The Indianapolis Colts have gotten through the offseason workout program and have broken for summer where they will relax until returning for training camp at the end of July.
Not much can be made definitive from the spring workouts—there are no pads or contact—but there are some storylines and position battles that can be monitored to have an impact on how the 53-man roster will eventually take shape.
Here’s a look at a roster projection for the Colts following the offseason workouts:
Quarterback (2)
Andrew Luck
Jacoby Brissett
The Colts will carry four quarterbacks into training camp with Luck and Brissett being joined by Phillip Walker and Chad Kelly. They have said it’s possible they carry three quarterbacks on the active roster but given what they have in the top of the room, I find it hard to believe they actually will.
One of Walker and Kelly will likely end up making the practice squad.
Notable cuts: Phillip Walker, Chad Kelly
QB – RB – WR – TE – OL – DL – LB – CB – SAF – ST
Running Back (4)
Marlon Mack
Nyheim Hines
Spencer Ware
Jordan Wilkins
When we made our first projection of the offseason following the draft, it was before Ware was brought in. The Colts are currently taking five running backs into training camp, but it’s likely only four will make the active roster.
Mack will be leading the charge yet again while Hines will be the third-down pass catcher. Ware makes the roster given his versatility and shot-yardage ability while Wilkins makes the cut but is likely a healthy scratch each week.
Notable cuts: Jonathan Williams
QB – RB – WR – TE – OL – DL – LB – CB – SAF – ST
Wide Receiver (5)
T.Y. Hilton
Devin Funchess
Parris Campbell*
Deon Cain
Chester Rogers
There’s a chance the Colts keep six wide receivers but given how often they are able to find talent at the position coupled with the fact that they will need other spots for the offensive line likely means they carry five with a handful on the practice squad.
Hilton leads the group of course while Funchess, Campbell, Cain and Rogers are all set to compete for roles in the room. Guys like Krishawn Hogan and Daurice Fountain have a chance to make a splash as well, but it likely comes down to being a numbers game.
Notable cuts: Daurice Fountain, Penny Hart, Marcus Johnson, Krishawn Hogan
QB – RB – WR – TE – OL – DL – LB – CB – SAF – ST
Tight End (3)
Jack Doyle
Eric Ebron
Mo Alie-Cox
If the Colts want to keep 10 offensive linemen on the roster, the tight end room might have to be limited in how many make the cut. They could very well add another body to make it four in the room, but if everyone is back healthy, they could get by with three.
Doyle and Ebron are expected to make their way back during training camp while Alie-Cox was one of the big winners of the spring. Cutting Ross Travis isn’t easy and while he could wind up making the cut, it becomes a numbers game.
Notable cuts: Ross Travis
QB – RB – WR – TE – OL – DL – LB – CB – SAF – ST
Offensive Line (10)
Anthony Castonzo Evan Boehm
Quenton Nelson Le’Raven Clark
Ryan Kelly Jackson Barton*
Mark Glowinski Joe Haeg
Braden Smith J’Marcus Webb
The Colts have always been believers in keeping 10 offensive linemen on the roster since Chris Ballard took over as general manager in 2017. I expect that trend to continue this fall.
The starters are already entrenched on the left with the depth pieces filling out the roster. Barton makes the cut this time following the torn ACL to fellow rookie Javon Patterson, who has since been placed on the injured reserve list.
Webb is the final offensive lineman to make the list, but he could be usurped by another in the room.
Notable cuts: Josh Andrews, Antonio Garcia
QB – RB – WR – TE – OL – DL – LB – CB – SAF – ST
Defensive Line (10)
Jabaal Sheard Denico Autry
Justin Houston Margus Hunt
Kemoko Turay Grover Stewart
Al-Quadin Muhammad Jihad Ward
Tyquan Lewis Caraun Reid
The Colts like to keep a heavy rotation of defensive linemen ready to go, especially given the age of the top of the depth chart. There should be a nice group of young players making the roster as well.
The final spots are up for grabs by just about anyone, but Reid is an interesting target to make the roster. He and rookie Gerri Green are likely competing for the final spot in the room if the Colts keep 10.
Notable cuts: Anthony Winbush, Gerri Green*
QB – RB – WR – TE – OL – DL – LB – CB – SAF – ST
Linebackers (6)
Darius Leonard
Anthony Walker
Ben Banogu*
E.J. Speed*
Bobby Okereke*
Matthew Adams
Not much is expected to change about this unit. Leonard is the leader in the room followed by the three rookies that will be competing for roles in the room. Banogu could see more time at defensive end in nickel packages while Okereke will be competing with Walker in the middle.
Adams will be used also as a SAM backer while Speed works as Leonard’s backup at WILL.
Notable cuts: Zaire Franklin, Skai Moore
QB – RB – WR – TE – OL – DL – LB – CB – SAF – ST
Cornerbacks (6)
Pierre Desir
Quincy Wilson
Kenny Moore
Rock Ya-Sin*
Chris Milton
Nate Hairston
The Colts have a talented cornerback room that will likely feature the most competition throughout the entire roster. Every single spot is up for grabs from CB1 to the final special teams role.
The final spots will be the ones to watch as Hairston, rookie Marvell Tell and Jalen Collins battle it out. Milton gets a spot due to his special teams prowess, and the Colts take a chance with waiving Tell for the practice squad.
Notable cuts: Jalen Collins, Marvell Tell*
QB – RB – WR – TE – OL – DL – LB – CB – SAF – ST
Safety (4)
Malik Hooker
Clayton Geathers
Matthias Farley
Khari Willis*
There hasn’t been much talk about the safety room this spring. Hooker is ready to go for his thrid season, Geathers had a cleanup procedure on his knee that kept him out of the spring workouts and Farley and Willis will be battling for the final spots with George Odum.
It’s almost impossible to predict how this room will shuffle out, and we likely won’t get an idea until the pads come on. I like Odum’s game, and there’s a chance he makes it, but I think Farley and Willis are a little more valuable.
Notable cuts: George Odum
QB – RB – WR – TE – OL – DL – LB – CB – SAF – ST
Special Teams (3)
Adam Vinatieri
Luke Rhodes
Rigoberto Sanchez
There’s not much more to say about this group. Vinatieri is the GOAT while Rhodes and Sanchez are enjoying the new four-year extensions they received this offseason.
Notable cuts: None
