Projecting the Colts’ 53-man roster: How will things shape up under Shane Steichen?

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts open the 2023 NFL regular season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Colts’ roster has undergone some significant changes since last season’s tumultuous 4-12-1 season that resulted in the firing of coach Frank Reich.

This season, under new coach Shane Steichen, Indianapolis will look different at some key spots. The Colts added a quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft (Anthony Richardson); given a new defensive end a $24 million contract (Sam Ebukam) and signed the top place-kicker in free agency (Matt Gay).

Here’s what the Colts’ 2023 53-man roster might look like:

QUARTERBACK (3): Gardner Minshew, Anthony Richardson, Sam Ehlinger

The Colts have undergone their most significant overhaul at this position. Gone are Matt Ryan and Nick Foles, both of whom started games for the Colts in 2022. Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick, figures to be the starter at some point. But will Minshew, who is skilled in running Steichen’s offense, hold him off for the time being? Ehlinger remains but now is entrenched at the No. 3 spot.

RUNNING BACK (4): Jonathan Taylor, Zack Moss, Deon Jackson, Evan Hull

Taylor is looking to return to form this season after a recurring ankle injury limited him to his worst year in 2022. The depth is adequate, with the veteran Moss returning for his first full season in Indy after being traded from Buffalo last year and Jackson back for his third season. Hull, a rookie from Northwestern and an accomplished pass catcher, looks to challenge Jackson for the third-down role.

WIDE RECEIVER (6): Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Isaiah McKenzie, Breshad Perriman

Pittman enters a contract year looking for a big season, but can he do that with a rookie expected to be the quarterback? Pierce flashed his deep-ball abilities last season and should have more opportunities with the strong-armed Richardson. Downs and McKenzie will duel for the slot-receiver spot, while Perriman looks to re-establish himself after catching just 20 passes combined over the past two seasons.

TIGHT END (5): Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, Jelani Woods, Will Mallory, Drew Ogletree

Keeping this many tight ends is a tough sell. But it’s a strength of the team and going with a shorter lineup might mean parting ways with a productive player. Alie-Cox and Granson are established, but the key is taking the next step. Woods emerged as a rookie last season and could thrive in Steichen’s scheme. Rookie Mallory and Ogletree also have significant potential.

OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Braden Smith, Bernhard Raimann, Will Fries, Danny Pinter, Blake Freeland, Emil Ekiyor

This remains an area to watch for Indianapolis. The pedigree is there, but the performance most certainly was not last season. Depth was also an issue and remains so. The Colts are banking on two things: That the likes of Nelson and Kelly returning to form and that players like Fries (at right guard) can step up. This feels like a unit where the Colts should be watching the waiver wire to bolster the depth, though fourth-round pick Freeland looks like a nice swing-tackle backup option.

DEFENSIVE LINE (9): DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, Tyquan Lewis, Dayo Odeyingbo, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Taven Bryan, Eric Johnson II

This group, led by All-Pro Buckner, has the potential to be an above-average unit if everyone stays healthy — which has not been the case of late. Ebukam comes over as a free agent from the San Francisco 49ers and the Colts see him as a more well-rounded option at end than Yannick Ngakoue, who departs after one season. The inside-outside contributions of backups Lewis, Odeyingbo and Adebawore could loom large.

LINEBACKER (5): Zaire Franklin, Shaquille Leonard, E.J. Speed, JoJo Domann, Grant Stuard

This group might need another body depending on the status of All-Pro Leonard, who is still working his way back from a second back surgery. Outside of Leonard, Franklin was a revelation last season, when he finished fourth in the NFL in tackles. The Colts will be leaning more heavily on Speed, who steps into an expanded role after the departure of Bobby Okereke to the New York Giants.

CORNERBACK (6): Kenny Moore II, Julius Brents, Darius Rush, Tony Brown, Dallis Flowers, Jaylon Jones

This unit will be shockingly young in 2023. Moore is an established veteran and one-time Pro Bowl selection, but the Colts will be asking more of second-round pick Brents following the recent league suspension and release of veteran Isaiah Rodgers. The depth at the position is composed mostly of raw players, including fifth-rounder Rush, 2022 undrafted free agent Flowers and seventh-round pick Jones.

SAFETY (4): Julian Blackmon, Rodney Thomas II, Nick Cross, Henry Black

Blackmon moves to strong safety on a full-time basis this season, with the Colts looking to get him more involved than he was while serving as the single-high free safety. Thomas was a nice find in the seventh round last year and should continue his development. The depth will be determined by how well Cross comes along after a slow start in his rookie season in 2022.

SPECIALISTS (3): Matt Gay (K), Luke Rhodes (LS), Rigoberto Sanchez (P)

Gay represents a huge upgrade at kicker, converting 93.3% of his field-goal attempts with the Los Angeles Rams last season. The Colts figure to have an offense that will be challenged to score points, so solidifying the kicker position was critical. The only question in this unit is whether Sanchez returns to form after sustaining a ruptured Achilles in training camp last season. He was one of the league’s top punters before the injury.