As the offseason workout program progresses, the Indianapolis Colts have wrapped up their rookie minicamp as a milestone for the new faces to finally get on the field after being draft or signed as an undrafted free agent.
Because it is so early in the offseason and the Colts are running drills in jerseys and shorts without pads on, a lot of what is heard should be taken with a grain of salt. What really matters is how these players perform when the pads come on during the fall.
Still, here are five takeaways from the Colts’ rookie minicamp:
Ben Banogu showed off some athleticism
The Colts didn’t draft Banogu in the second round to simply use him as an edge rusher. Instead, they have made a clear desire to start him at SAM backer to begin with and move him to the edge in certain situations.
Stephen Holder of The Athletic saw what Banogu looked like moving around at the rookie minicamp and believes he has a chance to make an impact early on defense.
The former TCU defensive end got his first taste of what it’ll be like playing linebacker in the Colts defense, and he didn’t seem daunted by the task at all. There is every reason to think Banogu will be in the mix for the starting strongside linebacker position, but to label him only as such is to sell him short.
But the Colts plan to use him as an edge player in targeted situations, which could increase his effectiveness.
Meanwhile, he’s going to have to show a diverse skill set as an off-the-ball linebacker. On Friday, you could see the athleticism that first suggested to the Colts Banogu could make that leap.
Banogu will be an interesting rookie to watch during training camp and the preseason, especially if he’s able to make the transition smoothly.
Parris Campbell was flying around
Thanks to a 4.31 in the 40-yard dash, there is a good chance Campbell was the fastest player on the field all weekend. The reports from the rookie minicamp proved true that Campbell has some fantastic speed.
However, he was also finding ways to get open on multiple occasions, per Andrew Walker of Colts.com.
Campbell and his 4.31 speed was as advertised in the first two days of rookie minicamp practices, but one of his biggest question marks coming out of college was how the team would develop him in areas outside of the slot, which is where he primarily lined up while at Ohio State. The Colts’ coaches wasted no time getting going on that during on-field work starting on Friday, as Campbell would be lined up all over the formation time and time again — and, most importantly, he was finding ways to get open and make plays.
Campbell is likely the most exciting draft pick given his potential to shine in the Colts offense, and he gave a little taste of that during minicamp.
Hale Hentges showed off solid route running
One of the initial nine undrafted free agents that the Colts signed just before the start of training camp, Hentges comes from the prestigious program of Alabama, but it is unlikely his name is as popular as that of running back Josh Jacobs.
A blocking tight end for the Crimson Tide, Hentges arrived at rookie minicamp and showed off some impressive route running, per Stephen Holder of The Athletic.
He looked like a proficient route runner and showed good hands in drills, and that was enough to prompt me to investigate further. Imagine my surprise when I learned he caught just four passes as a senior for the Crimson Tide last season, where he was used almost exclusively as a blocking tight end (a very good one, apparently).
Whether Hentges will get the chance to earn a role in the tight end room remains to be seen, but it appears he got off to a good start during the rookie minicamp.
Four players were signed on tryout basis
Before the Colts even began the rookie minicamp, they added nine undrafted free agents to the roster. After seeing some of the players move around over the weekend, they added an additional four players who were attending on a tryout basis.
Those signings included kicker Cole Hedlund, defensive tackle Sterling Shippy, cornerback Shakai Taylor and linebacker Tre Thomas. These four players rounded out the 90-man roster, putting the Colts at max capacity for the first time this offseason.
Whether they will be able to make enough of an impact to warrant a spot on the roster or the practice squad remains to be seen, but the Colts obviously liked what they saw.
Chad Kelly leaves without a contract
The former Denver Broncos quarterback was attending the Colts’ rookie minicamp on a tryout basis but wound up leaving without a contract.
Despite his troubled past and issues with the law, the Colts seem to have interest in Kelly as a potential backup to Andrew Luck. With Jacoby Brissett likely leaving during 2020 free agency, Indy needs to begin looking at options for depth in the quarterback room.
Kelly reportedly had a strong workout over the three-day minicamp, but he did leave without a contract. Only time will tell if he winds up getting a second chance from the Colts.
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