The Indianapolis Colts shall be rounding up the additions of the undrafted rookie free agent class following the 2023 NFL draft as they put together for an enormous month of offseason coaching.
After concluding the draft with the largest class of the Chris Ballard period (12), there shall be a variety of competitors on the roster to keep watch over all through OTAs, minicamp, coaching camp and the preseason.
There are some actually intriguing undrafted rookies who may push for a roster spot, however we solely have one making the minimize as of this writing. That definitely may change over the course of the subsequent few months.
Quite a bit goes to alter over the subsequent few months main as much as roster cuts on the finish of August, however right here’s a way-too-early prediction of the 53-man roster following the draft:
Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson seems for a receiver towards South Florida in the course of the first half of an NCAA school soccer recreation, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Picture/John Raoux)
| Pos. | First | Second |
| QB | Anthony Richardson | Gardner Minshew |
Evaluation: Proper off the bat we’re confronted with a philosophical query. Do vegetation scream once we rip them from the bottom? Okay possibly not that philosophical. However the Colts can have a call to make as to whether or not they hold two or three quarterbacks. They need Richardson to play as quickly as doable, which makes me lean extra on the facet of carrying two on the lively roster and one on the follow squad. We could not have a transparent reply till coaching camp.
Notable Cuts: Sam Ehlinger, Nick Foles
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports activities
| Pos. | First | Second | Third |
| RB | Jonathan Taylor | Zack Moss | Evan Hull |
Evaluation: With Taylor anticipated to return absolutely from a nagging ankle harm, there’s no motive to maintain greater than three operating backs. The sixth-round decide in Hull makes the roster over Deon Jackson right here partly due to rookie fever, however that shall be a enjoyable competitors to observe over the summer season.
Notable Cuts: Deon Jackson, Jake Funk
Jamie Squire/Getty Photos
| Pos. | First | Second | Third | Fourth |
| X-WR | Michael Pittman Jr. | Mike Strachan | ||
| Slot | Josh Downs | Isaiah McKenzie | ||
| Z-WR | Alec Pierce | Ashton Dulin |
Evaluation: The struggle for the ultimate spot shall be attention-grabbing. Third-round decide Josh Downs ought to stroll into the beginning slot position whereas Ashton Dulin rounds out the highest 4. Strachan should show himself worthy of a roster spot whereas McKenzie isn’t any lock for the roster. UDFAs Zavier Scott and Cody Chrest would be the ones to observe given their elite athleticism.
Notable Cuts: Zavier Scott, Cody Chrest, Malik Turner
Adam Bettcher/Getty Photos
| Pos. | First | Second |
| Y-TE | Mo Alie-Cox | Jelani Woods |
| F-TE | Kylen Granson | Will Mallory |
Evaluation: That is going to be essentially the most vigorous competitors. The fifth-round decide in Mallory will get the nod right here over Andrew Ogletree, however it may simply be flipped round. This room is simply heating up, and I do marvel if the Colts really feel strongly sufficient about Woods and Ogletree in the event that they store Alie-Cox when roster cuts are made.
Notable Cuts: Andrew Ogletree, Pharaoh Brown
AP Picture/David J. Phillip
| Pos. | First | Second |
| LT | Bernhard Raimann | Blake Freeland |
| LG | Quenton Nelson | |
| C | Ryan Kelly | Danny Pinter |
| RG | Will Fries | Emil Ekiyor |
| RT | Braden Smith | Jordan Murray |
Evaluation: Because it at the moment stands, Raimann is the beginning left deal with, and Fries will begin at proper guard. Ekiyor is the one undrafted rookie free agent to make the roster regardless of his harm historical past at Alabama. The fourth-rounder in Freeland will function the swing deal with whereas Murray could possibly be changed by the addition of a veteran.
Notable Cuts: Jake Witt, Carter O’Donnell
AP Picture/Eric Christian Smith
| Pos. | First | Second | Third |
| DE | Dayo Odeyingbo | Tyquan Lewis | |
| 3-Tech | DeForest Buckner | Taven Bryan | Adetomiwa Adebawore |
| 1-Tech | Grover Stewart | Eric Johnson II | |
| DE | Kwity Paye | Samson Ebukam |
Evaluation: There’s a variety of competitors on this room. Paye and Odeyingbo challenge because the beginning duo whereas Ebukam will see a variety of work because the LEO in Gus Bradley’s system. The positional versatility between Odeyingbo and Lewis offers the Colts a variety of flexibility whereas the competitors between Bryan and fourth-rounder Adebawore shall be enjoyable to observe.
Notable Cuts: Titus Leo, Rashod Berry, Chris Williams
Max Gersh/IndyStar-USA TODAY Sports activities
| Pos. | First | Second |
| WILL | E.J. Velocity | Grant Stuard |
| MIKE | Shaquille Leonard | Forrest Rhyne |
| SAM | Zaire Franklin | JoJo Domann |
Evaluation: This room may look very completely different by the point coaching camp ends. Leonard’s well being remains to be up within the air, and we received’t know his standing till August arrives. There are some intriguing names to keep watch over for the ultimate spot within the room however with no draft picks, the Colts stick with their established veterans.
Notable Cuts: Cameron McGrone, Segun Olubi
Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports activities
| Pos. | First | Second | Third |
| CB | Julius Brents | Dallis Flowers | |
| Slot | Kenny Moore II | ||
| CB | Isaiah Rodgers Sr. | Darius Rush | Jaylon Jones |
Evaluation: This shall be a enjoyable room to observe. Brents possible walks right into a beginning position on the boundary whereas Moore can return to the slot. Rodgers Sr. has positional versatility to work each on the skin and the nickel whereas rookies Rush and Jones will compete for the ultimate spots. However they’re already extra gifted than the remainder of the room. Perhaps Tony Brown makes a declare attributable to particular groups, however we’re going with the rookies right here.
Notable Cuts: Tony Brown
Robert Scheer-USA TODAY Sports activities
| Pos. | First | Second |
| SS | Julian Blackmon | Nick Cross |
| FS | Rodney Thomas II | Daniel Scott |
Evaluation: There’s an opportunity the Colts hold 5 safeties as a result of they do like Trevor Denbow. The fifth-rounder in Scott will get the nod right here attributable to his athleticism, however that would be the competitors to observe. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see in the event that they add a veteran.
Notable Cuts: Trevor Denbow, Marcel Dabo
| Pos. | Title |
| P | Rigoberto Sanchez |
| Ok | Matt Homosexual |
| LS | Luke Rhodes |
Evaluation: Sanchez shall be coming back from a torn Achilles whereas Homosexual is among the highest-paid kickers within the recreation. Each Sanchez and Rhodes are in contract years so it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if the Colts start to have a look at the market in case they don’t return after 2023.