The Indianapolis Colts have concluded the 2020 NFL draft and will be looking to fill out the 90-man roster with some undrafted rookie free agents this weekend.
Eventually, though, the Colts will have to trim their rosters down to 53 players—the final year before rosters expand to 55. A lot will happen over the coming months that will change the perception of the roster and the depth chart, and yes it is far too early to truly know what the final product will look like in September.
With all that said, here is a way-too-early roster prediction for the 2020 Colts:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | SAF | ST
Quarterback (3)
| QB1 | QB2 | QB3 |
| Philip Rivers | Jacoby Brissett | Jacob Eason* |
Analysis: After Brissett’s disappointing 2019 campaign, the Colts set out to change up the quarterback room. They did so in a big way adding a player in both free agency and the draft. Rivers will be the starter after signing a one-year, $25 million deal in free agency. There are no questions about that, and there’s even a chance he extends his stay past 2020. The Colts still say they value Brissett despite their actions showing otherwise. It’s unlikely he’s traded so he’ll carry a $21.3 million cap hit to not see the field. Eason was drafted in the fourth round and will battle it out with Chad Kelly for the QB3 spot, but his arm talent his far superior and seeing as the Colts wouldn’t be able to put him on the practice squad, they carry three quarterbacks here.
Notable cuts: Chad Kelly
Running Back (4)
| RB1 | RB2 | RB3 | RB4 |
| Marlon Mack | Jonathan Taylor* | Nyheim Hines | Jordan Wilkins |
Analysis: The Colts made a huge splash during the draft by adding Taylor with a second-round pick—trading up to do so. It was a surprise given that Mack nearly ran for 1,100 yards in 2019 while posting eight touchdowns. Even so, it is most likely that those two will form a ridiculously formidable 1-2 punch at the top of the room while Hines sees almost all of his work as a pass-catcher. Hines has a lot of upside to see passing game work, but it would be foolish to say the addition of Taylor won’t eat into his snap count to some degree. Wilkins continues to be a reliable depth piece filling in only when needed.
Notable cuts: None
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | SAF | ST
Wide Receiver (5)
| WR1 | WR2 | WR3 | WR4 | WR5 |
| T.Y. Hilton | Michael Pittman Jr.* | Zach Pascal | Parris Campbell | Daurice Fountain |
Analysis: How the depth chart forms will certainly be something to watch in this room as the offseason progresses. We know Hilton will be the WR1 working both on the outside and in the slot. He’s still extremely valuable and talented, but he must prove he can stay healthy after two seasons dealing with constant ailments. Pittman Jr. isn’t necessarily the automatic WR2 but given his skill set as an X-receiver—the only one on the roster—he’s likely to have a prominent role early on. Pascal is coming off of a solid season and will work as a complementary receiver as a flanker. Campbell will compete with him for the WR3 and after the addition of Pittman Jr., it wouldn’t be a surprise to see almost all of his work come from the slot. The final spot will likely be fought for by a number of players. It will all come down to special teams, but right now we are giving the benefit of the doubt to Fountain, who is coming off of a lost season. The Colts used a sixth-round pick on Washington State’s Dezmon Patmon. He’s extremely intriguing given his traits and should be in the conversation for the final spot.
Notable cuts: Ashton Dulin, Dezmon Patmon*
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | SAF | ST
Tight End (3)
| TE1 | TE2 | TE3 |
| Jack Doyle | Trey Burton | Mo Alie-Cox |
Analysis: There aren’t any surprises to this room other than what the order of the depth might be. The Colts will likely bring in some tight ends for camp, but this room is basically set. Doyle leads the way as the unquestioned leader. He’s one of the best blocking tight ends in the entire league and is a sneaky (albeit unspectacular) pass-catcher. He can work both in-line and flexed out. The order of depth will be debated. Burton gets the nod at TE2 because we know what he can do as a move tight end with Frank Reich. His snap count is likely to hover around that 35–40% range, working mostly as a receiving option. Alie-Cox will continue to develop his game both as a blocker and a receiver, but his assignments are mostly going to come by the former.
Notable cuts: Xavier Grimble
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | SAF | ST
Offensive Line (9)
| Pos. | Starter | Backup |
| LT | Anthony Castonzo | Le’Raven Clark |
| LG | Quenton Nelson | Jake Eldrenkamp |
| C | Ryan Kelly | Javon Patterson |
| RG | Mark Glowinski | Danny Pinter* |
| RT | Braden Smith | — |
Analysis: With their starters intact for the third consecutive season, the Colts will boast one of the best offensive lines in football. Castonzo returns on a fresh two-year deal to anchor the blindside for Philip Rivers. The rest of the room won’t have many question marks leading up to the season. Clark was re-signed on a one-year deal basically out of necessity and because he has experience in the system. Patterson was a seventh-round pick in 2019 who tore his ACL in the spring, missing his entire rookie campaign. He’s likely the backup to Kelly. The interesting addition is the fifth-round pick in Pinter. Uber-athletic and highly intelligent, the Colts wanted to trade up for the Ball State product. He can work at tackle, guard and center, giving the Colts some great versatility. Chris Ballard mentioned Pinter will most likely work at guard and center.
