Colts have one of the league’s biggest rookie vs. veteran training camp battles
As training camp approaches, the Indianapolis Colts will have rookies competing for a starting spot on a very talented roster.
As usual, the Indianapolis Colts drafted another strong rookie class. From the first pick to the last, this is an athletic class filled with a lot of promise and potential. There are a few players like Alec Pierce and Nick Cross that should be immediate starters, and there are also guys that may take time to develop.
In between, there are some rookies that can go into training camp and compete for a starting position for the Colts. That’s the case for third-round left tackle Bernhard Raimann, who has a chance to take the starting left tackle position away from Matt Pryor.
This pending training camp battle has been marked by Josh Edwards of CBS Sports as one of the biggest training camp battles involving a rookie. Edwards highlights that if Raimann wins the starting position, “Indianapolis’ entire starting offensive line will be comprised of linemen drafted by the team.” An impressive feat that acknowledges how well the Colts draft.
"I did hear I'll be getting first crack at it." — Colts lineman Matt Pryor on the open left tackle position.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) May 11, 2022
Others who could contend for the starting spot to replace Eric Fisher: rookie Bernhard Raimann and newly-signed Dennis Kelly.
Should be a good competition in camp.
Matt Pryor vs. Bernhard Raimann is a big battle for Colts
Raimann will be tasked with taking the spot from Pryor, but Pryor has never really owned it himself. Last season, Matt Pryor was a reserve lineman for Indianapolis, starting in five of the 17 games he played in. After the team parted ways with Eric Fisher, Chris Ballard said that they were impressed by Pryor in his appearances, so he’ll get the first shot at tackle.
However, Pryor still has to prove that he’s the right guy for the all-important position of left tackle and he will have to hold off the talented rookie that was selected to be the left tackle of the future. At 6-foot-6, just over 300 pounds, Raimann is physically imposing and extremely athletic.
He was a tight end for his first two seasons in college but switched to left tackle in 2020 and took naturally to the position. If his adjustment to the league is as smooth as his position change, Raimann will be starting for the Colts in no time.
