The Indianapolis Colts are having a great offseason. As they continue to bolster the team, there are still some questions surrounding some of their starters this year. Three players, in particular, were drafted by Chris Ballard, who will be on the hot seat for the Colts in 2025. When drafted, these players had tremendous upside as they were drafted within the first three rounds. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued their careers. Thus, there are questions on whether these players can produce at a high level in the NFL.
The Colts are in an interesting position in 2025 as they are still in a rebuild, but have players who are a part of the rebuild that might not be with the team for much longer. Therefore, 2025 is a make-or-break year for Anthony Richardson, Jelani Woods, and Julius Brents. Will these playmakers finally showcase why the Colts drafted them so high?
These Three Players Have One Last Chance with the Colts in 2025
Anthony Richardson, QB
Anthony Richardson was a fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Coming into the league, he had potential for greatness. The Colts took a significant gamble on Richardson as he only had 13 starts in college and minimal experience in high school. Unfortunately, Richardson started on day one, suffered injuries, and has struggled with ability and availability. The Colts took a big gamble on Richardson with the hope that it would pay off in a big way. Unfortunately, this gamble will also be a big loss for the Colts if Richardson cannot be the type of player the Colts need him to be in 2025.
During the offseason, the Colts brought in former New York Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones. While coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, Jones has a lot of potential to bring to the Colts. The biggest thing is that he will look to take the starting spot away from Richardson. In an interview, Shane Steichen did not name a starter as he will utilize a competition to try and see which quarterback will lead the team. This will be a huge test for Richardson and one that he must capitalize on if he wants to be a Colt in 2026.
Jelani Woods, TE
Jelani Woods is a former third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and has not played in an NFL game since 2022. Woods is a bizarre case as his issue is not ability, but strictly availability. In the last two seasons, he has suffered season-ending injuries before the season even started. While his upside is still very good, the question remains whether he can be reliable. Unfortunately, his history suggests that he cannot be reliable. Therefore, the Colts might be wise to move on.
With the recent moves in the tight end room, this leaves space for Woods to come back and have one more shot to try and play. If he cannot stay healthy in 2025, it might be time for the Colts to move on and find another player who can be reliable. Therefore, 2025 is crucial for Woods and his NFL career.
Julius Brents, CB
The most frustrating case is cornerback Julius Brents. He is a big impact player for the Colts and is looking for a bounce-back year in 2025. Since coming into the league in 2023, Brents has shown that he belongs in the NFL and can compete with some of the best receivers. Unfortunately, injuries have riddled his short NFL career. With the Colts adding depth in the secondary this offseason, the clock could be ticking on Brents.
The timeline on these injuries is quite concerning because Brents, like Jelani Woods, has spent more time on the bench than on the field. In his rookie season, he dealt with a nagging quad injury that sidelined him for six games. 2024 was not a better story, as he would miss the majority of the season due to a knee injury. This was suffered during the first game of last season against the Houston Texans. He was able to make an appearance in Week 18 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but suffered a groin injury during the game, which took him out.
The bottom line is that injuries are plaguing the short careers of all three of these guys. These playmakers have tremendous upside and talent. The issue moving forward is whether investing in their future is worth it for the Colts. Only time will tell.
Main Photo: Robert Scheer/IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK
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