Notable cuts: None
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | SAF | ST
Defensive Line (10)
| Pos. | Starter | Backup | Depth |
| DE | Justin Houston | Al-Quadin Muhammad | Tyquan Lewis |
| DT (3-Tech) | DeForest Buckner | Denico Autry | Robert Windsor* |
| DT (1-Tech) | Grover Stewart | Sheldon Day | — |
| DE | Kemoko Turay | Ben Banogu | — |
Analysis: This room will be interesting even if most of the spots are already set. The Colts wisely traded their first-round pick for Buckner and then immediately signed him to a four-year extension. He will command attention at the three-technique. Houston returns in a contract year coming off of an 11.0-sack campaign. The hope is Turay can continue building off of the growth he showed in 2019 before his season was cruelly cut short due to a broken ankle. Right now, he’s the starter opposite Houston. The biggest battle will be between the embattled Lewis and the sixth-round pick in Windsor. If the Colts keep 10 linemen, they are likely safe. It will be interesting to see if the Colts move Lewis to the edge in hopes he can be a strong-side defensive end, but he faces a crucial offseason. Windsor is almost exclusively tied to the interior, but he is also battling for his roster spot.
Notable cuts: Gerri Green
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | SAF | ST
Linebacker (6)
| Pos. | Starter | Backup |
| WILL | Darius Leonard | E.J. Speed |
| MIKE | Anthony Walker | Bobby Okereke |
| SAM | Matthew Adams | Zaire Franklin |
Analysis: This room doesn’t change at all and doesn’t really need to be touched on all that much outside of one point. While Walker is listed as the starting MIKE and Okereke his backup, that’s not how it’s going to play out during the season. Both players will see time on the field and there’s even the chance Okereke usurps Walker as the starter. The chart above is more for positional reference rather than a rank in projected playing time. For example, Okereke is listed as a backup but could wind up seeing the second-most snaps in the room behind Leonard. Walker is in a contract year and there have been no indications of an extension so he’s certainly fighting for something. The rest of the room will provide solid depth while contributing on special teams. It should be noted the Colts drafted Jordan Glasgow out of Michigan in the sixth round, but it will be tough for him to make the roster unless he really proves to be a difference-maker on special teams.
Notable cuts: Jordan Glasgow*
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | SAF | ST
Cornerback (6)
| Pos. | Starter | Backup |
| CB1 | Xavier Rhodes | T.J. Carrie |
| CB2 | Rock Ya-Sin | Marvell Tell III |
| Slot | Kenny Moore II | Isaiah Rodgers |
Analysis: There is so much versatility in this room that the positional alignments might change for several players. The veteran Rhodes was brought in on a one-year deal in free agency to work exclusively on the boundary. Ya-Sin enters Year 2 after a promising rookie campaign. He will also work exclusively outside. Moore has developed into arguably the best slot cornerback in the league. The depth of Carrie, Tell and the sixth-round pick in Rodgers will vary. After trading away Quincy Wilson during the trade, the Colts added the 5-foot-9 Rodgers. He’s solely going to work in the slot but brings impressive ball skills and menacing speed. He will also see time on special teams, which solidifies his case for a back-end roster spot. Tell and Carrie can both play inside and out.
Notable cuts: None
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | SAF | ST
Safety (4)
| SAF1 | SAF2 | SAF3 | SAF4 |
| Malik Hooker | Khari Willis | Julian Blackmon | George Odum |
Analysis: This might not be the Week 1 depth chart due to injuries, but this is what it will look like for the most part. There is plenty of curiosity regarding Hooker and his fifth-year option. The Colts have yet to exercise it and have until the end of May to do so. Willis had a strong rookie campaign and will return as a versatile piece in the defensive backfield. The third-round pick in Blackmon is the injury case. He tore his ACL in December and likely won’t be ready to go by the time the season rolls around. He’s rangy and athletic but raw in terms of the nuances of the safety position. He’s intriguing but he won’t make an impact early on. Odum will continue his ways providing excellent depth and special teams work.
Notable cuts: Rolan Milligan (once Blackmon returns)
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | SAF | ST
Special Teams (3)
| Kicker | Punter | Long Snapper |
| Chase McLaughlin | Rigoberto Sanchez | Luke Rhodes |
Analysis: This room won’t see much change unless the Colts find a new kicker. There still is no word on an Adam Vinatieri return. He’s currently working through rehab from injury. McLaughlin should be viewed as the starting kicker right now, but he will likely have some competition in undrafted free agent rookie Rodrigo Blakenship, who is expected to sign with the team. Sanchez and Rhodes are exceptional at what they do. No changes there.
Notable cuts: Rodrigo Blakenship
