Colts' 2024 53-man roster prediction ahead of Training Camp

The long NFL offseason is finally in the rearview mirror.

With the Indianapolis Colts set to report for Training Camp on Wednesday. July 24 .

And before they take the practice field for the first time, here is who I believe will make the team's initial 53-man roster.

Colts 53-Man Roster Prediction

QB (2):

1. Anthony Richardson
2. Joe Flacco

QB is pretty simple for the Colts, with Anthony Richardson returning as the team's starter. The team also added veteran Joe Flacco as their backup in free agency . The biggest battle will be for a spot that likely won't be a part of their initial 53-man roster, which is the team's third-string QB job.

RB (3):

1. Jonathan Taylor
2. Trey Sermon
3. Evan Hull

Of course, the Colts starting job at RB is locked up with Jonathan Taylor back in the fold. Behind Taylor will be a pretty tight race for two to three bench roster spots. I think veteran Trey Sermon is the most likely to log the second-most rushing attempts in the room, with second-year RB Evan Hull also having a role in the passing game. If the team chooses to keep a fourth RB, it will be between Tyler Goodson and Zavier Scott. With Scott's ability as both a pass catcher and on special teams, I'd give him the spot, but I think they could likely keep him on the practice squad.

WR (6):

1. Michael Pittman Jr.
2. Josh Downs
3. Adonai Mitchell
4. Alec Pierce
5. Ashton Dulin
6. Anthony Gould

Usually, the Colts WR room is circled as one of the biggest roster battles on deck for Training Camp. But I don't think that's the case this year. I feel pretty confident that as long as the six WRs above stay healthy, this is the Colts WR room. The real battle that will take place in this room will be between Alec Pierce and rookie Adonai Mitchell, as the two will compete for the final starting outside WR job.

TE (4):

1. Kylen Granson
2. Jelani Woods
3. Will Mallory
4. Drew Ogletree

TE is a position that I suggest you grab your popcorn and watch closely during Training Camp. The team has three to four roster spots available at the position, with five viable candidates ready to compete. I'd say the only player in the room who is a lock to make the roster is Kylen Granson. In the end, I think the Colts will keep four TEs and elect to roll with the young guys in the room, which would mean veteran Mo Alie-Cox is the odd man out.

OL (9):

1. Bernhard Raimann
2. Quenton Nelson
3. Ryan Kelly
4. Will Fries
5. Braden Smith
6. Blake Freeland
7. Josh Sills
8. Matt Goncalves
9. Tanor Bortolini

The Colts starting five spots on the offensive line are all returning from last season: Bernhard Raimann (LT), Quenton Nelson (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (RG), and Braden Smith (RT). The big decision to make will be how many of their young depth offensive linemen to keep around on the active roster. The team has used significant draft capital over the past few years on every position on the offensive line. And they will likely have a couple of surprising names that will not make the roster in 2024.

I ended up keeping two of the team's primary backups from last season in OT, Blake Freeland and OG Josh Sills. The Colts elected to use a third and fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on OT/G Matt Goncalves and C/G Tanor Bortolini, so I think their roster spots are relatively safe. I believe Danny Pinter, Wesley French, and Jake Witt all have a significant argument for a roster spot, and if they impress in camp, they could force the Colts to keep a tenth offensive lineman. But I feel fairly confident that we see at least one of this group on the team's practice squad.

Edge (6):

1. Laiatu Latu
2. Kwity Paye
3. Samson Ebukam
4. Dayo Odeyingbo
5. Tyquan Lewis
6. Isaiah Land

This is another position that I think, for the most part, is pretty set in stone. If the top five players in the room stay healthy, their roster spots feel guaranteed. If they choose to keep any additional players after that group it'll be an intriguing battle to watch for sure. The top players to consider for a sixth spot here would be veteran Genard Avery, Titus Leo, and Isaiah Land. Land had some nice flashes in his limited play last season, so I think he has the edge as we enter Training Camp.

IDL (4)

1. DeForest Buckner
   
2. Grover Stewart
3. Raekwon Davis
4. Adetomiwa Adebawore

The interior of the defensive line is similar to the edge room in the fact that most of the roster spots seem locked up already. The team is returning their starters from last season, DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, as well as arguably their most notable outside free agency signing of the offseason being, DT Raekwon Davis. After that group, the likely final roster spot in the room would come down to Adetomiwa Adebawore, Taven Bryan, and Eric Johnson II. And I think the team would choose Adebawore due to him clearly offering the most upside out of the three.

LB (6):

1. Zaire Franklin
2. E.J. Speed
3. Segun Olubi
4. Grant Stuard
5. Ronnie Harrison Jr.
6. Jaylon Carlies

I think four of the six jobs above seem like locks, with Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed returning as the team's starters. Segun Olubi and Grant Stuard had big roles with the team last season. For the final two spots, I chose a pair of LBs that I think offer the team the most in terms of their ability in coverage at LB in: Ronnie Harrison Jr. and rookie Jaylon Carlies.

CB (6):

1. Kenny Moore II
2. Juju Brents
3. Jaylon Jones
4. Dallis Flowers
5. Darrell Baker Jr.
6. Micah Abraham

The Colts CB room is going to be full of battles from the start of Training Camp to the end. Jaylon Jones and Dallis Flowers will battle for the starting outside CB job opposite Juju Brents. Depth-wise, it doesn't feel like any spots are anywhere near guaranteed. I gave a spot to Darrrell Baker Jr., who lost his starting job last season but had some solid moments in coverage throughout the year. And for the last spot in the room, I went with rookie Micah Abraham, who displayed impressive ball skills at Marshall and is a nice developmental option in the room going forward.

S (4):

1. Julian Blackmon
2. Jaylin Simpson
3. Nick Cross
4. Rodney Thomas II

Outside of Julian Blackmon returning as the team's starting SS, the rest of the S room roster spots are entirely up for grabs. While he might be starting camp as a CB, I think the best option on the team's roster to start at FS is rookie Jaylin Simpson. Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas II are the only real options remaining to fill out the roster, with Daniel Scott already being ruled out for the season. If the team chooses to sign one of the multiple viable veteran free-agent safeties, though, one of Cross or Thomas II will probably be a surprise cut.

ST (3)

1. Matt Gay (Kicker)
2. Rigoberto Sanchez (Punter)
3. Luke Rhodes (Long Snapper)

Not much needs to be said here. The Colts will return their starting trio on special teams from last season.

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