With training camp drawing closer for the Indianapolis Colts, we typically put together a 53-man roster prediction based on what we learned during offseason programs.
We will still be doing that, but the format will be different. Rather than cramming every position group into one article, we’ll devote an entire article to one unit before compiling our predictions at the end.
Up next are the cornerbacks.
Cornerbacks on the Colts roster
Roster locks: Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward, Justin Walley
This trio will make up the Colts’ starting cornerback configuration this season. How the rest of the depth chart shakes out remains to be seen.
Who’s in and who’s out at cornerback?
Teams will typically roster five or six cornerbacks. That means two to three roster spots are up for grabs. However, there are five players at this position — outside of Gardner, Ward, and Walley — who have the ability to make the team.
Vying for a roster spot are Cam Taylor-Britt, Johnathan Edwards, Mekhi Blackmon, Jaylon Jones, and Cameron Mitchell. But two or three of these players could end up being left off the final roster during cutdowns.
Predicting the Colts’ 53-man roster at cornerback before training camp
Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward, Justin Walley, Mekhi Blackmon, Johnathan Edwards, Cam Taylor-Britt
Blackmon would play over 700 snaps for Lou Anarumo last season, while Edwards put together a strong showing during offseason programs. Taylor-Britt has experience playing under Anarumo and had his best seasons with him in Cincinnati.
I did consider putting Mitchell on the roster over Taylor-Britt. It was a small sample size, but Mitchell performed well last year, and although Taylor-Britt was just signed as a free agent, the Colts can get out of his contract easily.
Jones dealt with injuries last season, but even when healthy, he struggled to carve out a steady role in Anarumo’s defense.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts pre-training camp 53-man roster prediction: Cornerbacks
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Paul Bretl, Colts Wire | USA TODAY Network
