Colts Roster Projections: Defense

The Colts completed their last practice with a 90 man roster today. Cuts will be coming soon, so which defensive players will make the team?

Roster cuts are always the hardest part of the preseason. They are hard on the coaches, the GM, and certainly the players. With that in mind, they are coming. Which of those players are going to make the cut and which will be looking for new jobs?

Along the defensive line, it’s fairly easy. John Simon, Jabaal Sheard, Denico Autry, Al Woods, Hassan Ridgeway, Tarell Basham, Tyquan Lewis, Kemoko Turay, and Margus Hunt should all make it. That leaves one spot left. Grover Stewart has played well in stretches, so I would give the nod to him over Anthony Johnson and Chris McCain.

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Linebackers are a different story. Darius Leonard, Najee Goode, Skai Moore, and Anthony Walker are all shoo-ins. Leonard has had a very strong preseason, but no one else really has. Rookie Zaire Franklin played well against the 49ers on Saturday, so he probably stays as well. That leaves one spot for Matthew Adams, Tyrell Adams, and Jeremiah George. I give the nod to George, but I wouldn’t be surprised if either Adams’ make the team instead.

The corners are easy to call. Kenny Moore, Quincy Wilson, Nate Hairston, Pierre Desir, Chris Milton, and newly traded for Lenny Pipkins will all make the team. They have all had stretches of good play, and only Henre’ Tolliver had a slight chance to take one of those players’ job.

Three safeties are guaranteed to make the team. They are Malik Hooker, Clayton Geathers, and Matthias Farley. After that, it gets a little interesting. T.J. Green has been a bust since they drafted him with a second round pick back in 2016. George Odum did force a fumble against the Niners, but also started a fight during training camp.

I give the nod to Odum. The Colts know what Green is at this point. Odum hasn’t been given the opportunity to show what he can do. Green has been a constant disappointment, so his tenure with the Colts should end.

Once the names start to trickle in, we will see how accurate I was with these projections. But the cuts are coming soon, and hopefully the players on the bubble are bracing for it.