Indianapolis Colts rookies who could crack starting lineup | Sporting News

The Indianapolis Colts rookie class will have an uphill battle trying to find starting roles on both sides of the ball, but there are a few who could crack the lineup.

With nine selections in the 2024 NFL Draft, most of the picks came on Day 3. It’s unfair to expect Day 3 picks to come into starting roles, especially in their first season.

As it currently stands, the starting lineups for the Colts on either side of the ball don’t feature any rookies, but that’s not to say they won’t eventually capture those roles.

COLTS DEPTH CHART: Offense | Defense

With the offseason training program over, here are three rookies who could crack the starting lineup.

Colts rookies who could crack the starting lineup in 2024

EDGE Laiatu Latu

Though Latu was the team’s first-round pick, he’s not expected to have a starting role right away. The polished UCLA is expected to begin the season as the backup LEO to Samson Ebukam. There is a world where Latu simply performs well enough to earn a starting role by the end of the season, but it’s more likely to come if Ebukam deals with an injury.

The Colts defensive line is expected to be one of the team’s major strengths throughout the entire roster, the addition of Latu this offseason should help with that. Realistically, though, Latu is headed more for a rotational role in Year 1.

WR Adonai Mitchell

Probably the rookie with the best chance of securing a starting role, Mitchell simply has to win the competition at X-receiver against third-year receiver Alec Pierce. Mitchell was one of the stars throughout the offseason workout program, and it helped his case that Pierce missed most of OTAs and minicamp due to a foot injury.

The Colts have some big plans for Mitchell if he can put it all together. There’s a clear path for him to take over as the starting X-receiver by the midpoint of the season and maybe earlier if he proves to be a better option than Pierce during training camp.

WR/KR Anthony Gould

This is a bit of a cop-out, but there are technically starters on special teams. Gould likely isn’t going to have much of a role on offense with Josh Downs in front of him in the slot so his best shot at making an impact will be as a return man on special teams.

With the new kickoff rules being implemented in the NFL, Gould will have a role as a return man right away. His production in college on punt and kick returns has led to some increased optimism that the Colts can have some explosive plays on the return team.

For more Colts coverage, check out Kevin Hickey’s work on Sporting News.