With training camp approaching, ESPN’s Stephen Holder put out a pre-camp 53-man roster prediction for the Colts, and two offseason additions from Chris Ballard’s group were nowhere to be found.
The first surprise came at wide receiver. Holder projected Indianapolis to keep six receivers, but seventh-round pick Deion Burks didn’t make the cut. Instead, Laquon Treadwell was included on the roster.
Burks brings speed and versatility to the offense. Even though he’s listed at 5-10 and 180 pounds, the Colts see him as someone who can work both inside and outside, and he could also factor in as a return man.
Still, Treadwell has something Burks doesn’t: NFL experience and familiarity with Shane Steichen’s offense. That could give him a better shot at making an early impact, and he can help in more special teams roles as well.
The downside is clear. If Burks is left off the 53, there’s no guarantee he sneaks back to the practice squad. Another team could claim him.
In that scenario, Indianapolis would be choosing short-term help over longer-term upside.
Holder’s other omission was safety Juanyeh Thomas, who was signed in free agency. In his projection, the Colts kept only four safeties.
That’s a crowded path for Thomas. AJ Haulcy looks like the favorite to start next to Cam Bynum, and Hunter Wohler could see the field in defensive-back-heavy packages, where he can help against both the pass and the run closer to the line of scrimmage.
If Indianapolis does stick with four safeties, the final spot could come down to special teams value between Thomas and Jonathan Owens. On that front, Owens has the edge because of his special teams and defensive experience.
In Other News...
Colts Are Getting Hit With A Roster Criticism Fans Will Debate
The Colts roster is drawing a familiar kind of criticism this time of year, the sort that usually starts with a glance at the depth chart and ends with a debate about whether a team has enough young talent to keep pace. Indianapolis has plenty of recent draft picks and a handful of young starters in the mix, but the conversation around this group is really about how quickly those players can turn projection into production once camp jobs start getting sorted out.
CJ Allen is part of that larger picture as the projected starting MIKE linebacker, while A.J. Haulcy, Hunter Wohler and Bryce Boettcher all fit into a defense that is still sorting out where its next wave of contributors will land. On offense, Tyler Warren is expected to take on a larger role as the Colts try to replace what they lost from Michael Pittman Jr., and Anthony Richardson Sr. remains in a complicated spot as he competes with Riley Leonard for the QB2 job behind Daniel Jones, adding another layer to a roster debate that is far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Alec Pierce Faces The Colts Season That Changes Everything
Alec Pierces next season in Indianapolis comes with a very different kind of weight after the Colts handed him a four-year, $114 million extension and cleared the path for him to become the offenses lead wideout. He has already shown the kind of downfield ability that makes him valuable in this system, and Pro Football Focus has him sitting just outside the top 20 at his position, a sign that the league is starting to view him as more than a complementary target.
What happens next matters because Pierce is no longer being paid like a role player, and the Colts are treating him like a receiver who should help define the passing game. A strong year could push him into the 15-20 range in those PFF rankings, which would be a meaningful jump for a player whose production has still left room for more. For Indianapolis, the question is whether Pierce can turn that promise into the kind of season that changes his standing around the NFL. [Read more 🡒]