Colts’ Cornerback Depth Tested - and Answering the Call
Back in the spring, the Indianapolis Colts looked like they had their cornerback room figured out. General manager Chris Ballard had gone out and landed Charvarius Ward, a former All-Pro just a season removed from elite-level play.
He was expected to lock down one side of the field, with Jaylon Jones holding down the other. Inside, veteran Kenny Moore was set to continue doing what he does best - anchoring the slot with experience and savvy.
And with third-round pick Justin Walley entering the mix, the Colts had a blend of proven talent and promising youth.
Depth-wise, it wasn’t perfect, but it looked solid. There was hope that JuJu Brents, the 2023 second-rounder, could finally stay healthy and contribute on the perimeter.
Samuel Womack had flashed in limited action the year prior, and Corey Ballentine was still in the building. Chris Lamons, while primarily a special teams ace, was also in the conversation for a roster spot.
Even undrafted rookie Johnathan Edwards, out of Tulane, had turned some heads in camp.
But then came the injuries - and everything changed.
Walley was lost for the season before the preseason even wrapped. Jones and Ward both found themselves battling nagging injuries. Ballentine was cut, and suddenly, what once looked like a position of strength was on shaky ground.
Ballard didn’t sit on his hands. He coaxed veteran Xavien Howard out of retirement and swung a trade with the Vikings for 26-year-old Mekhi Blackmon, giving up a sixth-round pick. The Colts were in scramble mode, but they weren’t panicking - at least not publicly.
When the initial 53-man roster dropped, Ward and Jones made the cut despite their injury concerns. Moore was there, of course.
So were Blackmon, Howard, and, surprisingly, Edwards - the only undrafted rookie to crack the final roster. He had outplayed Brents and Womack, among others, to earn his spot.
But the revolving door at cornerback didn’t stop spinning.
Jones re-aggravated a hamstring. Ward couldn’t stay on the field.
Howard’s comeback fizzled fast - he retired again after just a month. Then came the big swing: the Colts pulled off a blockbuster trade at the deadline to bring in Sauce Gardner.
On paper, a trio of Gardner, a healthy Ward, and Moore in the slot looked like a top-tier group. But as has been the theme all year, the injury bug had other plans.
By the time the Colts reached the final stretch of the season, they were starting two guys who - just a few months earlier - were fringe roster candidates at best: Blackmon and Edwards.
So how have they held up?
Mekhi Blackmon: Press Specialist with Upside
Blackmon has logged serious snaps this season, often lining up opposite whichever corner was healthy enough to go. And truth be told, he’s exceeded expectations.
His game is built around press coverage. He’s sticky at the line, confident in his footwork, and rarely gives up easy releases.
But he’s not the biggest guy out there, and that shows when he’s asked to tackle or take on more physical receivers. If he can clean up his tackling, there’s a real conversation to be had about him potentially sliding into Moore’s role in the slot down the line.
Still, the flashes are there. Against Seattle last week, he wasn’t just covering - he was attacking. He played the run more aggressively and showed a willingness to get involved in the dirty work, even if it’s still a work in progress.
Johnathan Edwards: Rookie Thrown Into the Fire
Edwards wasn’t supposed to be here - not yet, anyway. As an undrafted rookie, he was meant to learn, develop, and maybe contribute on special teams. Instead, he’s been thrust into meaningful snaps in games that matter.
His first taste of action came midseason, and it looked like what you’d expect from a rookie corner. Good length, decent coverage instincts, but plenty of moments where the game looked a little too fast.
That’s normal. What’s encouraging is how he responded when called back into action against Seattle.
He played 45 snaps, mostly on the outside opposite Blackmon, and while he’s still raw, he looked more comfortable. More decisive. He played faster - and that’s a sign of growth.
Holding the Line in Seattle
Neither Blackmon nor Edwards put up a perfect performance against the Seahawks. They missed tackles.
They gave up catches. But here’s the important part: they didn’t get torched.
They didn’t give up the back-breaking play. They held their own against Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba - a trio that can give even seasoned corners fits.
Seattle moved the ball, sure. But when it mattered most - in the red zone - Indy’s young corners stood tall.
The Colts’ defense held the Seahawks to ten points below their season average. They didn’t allow a single touchdown.
And those two unheralded corners were a big reason why.
Looking Ahead
Every significant Colts cornerback is under contract through next season. Gardner and Walley project as the starting outside duo in 2026.
Ward’s future is a question mark due to injuries, but if he returns healthy, Indy could be stacked again. Moore and Jones are still in the fold, too.
But 2025 has served as a reminder - a loud, painful one - that you can never have too many corners. These guys are asked to run with the fastest players on the field, absorb hits from the biggest, and do it all while staying healthy for 17 games. That’s a tall order.
The Colts didn’t expect to lean on Mekhi Blackmon and Johnathan Edwards this season. But when they had to, those two didn’t flinch.
They stepped in, held their ground, and proved they belong. And that’s the kind of depth that can make all the difference - not just in surviving a season, but in building something sustainable.