Indianapolis Colts Sign CB Juante Baldwin for Cornerback Depth
By Andrew Ites
The Colts are looking for someone to step up at cornerback in 2018, and they’re hoping Juante Baldwin can make a good impression this preseason.
Cornerback was one of the biggest positions of need for the Colts heading into the offseason, but they didn’t do much to address their defensive backfield.
General manager Chris Ballard didn’t select a defensive back with any of his 11 draft picks, and the front office didn’t really make any moves in free agency to replace Rashaan Melvin who signed with the Raiders.
The Colts are now looking to find some undiscovered talent at cornerback, and that’s led them to sign Juante Baldwin.
Baldwin participated in Indianapolis’ rookie minicamp tryout, but the Colts originally passed on him so he put in some work in Kansas City’s rookie minicamp as a tryout.
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Baldwin has now found his way back to Indianapolis as the Colts want to take another look at him.
Following a redshirt year as a transfer, Baldwin played one season at Pittsburgh State, which is one of the nation’s best FCS programs.
As a senior, he racked up 30 tackles with 2 tackles for loss and a forced fumble, and he picked off 3 passes for the Gorillas.
Baldwin has decent size at 5-foot 11-inches and 188 pounds, and he was a standout track athlete before transferring to Pittsburgh State.
To make room for Baldwin on the roster, the Colts released fellow cornerback Channing Stribling.
Stribling has great length for a defensive back at 6-foot 1-inch, but he bounced around a few practice squads as a rookie last season and Indianapolis wasn’t impressed enough by Stribling to keep him on the roster after their offseason program.
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The Colts desperately need one of their relatively unheard of cornerbacks to make an impact next year, and Baldwin will have the opportunity to show what he’s got during the preseason.