The Indianapolis Colts begin camp on July 24, with both veterans and rookies reporting on the same day. Camp will be held at Grand Park Sports Complex in the Indianapolis suburb of Westfield, Indiana.
With a relatively quiet offseason and no major contract disputes looming, the focus will be on the development of Anthony Richardson and the numerous camp battles we see every year. Let’s look at the projected camp battles and some potential acquisitions if the team decides it needs to bring in more competition.
Starting outside cornerback
Let’s start at the most-talked-about upcoming position battle this offseason.
While second-year cornerback JuJu Brents seems locked into the CB1 position, we will see some competition for the second starting outside cornerback position. Right now, the battle is between Jaylon Jones and Dallis Flowers.
Jones had a great rookie season, while Flowers missing last year with an Achilles injury. But could we also see rookie Micah Abraham make a push for a starting spot? It’s possible but highly unlikely for the sixth-round pick.
This job appears to be Jones’ to lose, but don’t count out Flowers. General manager Chris Ballard is high on him, though he'll need more time to adjust after missing last season.
Potential targets
Stephon Gilmore
The Colts could bring back Gilmore as not only a veteran leader but also a true shutdown corner with the ability to make an immediate impact as a starter. He knows the scheme. He knows both the players and the expectations. Ballard still has some money to spend, and if this squad truly wants to make a playoff run, then Gilmore might be the missing piece this time around.
Fabian Moreau
He has bounced around since leaving Washington in 2020. He is used to adapting to a new environment and has the size (6-foot, 198 lbs.) Ballard is looking for at the position. Adding a veteran alongside Kenny Moore in the secondary would be beneficial to the young starters, especially one who would be able to fill in and contribute immediately.
Backup running back
A healthy Jonathan Taylor will be ready to go this season, and the expectations are higher than ever for him. While he is the bell-cow back of this team, he will need relief.
It appears that the battle for the backup spot will be between Trey Sermon, Tyler Goodson, and Evan Hull. Sermon appears to have the early lead with Goodson as the change-of-pace back, and Hull is expected to be the pass-catching back. Hull missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, so training camp will be crucial for him.
If Sermon doesn’t look like he is ready for the No. 2 role, the Colts may look to bring in a veteran to help take the load off Taylor during the season.
Targets
Matt Breida
A former starter who has since made a name for himself in a reserve role, Matt Breida is a bit undersized (5-foot-10, 195 lbs.) but has been able to fill in when called upon to keep the running game relevant. He has stayed healthy throughout his career and would bring some postseason experience, as well. This would be his fifth team in eight seasons.
Latavius Murray
Did we all see how Latavius Murray played last season in Buffalo? While the 34-year-old is getting up there in age, he was able to be a fill-in starter even with the emergence of James Cook. He had 300 yards on 79 carries, playing in 16 games with four starts. While his stats don’t bust out of the box score, Murray is a serviceable option who could give Taylor some rests on drives.
Safety
Like the cornerback battle, this is one that has been discussed at length this offseason. If we go by what we saw in OTAs, it looks like the starters will be Julian Blackmon and Nick Cross with the depth pieces being Ronnie Harrison Jr. and Rodney Thomas II.
While this seems to be solid and locked in for now, this unit showed inconsistency last season. The blown coverages and miscommunication were apparent as the year dragged on. The current safety market has seen a bit of a regression in money, and if there was ever a time to grab some proven talent at clearance prices, that time is now.
Targets
Justin Simmons
How often do you get an opportunity to grab a two-time second-team All-Pro during training camp The answer is not often. While he is nearly 31 years old and coming off multiple injuries, he can still play at a high level. He would be a great addition to balance out the youth of the entire secondary room.
Micah Hyde
The long-tenured Buffalo Bill is still on the market and has a resume like Justin Simmons'. Both have been two-time All Pros, and both are aging veterans looking for a spot to help a contender or finish their careers.
Tight end
Some local writers have Mo Alie-Cox making the team as the Colts choose to roll with five tight ends this season. Personally, I cannot see how that is even possible.
The Colts will most likely keep four on the roster with one inactive each week. The four the franchise seems poised to keep are last season’s starter, Kylen Granson, along with a trio of young players: Jelani Woods, Will Mallory, and Drew Ogletree.
Woods returns with high expectations coming off a lost season with hamstring injuries. Mallory showed flashes of talent in 2023, and Ogletree, the most likely player to not have a crucial role, should be more available this season.
Those four should start the season and keep the competition fresh every week. I cannot foresee the franchise targeting anyone for this position battle, but it will be a topic of conversation as Colts training camp opens up.