Now a week into training camp practices for the Indianapolis Colts, what might a 53-man roster prediction look like?
With three preseason games, joint practices, and several weeks of training camp practices still remaining, a lot can change when it comes to what the roster looks like.
That said, given what we know in this moment, here is how I’m predicting the final roster to shake out.
Quarterbacks (3)
Daniel Jones, Riley Leonard, Anthony Richardson
For now, Richardson remains with the Colts. A trade remains a possibility, but until we start hearing some noise around that, we’ll assume that Richardson remains with the team.
Running backs (3)
Jonathan Taylor, DJ Giddens, Seth McGowan
Giddens and McGowan are competing for the backup role, but the two will round out the running back room.
Wide receiver (6)
Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Laquon Treadwell
Treadwell has steadily been taking first-team reps while Pierce is sidelined and is competing for the WR3 role. For me, it came down to Deion Burks and Gould — whoever the better return man is may get the job. I went with Gould for now, given his experience.
Tight end (3)
Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree
I still think rostering three tight ends is the correct play right now. Mallory’s role last season was very small, so I’d rather use that roster spot elsewhere. The Colts can use practice squad elevations to boost game-day depth.
Offensive line (9)
Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, Matt Goncalves, Jalen Travis, Jalen Farmer, Dalton Tucker, Luke Tenuta, Blake Freeland
Freeland and Tenuta seem to be the first tackle options off the bench. Farmer is working with the second unit at both guard positions, while Tucker is competing for the backup center role. His experience — not at center but in Shane Steichen’s offense — gives him the edge for now.
Defensive line (11)
Laiatu Latu, Arden Key, Jaylahn Tuimoloau, Micheal Clemons, George Gumbs, Caden Curry, DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Colby Wooden, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Jerry Tillery
How big a role Gumbs or Curry have this year remains to be seen — both have worked with the third-team defense. Derrick Nnadi has been working through a toe injury, missing the last few practices.
Linebacker (5)
CJ Allen, Bryce Boettcher, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Jaylon Carlies, Austin Ajiake
Carlies adds some more coverage ability to the position as a former college safety, while Ajiake can be a core special teams contributor.
Cornerback (6)
Charvarius Ward, Sauce Gardner, Justin Walley, Johnathan Edwards, Cam Taylor-Britt, Mekhi Blackmon
Edwards possesses good upside, Blackmon played over 700 snaps last season and can line up inside and out, while Taylor-Britt has experience in Lou Anarumo’s defense. Jaylon Jones has struggled to carve out a role in Anarumo’s defense over the last year.
Safety (4)
Cam Bynum, AJ Haulcy, Hunter Wohler, Jonathan Owens
Ideally, the Colts find a way to keep Juanyeh Thomas, but the roster math didn’t work out in this scenario. Wohler is competing for the starting safety spot next to Bynum, while Owens can be a core special teams player.
Special teams (3)
Rigoberto Sanchez, Luke Rhodes, Blake Grupe
Grupe has the early advantage over Spencer Shrader and the gap is widening.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts 53-man roster prediction after 6 training camp practices
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Paul Bretl, Colts Wire | USA TODAY Network
