Who will be the Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback? That is likely the most asked question, and most talked about position, of any NFL team. We will get an answer soon as training camp gets underway July 23rd. The defense has also been a topic of conversation over the past couple of seasons, and I covered this topic in my most recent article.
As of the writing of this article, Colts second round draft pick JT Tuimoloau (DE, Ohio State) has yet to sign his rookie contract. Until recently, he was just one of many second-round draft picks who had not signed their rookie deal to play football in the NFL. I don't know if he's holding out for a guaranteed contract, like many of his counterparts have signed, but I would think he would be eager to put pen to paper and get to work helping the team that drafted him to get better. There's no doubt he can make an impact, and this deal will likely get done sooner rather than later.
But JT is not the pre-training camp bust I was alluding to. No, that moniker belongs to the offseason free agent signing of former Rams DT Neville Gallimore. The six-year veteran has bounced around the NFL and CFL (Canadian Football League). He spent his college career at the University of Oklahoma before being drafted in the 3rd round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Neville played parts of the 2020 season, and his sophomore season was cut short in the preseason due to a dislocated elbow injury. Gallimore saw playing time in nearly every game of the 2022 season, but then hit the field in all 17 regular season games during 2023, albeit in a back-up role.
In the 2024 preseason, Neville signed to play for the Miami Dolphins, but was released before the season began. He would sign with the Rams, and saw the field in 14 regular season games, along with both of the Rams' postseason contests. Gallimore recorded 3.5 sacks in those two playoff games, and was credited with a safety against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Neville signed with the Indianapolis Colts after the season ended for his fourth new home during his short time in the league.
The deal he signed is a one-year deal, valued at $1.17 million per Colts Wire. Standing over 6 feet tall and weighing north of 300 lbs., his mere presence would be intimidating to stand across from. One could look at his stats from the most recent playoffs and see that he shows promise. But when you look at his overall body of work, the math isn't mathing, as I so often hear nowadays. After all, you can do anything for a short period of time, as this two-game sample proves.
In 2025, Gallimore will serve as backup to starter Grover Stewart, a role he is familiar with. It is easy to see why the Colts would only ink him to a one-year deal. His stats have been inconsistent with flashes of promise sprinkled in. For Neville to show he belongs in Indianapolis on a multi-year contract, and to establish himself as the much-needed depth at this position, he will need to show more than promise. He will need to make an impact by creating a consistent, solid pass rush when he sees playing time and getting to opposing quarterbacks with regularity. Otherwise, Indianapolis will be just another stop on his tour of the NFL.