Rodney Thomas once looked like one of those late-round Colts finds that can change a depth chart in a hurry. A seventh-round pick in 2022, he jumped right into the mix as a rookie, started 10 games, picked off four passes, and then added 15 more starts in year two. But the momentum didn’t stick.
Over the last two seasons, Nick Cross took over Thomas’s safety reps in Indianapolis, even though Cross wasn’t very good in coverage. Thomas never managed to win the job back and eventually slid into a special teams role. Since 2024, he hasn’t played more than 13 percent of the defensive snaps.
That limited role pushed him out of Indianapolis and into free agency, where he signed with the Seattle Seahawks. On paper, it looked like a fresh start. In reality, it may not last long.
Seattle’s defense is deep enough that Thomas is buried on the safety ladder. He looks like the seventh or eighth option at the position, and the Seahawks may keep no more than five safeties. That makes his roster spot shaky from the start.
A return to the Colts doesn’t look much better if Seattle moves on from him during final cuts at the end of August. Cross is no longer in Indianapolis, having signed with the Washington Commanders, but the Colts drafted AJ Haulcy in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft and got Hunter Wohlers back healthy after he missed his rookie season.
Cam Bynum is locked in as a starter at one of the two safety spots, and the backup role could come down to Jonathan Owens and Juanyeh Thomas. Owens has the edge in special teams, which could put him ahead of both Juanyeh and Rodney Thomas if Indianapolis ever considers a reunion.
Even with those hurdles, Thomas still looks like a player who belongs somewhere. He wasn’t a disaster when he started for the Colts; he just ran out of runway in Indianapolis before free agency arrived.
He also brings traits that can keep him in the league. He went to Yale, he’s known as a quick study, and he showed that early by stepping into a starting job in his first season. For a team that needs safety help, he could still be more than just a body - he might even get a chance to start.
Across his career, Thomas has allowed 61.8 percent of his targets to be completed, given up seven touchdowns, and come away with six interceptions. He’s also a dependable tackler, missing on just 10.2 percent of his attempts. Rodney Thomas looks good enough to land somewhere else, but that destination probably won’t be Seattle or Indianapolis.
In Other News...
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Bryce Boettcher Is Making The Colts Face A Tough Camp Decision
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What makes the situation interesting is how much of the battle is still unresolved, even with Boettcher drawing strong reviews. Indianapolis has a veteran option in Akeem Davis-Gaither, who brings more NFL experience and familiarity with the defensive coordinator, so this is not simply a case of a young player running away with a job. The Colts like what they have seen so far, but the final call at linebacker is still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Pittman Just Added To A Tough Colts Daniel Jones Debate
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Pittmans departure also lands in the middle of a bigger conversation about Jones, who played through major injuries last season and then got rewarded with a new contract. Even after being moved, Pittman made it clear he still holds Jones in high regard, which only sharpens the debate around how Indianapolis views its quarterback and what kind of standard the organization believes is worth paying for. [Read more 🡒]