The Colts are about to open training camp on Wednesday, and that means it’s roster-prediction season in Indianapolis.
Before the first practice gets rolling, the picture is still fluid. A month of camp work and preseason games can change plenty. But based on everything that’s happened through offseason programs, here’s how the 53-man roster could shake out.
At quarterback, the Colts keep three: Daniel Jones, Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson. Richardson still sits in trade speculation, but GM Chris Ballard made it clear on Tuesday the Colts are “not going to give him away.”
Running back looks straightforward at the top with Jonathan Taylor, while DJ Giddens and Seth McGowan fill out the group. The bigger question is who settles in as RB2, but both rookies are projected to stick.
Wide receiver is where things get interesting. Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould, Deion Burks and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine make the cut here.
Laquon Treadwell is a name to watch and could challenge Gould or Burks, but for now the projection leans toward the players with more upside. Getting Gould or Burks to the practice squad could be tough if other teams come calling.
At tight end, Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree are the three kept on the roster. Will Mallory is left out in this projection after playing only minimal offensive and special teams snaps last season and often being inactive. The Colts could use practice squad elevations to help with game-day depth.
Up front, the offensive line is projected to carry nine: Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, Matt Goncalves, Jalen Travis, Jalen Farmer, Dalton Tucker, Luke Tenuta and Blake Freeland. A 10th lineman is possible, but someone has to earn that spot.
Farmer is the backup guard, Tucker the backup center, and Tenuta and Freeland are the backup tackle options. Those two get the nod over Nolan Rucci, who could still make a push, because of their experience.
On the defensive line, the Colts go heavy with 11: Laiatu Latu, Arden Key, Jaylahn Tuimoloau, Micheal Clemons, George Gumbs, Caden Curry, DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Colby Wooden, Adetomiwa Adebawore and Jerry Tillery. That means six defensive ends make the roster. Tillery gets the edge over Derrick Nnadi because the projection favors another pass-rush option over an extra run defender.
Linebacker is projected to include CJ Allen, Bryce Boettcher, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Jaylon Carlies and Austin Ajiake. Boettcher, Davis-Gaither and Carlies all worked with the first unit during offseason programs, while Ajiake’s value comes on special teams.
In the secondary, the cornerback group is Charvarius Ward, Sauce Gardner, Justin Walley, Johnathan Edwards, Cameron Mitchell and Mekhi Blackmon. Edwards turned in a strong spring, Blackmon has more than 700 snaps of experience from last season and can play nickel, and Mitchell showed well when called on last year.
Safety comes out to Cam Bynum, AJ Haulcy, Hunter Wohler and Jonathan Owens. Juanyeh Thomas is the tough omission here, but the numbers don’t work. His biggest role may still come on special teams, where Wohler and Owens can also help.
For special teams, Grupe gets the edge over Spencer Shrader because of his experience and the fact that he is not coming off a major injury.
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