Projecting Colts 53-Man Roster After 2026 Offseason Program - Page 3

Projecting Colts 53-Man Roster After 2026 Offseason Program

INDIANAPOLIS – We are less than two weeks away from the Colts needing to cut their roster from 90 to 53.

This year’s 53-man roster cut is on August 30^th, leaving 2 more training camp practices (joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons) and 2 more preseason games for further evaluations.

After 11 camp practices and the preseason opener, it’s time for a projected 53-man roster:

Quarterbacks (4/3): Daniel Jones, Riley Leonard, Anthony Richardson Sr., Easton Stick

Bowen’s Analysis: Amidst all the off-season conversation about this position, I’ll go with 3 quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. For me, whatever trade return you might get on Richardson isn’t worth it at this point in the offseason.

Running Backs (6/3) Ulysses Bentley IV, Anderson Castle*, DJ Giddens, Seth McGowan*, Lincoln Pare*, Jonathan Taylor

Bowen’s Analysis: Here’s my first change from the spring. Giddens has missed some valuable time with a hamstring injury and Bentley has flashed a bit after some positive moments in last year’s offseason, too.

Wide Receivers (12/6) Deion Burks*, Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould, Sahmir Hagans*, E.J. Horton*, Coleman Owen, Eli Pancol, Alec Pierce, Raylen Sharpe*, Laquon Treadwell, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Bowen’s Analysis: I feel fairly confident in writing in the first five names at this position group: Pierce, Downs, Dulin, Westbrook-Ikhine. But that 6^th spot is very uncertain for me. Return duties have to be part of the 6^th receiver. And Burks has yet to show anything trustworthy there. I’ll go Owen over Gould (who has missed recent time due to a groin injury), but I’m not sold on that.

Tight Ends (6/4): Mo Alie-Cox, Will Mallory, Sean McKeon, Drew Ogletree, Carson Towt*, Tyler Warren

Bowen’s Analysis: We’ve seen the Colts carry 4 tight ends before and Mallory’s camp has been too strong to give him the scissors. It’s a bit of a luxury to carry 4 tight ends, but perhaps the Colts will live in more 2-tight end personnel, without as much quality depth at wide receiver.

Offensive Line (15/9): Tanor Bortolini, Jalen Farmer*, Blake Freeland, Matt Goncalves, Josh Kreutz*, Bayron Matos, Jimmy Morrissey, Quenton Nelson, Bernard Raimann, Nolan Rucci*, Josh Sills, Luke Tenuta, Jalen Travis, Dalton Tucker, Geno VanDeMark*

Bowen’s Analysis: Before we get into the trenches, we must acknowledge that Chris Ballard loves keeping a lot of big bodies. So while the numbers along the offensive and defensive lines might seem like a lot, it’s been how Ballard typically operates. The recent knee injury to Tenuta is going to be one to watch. I would have him ahead of Freeland as the 3^rd tackle. So that’s where Freeland enters the picture for me. If not him, I could see Josh Sills and Jimmy Morrissey being an extra body up front, although those are interior guys. I guess Tucker is your backup center, but snap issues continue to be of concern for me.

Defensive Line (16/11): Adetomiwa Adebawore, Cameron Ball*, DeForest Buckner, Micheal Clemons, Caden Curry*, George Gumbs Jr.*, Adren Key, Laiatu Latu, Mitchell Melton*, Durell Nchami, Derrick Nnadi, Tim Smith, Grover Stewart, Jerry Tillery, Jaylahn Tuimoloau, Colby Wooden

Bowen’s Analysis: I know 11 is a big, big number. But I could make a case for it, especially when viewing it through the Ballard lens. Remember, Lou Anarumo used a good amount of 5-man defensive fronts in the preseason opener, and it’s something we’ve seen in camp, too. This is obviously an area you could pinch a number.

Linebackers (8/5): Austin Ajiake, CJ Allen*, Bryce Boettcher*, Jaylon Carlies, Tahj Chambers*, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Devin Veresuk, West Weeks*

Bowen’s Analysis: These are the 5 that have been rotated the most within the starting competition. Even Chambers and Weeks, a pair of undrafted free agents could make a case with some special teams play. But I’ll go with these 5.

Cornerbacks (10/6): Mekhi Blackmon, Rob Carter Jr. Johnathan Edwards, Sauce Gardner, Jaylon Jones, Jai’Onte’ McMillan, Cameron Mitchell, Cam Taylor-Britt, Justin Walley, Charvarius Ward Sr.

Bowen’s Analysis: For one week, the Colts won’t have to carry Taylor-Britt on the 53-man roster as he serves his one-game suspension to starat the season. But he’s a definite roster guy after that. So I’m accounting for him here. That’s where Blackmon could be in jeopardy, while Edwards looks like a gunner on special teams.

Safeties (10/4): Austin Brown, Cam Bynum, A.J. Haulcy*, Ben Nikkel, Jonathan Owens, Daniel Scott, Juanyeh Thomas, Trey Washington, Hunter Wohler

Bowen’s Analysis: A 6^th cornerback or a 5^th safety was a debate for me. I’ll go with 4 safeties, but could definitely keep a 5^th for special teams purposes.

Specialists (4/3): LS-Luke Rhodes, P-Rigoberto Sanchez, K-Spencer Shrader, K-Blake Grupe

Bowen’s Analysis: Until I see Shrader fully back to his normal health, I’ll go with Grupe. I know that 61-yarder helped him immensely, but I can’t ignore the quantity of kicks he’s missed to start August just yet. Grupe is hovering around 90 percent at camp, while Shrader is at less than 70 percent.