Depth was the name of the offseason game for the Indianapolis Colts this summer, and depth they found, in abundance. Now, it's finding out who belongs and who doesn't, and which of those depth signings have a real shot at starting instead of being relegated to a rotational piece.
Defense is where the Colts secured their most depth, with players like cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, edge rusher Arden Key, safety Jonathan Owens, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, among others. The Colts signed nine outside free agents in total, and all except wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine were on defense.
The job was to fill roster holes desperately, and now the players are left to fight it out. For two of the Colts key free agent signings, Key and Davis-Gaither, their paths to starting might be the most open out of all the Colts' other defensive signings, and for one major reason that bodes well for the two veterans.
Indianapolis Colts' veterans Arden Key and Akeem Davis-Gaither have experience on their side
Key and Davis-Gaither have 12 years of NFL experience combined, each with six seasons. For Key, he's bounced around the league, having played with four different teams, with the Colts making it number five. Davis-Gaither has had a different journey, spending his first five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals before a one-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals last year.
Still, no matter how many teams or circumstances along the way, Key and Davis-Gaither brought one common similarity with them when they joined the Colts: experience, and lots of it. It's experience that could play a significant role in how their respective position battles play out in training camp. It's also experience that could win both Key and Davis-Gaither a starting job.
For Key, he's fighting to start at defensive end opposite Laiatu Latu. Reports out of Colts camp are that Key has taken far more starting reps than Jaylahn Tuimoloau, who is also fighting for a spot. Tuimoloau is going into his second year, but his rookie season was underwhelming. Going up against a veteran like Key is good for Tuimoloau.
It could also mean he loses a starting spot because of Key's veteran experience. Key has the edge in this regard, but he also appears to be outplaying Tuimoloau in camp in general. The same can be said for Davis-Gaither, who is fighting to play beside rookie CJ Allen, the Colts' expected starting middle linebacker.
So far, the Colts have gone the rotational route with their linebackers in camp, all taking turns lining up beside Allen. Rookie Bryce Boettcher and second-year player Austin Ajiake are also competing for a linebacker spot. Linebacker was a void that the Colts needed to fill after trading away Zaire Franklin earlier in the summer.
Allen was drafted in hopes of being ready to start, and it looks like he will be. Boettcher, who the Colts selected three picks after Allen, is also doing quite well this summer in OTAs and minicamps and is showing he should be considered for a permanent roster spot. Starting, though, is another subject, and although Boettcher has looked good, Davis-Gaither has the edge.
Lou Anarumo's former Bengals player is getting the bulk of the reps with Allen, despite the rotation route. It's his experience and familiarity with Anarumo that gives Davis-Gaither the edge over the others, though. It's still early, but the six-year veteran appears to be on his way to winning the starting job.
That's what experience gets you, though: the edge over those who lack it. Davis-Gaither and Key each have experience on their side, and it may come down to their shared commonality that eventually makes the final call.
Add us as a preferred source on Google