We are at the final camp battle on the defensive side of the ball. One might argue this is the most concerning part of the roster for the Indianapolis Colts. The starters have all the talent you look for to lead, but the depth is thin and inconsistent. There are plenty of concern abounds with this part of the roster.
The Colts will return starter Nick Cross to the starting lineup after a breakout season, where he was second on the team in total tackles with 146, and was the leader of the secondary with Kenny Moore. The biggest splash in free agency was Charvarius Ward, but a close second was the signing of Cam Bynum. It was unusual to see Colts GM Chris Ballard spend so much money on the secondary, but it was needed. Bynum brings experience and stability to the safety room, and he brings hope. I know it sounds corny, but he brings hope to this football team as Ballard understands the urgency of this season.
With the starting spots secured and Rodney Thomas likely returning to his rotational and situational spot, we have a potential camp battle brewing for the likely final spot in the safety room. It appears that battle will be between Daniel Scott and rookie Hunter Wohler. The franchise also brought in two UDFAs, with Trey Washington and Ladarius Tennison, which should not be ignored either.
The Case For Daniel Scott
It's hard to make a case for someone that has not played a single snap since he was drafted in 2023. In his defense, it’s rare that a team would stick with a late round prospect for this long. Now putting him on IR the last two seasons helped retain his rights. In his rookie season, he tore his ACL in training camp, and last season, he ruptured his Achilles and missed the season.
To say he can make this team without any snaps would be foolish of me to predict. However, the staff had enough wherewithal to keep him on team with no injury settlements or separations. They stuck with him. They believe in his talent, even with no reps. He was brought on for depth and his ability to stand out on special teams. Even through all of this, it’s difficult to keep someone who has not been out there on the field with the team. He has an opportunity to earn his spot this training camp.
The Case For Hunter Wohler
You can make the case for Wohler as you did for Daniel Scott. It's hard to judge a player with no NFL reps. While this is common for rookies, you must go off the tape and game from their college career. For all the faults of Chris Ballard, he has been able to find talent in the 7th round. Whether Hunter Wohler can be added to that list of gems is yet to be seen.
Wohler has one aspect of his game that might set him apart from Daniel Scott and the UDFAs on the roster. He was announced on draft night as a linebacker, but played in the secondary predominantly at Wisconsin. Did Ballard draft Wohler to cover two needs on draft night of the secondary and linebacker? If he is used as a hybrid “athlete” in this scheme, it opens multiple doors for him to make this final roster. The Colts have needs in depth at both safety and linebacker. If this staff believes he can help in both areas, then this a no-brainer to put him on the roster.
Final Prediction
With the ability to play a hybrid role on this defense, this makes Hunter Wohler the easy pick to make the final roster over Daniel Scott. This defense will have a larger emphasis on the secondary than it was last season. We have seen the staff talk about their love for Jaylon Carlies, and he is in the same boat as Wohler. Both players have either been converted to other defensive positions and can help drop in coverage, or play on the ball as a linebacker. A better defensive coaching staff should be able to bring out the best in Hunter Wohler this season. Giving a 7th round pick a role in this defense this early still leaves some cause for concern.