INDIANAPOLIS – Welcome to the new league year and the newest version of the Indianapolis Colts.
For now. There still are moves to be made which will further adjust positional pecking orders. That means shoring up depth.
A handful of free agents will be signed, and then there’s the April 24-26 NFL draft followed by the post-draft signing of rookies. General manager Chris Ballard holds seven overall picks, including No. 14 overall, so he’s in position to add a difference-maker. Perhaps it’ll be that tight end that’s so badly needed (Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland).
But for now, what you see is what the Colts have assembled. The new league year began at 4 Wednesday afternoon.
Clearly, it’s been an eventful week.
Ballard doled out the two fattest free-agent contracts of his nine-year tenure and substantially upgraded Lou Anarumo’s secondary with cornerback Charvarius Ward (three years, $60 million, $35 million guaranteed) and safety Cam Bynum (four years, $60 million, $32 million guaranteed).
And he provided legitimate competition for quarterback Anthony Richardson by bringing Daniel Jones to Indy (one-year, $14 million).
The 2025 salary cap rose to $279.2 million, but the Colts’ cap was adjusted to $290.68 million to reflect unused cap space and incentives that were not earned from ’24, according to the NFLPA.
Here’s an updated breakdown of the roster as teams head into the new league year:
QUARTERBACK
*Starter: Anthony Richardson/Daniel Jones.
*Depth: Jason Bean.
*What’s up: Welcome to the storyline that will dominate Colts Nation throughout the offseason and regular season. This is a situation created by Richardson’s inability to stay healthy or play at an acceptable level as a passer. It’s being presented as open competition, but Richardson has to have some level of advantage from the outset based on the investment the team already has made and his familiarity with Shane Steichen’s offense.
One thing we can’t shake: If Richardson is unable to beat out Jones, he never was worth being drafted 4th overall.
RUNNING BACK
*Starter: Jonathan Taylor.
*Depth: Tyler Goodson, Salvon Ahmed, Khalil Herbert.
*What’s up? This is one of several areas that must be addressed from a depth standpoint. Taylor is the undeniable workhorse, but there must be a legitimate backup capable of giving him an occasional breather. The draft probably is the best option for adding to the room.
WIDE RECEIVER
*Starters: Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Josh Downs.
*Depth: AD Mitchell, Anthony Gould, Ashton Dulin, D.J. Montgomery, Laquon Treadwell, Ajou Ajou.
*What’s up? We’re always open to adding a top-tier wideout, but that’s not happening. This is a solid group that will get better if position coach Reggie Wayne can work his magic with Mitchell.
TIGHT END
*Starter: Drew Ogletree.
*Depth: Will Mallory, Jelani Woods, Sean McKeon, Albert Okwuegbunam Jr.
*What’s up? The draft always has been the best avenue for upgrading a position that sorely needs it. If Tyler Warren doesn’t fall to the Colts at No. 14, do they move up to get the Penn State standout? Or do they consider Michigan’s Colston Loveland a suitable option?
OFFENSIVE LINE
*Starters: LT Bernhard Raimann, LG Quenton Nelson, C Tanor Bortolini, RG Matt Goncalves, RT Braden Smith.
*Depth: C Danny Pinter, G Wesley French, T Blake Freeland, T Luke Tenuta, T Jake Wilson, G Atonio Mafi, G Josh Sills.
*What’s up? The return of Smith on a revised contract is huge. Most important, he’s ready to return after dealing with personal issues. Smith’s well-being always has been paramount. But from a team standpoint, he stabilizes right tackle and allows Goncalves to replace Will Fries at right guard.
Re-signing Pinter and French provides interior depth, but a swing tackle is needed. That would have been Goncalves.
The Colts made an attempt to retain Fries, but the contract he got from the Vikings (five years, $88 million) was much too steep. Fries and Ryan Kelly (two years, $18 million) can remain locker room buddies in Minnesota.
DEFENSIVE LINE
*Starters: E Kwity Paye, T DeForest Buckner, T Grover Stewart, E Laiatu Latu.
*Depth: E Samson Ebukam, E/T Tyquan Lewis, T Adetomiwa Adebawore, E Durell Nchami, T Pheldarius Payne, E Isaiah Land.
*What’s up? Losing Dayo Odeyingbo to the Chicago Bears (three years, $48 million) was tough, but expected. Ebukam’s ability to make a quick return from a torn Achilles would lessen the blow. So much of how the front four plays, though, hinges on Latu taking a big step in year 2.
LINEBACKER
*Starters: Zaire Franklin, Jaylon Carlies, Segun Olubi.
Depth: Cameron McGrone, Liam Anderson, Jacob Phillips, Austin Ajiake.
*What’s up? Ballard has a great track record of drafting at this position – Shaq Leonard, Franklin, Anthony Walker, Bobby Okereke, E.J. Speed – and needs to add another young prospect in the draft. Carlies showed glimpses as a rookie, but the weakside spot requires competition.
CORNERBACK
*Starters: Charvarius Ward, Kenny Moore II, Jaylon Jones.
*Depth: JuJu Brents, Samuel Womack III, Alex Johnson.
*What’s up? The last time the Colts had a top-tier outside starter, it was Stephon Gilmore in 2022. He played at a near-Pro Bowl level, but was 32 and was granted a trade request (to Dallas) following that chaotic season. Now, it’s Ward. Ballard invested $35 million in guarantees on a player who turns 29 May 16, earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2023 and started in two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs. Ward automatically starts at one spot and it’ll be up to Brents and Jones to earn reps on the other side. Moore remains one of the league’s top nickels and could be a difference-maker in Anarumo’s scheme.
SAFETY
*Starters: Cam Bynum, Nick Cross.
*Depth: Rodney Thomas II, Daniel Scott, Trevor Denbow, Marcel Dabo.
*What’s up?: Is Bynum the next Jessie Bates III for Anarumo? Free safety was an impact position for Anarumo in Cincinnati, and Bynum brings that type of potential to Indy.
SPECIAL TEAMS
*Kicker: Matt Gay.
*Punter: Rigoberto Sanchez.
*Long snapper: Luke Rhodes.
*What’s up? We’re not giving Gay a pass on his long-distance issues. He was 28-for-28 on kicks of 49 yards or shorter last season, but 3-of-9 on 50+ yards. That split isn’t acceptable.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.