move up the depth chart and earn a start at some point during his rookie season.

The Colts were thrilled to select Jalen Travis, a massive, 6-foot-7, 339-pound tackle in the fourth round. Travis thrived in his last season at Iowa State, evidenced by his 82.5 Pro Football Focus pass block grade in a true pass set, which ranked second among tackles who were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. Both starters in Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith are set to become free agents at the end of the 2025 season, so Travis may be viewed as the Colts’ future right tackle if Matt Goncalves stays inside at right guard. Travis begins his first training camp in a position battle with third-year pro Blake Freeland for an opportunity to win the role as the next swing tackle after Smith.

Fifth round pick DJ Giddens intends to stamp his name along with star running back Jonathan Taylor as the Colts’ 1-2 punch in the backfield. Giddens was a productive workhorse at Kansas State and collected 2,569 rushing yards across the last two seasons, which ranked eighth among all FBS running backs. Giddens was one of 10 RBs in FBS to average over 100 rushing yards per game and one of six RBs to average at least 125 scrimmage yards per game in that span. Khalil Herbert, who signed with the Colts in free agency, will also battle for the RB2 role.

Sixth round quarterback Riley Leonard capped off a phenomenal campaign leading Notre Dame to its first College Football Playoff National Championship appearance. Leonard took limited reps in minicamp, but still saw some action due to the absence of Anthony Richardson. Leonard will enter his first training camp battling for the emergency third QB role against second-year pro Jason Bean. As the main headlines focus on the competition for starting quarterback, Leonard must make the most of his preseason opportunities to avoid the practice squad and earn the chance to dress on Sunday’s.

Sixth rounder Tim Smith evolved from a high school freshman who never played football before, someone who had to learn where to line up in formation and how to properly wear his mouthpiece, to a five-star recruit committed to Alabama who improved his skill set after five years in Tuscaloosa. Last season, the Colts felt a void behind its destructive defensive tackle duo in DeForest Bucker and Grover Stewart. When the pair had to be relieved, the decline in production from the reserves became downright abysmal. Smith has the size to handle himself in the trenches and uses effective hand fighting to wreak havoc in the backfield. Smith will compete in a position battle with returning veteran Adetomiwa Adetobawore and newly signed Neville Gallimore for the interior backup roles.

Seventh round pick Hunter Wohler is perhaps the wild card of the Colts’ 2025 draft class. Wohler may be viewed as a special teamer before training camp, but there is a concerning lack of depth at safety and linebacker for the Colts this season. He received plenty of second-team reps at minicamp due to injuries and will play more of a coverage dime linebacker role. Wohler still has to earn his roster spot, but adds some versatility and depth to a defensive unit that plans to mix its coverages under Anarumo.