The Indianapolis Colts have a plethora of rookies battling both for roles on the depth chart and spots on the roster throughout the offseason training program.
Those battles will continue through training camp and the preseason, and there is a good chance a few first-year players will crack the starting lineup. There’s no guarantee any rookie, drafted or undrafted, will begin Week 1 as a starter, but there’s always a few that can stand out.
Here are four rookies that have a chance to crack the Colts’ starting lineup:
LB Ben Banogu
A second-round pick out of TCU, Banogu is going to hold multiple roles in the Colts’ front seven. When he was drafted, general manager Chris Ballard envisioned using Banogu as a SAM linebacker on early downs while kicking to the edge as a pass rusher on third downs.
The road for Banogu is slightly easier than it is for other rookies. He’s currently the best player equipped to work as a SAM linebacker given his size and elite athleticism. His ability to move in space sets him apart from those he’s competing with for the starting role.
The Colts rarely used the SAM position in 2018, but that might be because they didn’t have a perfect fit. Now, Banogu has a chance to carve out a starting role from the first week of the season.
S Khari Willis
Some might not see Willis as a starter just yet and while there is certainly a valid argument for why he should start out as a role player in the secondary, the Colts absolutely love the Michigan State product for his measurements, play and off-field character.
Willis isn’t currently the starter as he’s listed behind veteran Clayton Geathers on the theoretical depth chart. However, he’s a perfect fit next to Malik Hooker and the fact that Geathers is likely to get days off for rest will allow Willis to stake his claim for a starting role.
The Colts safety room isn’t one that’s uber deep, but they could have their starting safety tandem with Hooker and Willis if the latter is able to prove he deserves the job early.
CB Rock Ya-Sin
One of the more interesting position battles to keep an eye on this offseason will be at cornerback where second-round pick Ya-Sin will be battling it out for a starting role on the boundary with Pierre Desir and Quincy Wilson.
The Colts view Ya-Sin as an early starter, but one that needs some further development. He has the prototypical size and length for a boundary cornerback while also possessing strong traits in press. He projects to be a solid contributor in both zone and man coverage but likely fits better as the former right now.
Ya-Sin won’t have an easy road to a starting role, but the Colts view him as a high-impact player on a defense that is on the come up.
WR Parris Campbell
If there is one rookie that is getting the most hype following the draft, it’s the second-round wide receiver out of Ohio State. Given his speed and reliable hands, Campbell is pegged as one of the newcomers that has a chance to carve out an early role in the offense.
The Colts want to see more development as a route runner and with the prospect of working on the outside as well as in the slot, Campbell will have to show he can beat press coverage, which is something he rarely faced during his time with the Buckeyes.
Campbell will be in a crowded wide receiver room leading up to the season, but his skill set is perfect for the Colts offense and could help him land a starting role very quickly.
