Ironshaft
05-02-2022, 01:08 PM
Colts currently have 72 players under contact including the drafted rookies. There are 20 undrafted rookies on the Stampede Blue undrafted rookie tracker and that does not count the 20 or so that have been invited to the rookie mini-camp for tryouts.
Given that, this list is not going to include any of the undrafted rookies as I have zero ideal whom of them might make the 90-man roster. It is also assured that if any of the rookies from tryouts make the 90-man, then older, more established players currently under contract will not.
All that being said, the back end of the depth charts are subject to great flexibility so I will only be covering the front parts of the depth charts.
QB: Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, James Morgan
One of my takeaways from the 2022 draft is that there were A LOT of QBs available at relative low rounds for the Colts to select and they took none of them. This translate to me that they are happy with their QB depth. No one is imagining that either Ehlinger or Morgan are the next Tom Brady and if Ryan goes down and can come in and save the season but the Colts obviously like them as backups. They could have had Willis or Corral in the 3rd and just about anyone else in the 5th round and below and they made no picks. I don’t expect this depth chart to change before the season.
RB: Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines, Deon Jackson
Again, no drafted competition for depth spots with only undrafted rookies brought in as competition for RB3. As long as injury does not happen, I don’t see any RB besides Taylor and Hines getting meaningful touches in 2022. If injury strikes, I fully expect Ballard to sign a veteran free agent that would be on the market. There always seems to be a few hanging around (right now, unsigned: David Johnson, Phillip Lindsay, Devontae Booker, Sony Michel, Carlos Hyde, Devontae Freeman, etc). We might see a different RB3 than Jackson but, huh, I really could not care less who that guy is.
WR: Michael Pittman Jr, Alec Pierce (R), Ashton Dulin, Parris Campbell, DeMichael Harris, Dezmon Patmon, Mike Strachan
It is clear that the top of the depth chart will include Pittman, Pierce and Dulin. Beyond that, there is a ton of potential but limited production in Campbell, Harris, Patmon and Strachan. I am excited by having Reggie Wayne on full-time as a coach and seeing how he can get these younger but talented guys contributing. I also think having a real NFL QB will skyrocket production of all our receivers as he will actually throw to the correct target for what the defense is giving.
I would not be opposed to signing a veteran WR to help lead the room with a ton of talent still available in free agency and that veteran lining up on a slot corner or LB could lead to some great production as Pittman and Pierce should start demanding the lion’s share of the defensive coverage focus not to mention the potential of our Tight End room as pass catching fools.
I find it unlikely that any of the undrafted rookie WRs we bring in will be able to unseat the guys listed above but you never know…
TE: Mo Allie-Cox, Jelani Woods (R), Kylen Granson, Andrew Ogletree (R), bunch of nobodies
Probably the most brutal of positional rooms on the roster as we have 8 on contract already but only 3 or 4 will make the final roster. I think Cox, Woods, Granson and Ogletree are the most likely and I cannot wait to see Woods on the field.
I think this could harken back to the Ken Dilger / Marcus Pollard days with Woods taking the blocking/release role of Dilger and Cox being the purer pass catcher like Pollard. Depending on how the final roster shakes out, I could see us keeping all four top TEs (Ogletree backing up Woods and Granson backing up Cox in those roles) and retaining less WRs with us being in 2TE sets more to help with the run game and protect Ryan in the pass game. Stack the box? Release both in patterns. Nickle or Dime? Run…The…Damn...Ball.
OT: Braden Smith, Matt Pryor, Bernhard Raimann (R), Shon Coleman, Brandon Kemp, Carter O’Donnell, Jordan Murray
Starters and swing OT are set with Smith, Pryor and Raimann. Who starts at LT will be determined at camp as either Pryor or Raimann will have to earn it. I have no idea about OT4. I don’t know if anyone has the inside track on it. From the sounds of it, priority undrafted rookie free agent Ryan Van Demark has as much chance as 2016 3rd round pick Shon Coleman with 16 NFL game starts under his belt but a terrible injury history or two-year Colts practice squad veteran Carter O’Donnell. Camp will tell but I like the athletic profile of almost all these guys so whomever wins out should be able to provide good depth.
OG: Quenton Nelson, Danny Pinter, Will Fries
Yes, that is right. We only have three OGs on the roster not counting whoever was brought in as undrafted rookie free agents or the potential of one of the depth OTs being able to provide OG services. While I have concerns about either 2020 5th round pick Danny Pinter or 2021 7th round pick Will Fries being up to the task of starting at RG, it appears that the Colts do not as they did not draft a single OG during the 2022 draft. If there is going to be an Achilles heel on the 2022 Colts offense, RG and OG depth appears to me to be it.
There does not appear to be much left on the veteran free agency market at OG so there is not immediate solution there. I guess we just have to hope that the Colts evaluation of Pinter and Fries is correct and that we are probably looking at undrafted rookies as further depth.
OC: Ryan Kelly
See the above section about lack of proven depth as our only backup from last year, Pinter, is probably going to start at RG. Undrafted rookies are probably going to be the depth solution here as well. Sigh…
NT: Grover Stewart, Eric Johnson (R), Chris Williams
Grover is good at NT and, hopefully, Johnson will earn rotational snaps early in the season to keep Grover fresh. While some profile sites project Johnson as a 3-tech, I think given his run stopping ability that he will project for the Colts more as a 1-tech. He needs to learn to take on double teams more effectively but otherwise his game looks to be a clone of Grover Stewart’s game in college.
DT: DeForest Buckner, Curtis Brooks (R), R.J. McIntosh
Buckner is as good as it gets as a 3-tech and Curtis Brooks has that same flashy first step and violent hands that Buckner showcases. I know some on this board do not like PFF because of their grading scale but it is hard to not get excited when seeing the below characterization:
More data on Curtis Brooks (DT, Cincinnati) from PFF for the 2021 season:
Pass Rush Win Rate: 19.3% (best in class)
Pass Rush grade: 90.4 (best)
True Pass Set win rate: 37%!! (best)
True Pass Set grade: 92.3 (best)
Run Defense Stop Rate: 13.1% (best)
Run Defense grade: 69.9
I know he played at a lower level of competition and that he is a bit undersized (6’2”, 287 pounds) but how did a kid with this production and athleticism last until the 5th round? If there is going to be a “diamond in the rough” of the Colts 2022 draft class, this kid is probably it.
DE: Yannick Ngakoue, Kwitty Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, Tyquan Lewis, Ban Banogu, Kameron Cline
The trade for Ngakoue is my favorite move this off-season. Sure, getting rid of Wentz is great and getting Ryan for only a 3rd round pick is huge, but Yannick is a guy who could power our defense for years to come. He will spearhead our pass rush along with Buckner and will have some great supporting guys in Paye, Odeyingbo and Lewis for 2022 helping out. While many are as yet unproven, I think this group of DE could be the strongest we have had in Colt’s blue since both Freeney and Mathis lined up at the same time on the D-Line.
That said, I think the “pure” DE lineup will be Ngakoue, Paye, Odeyingbo and Banogu at the 9-wide position with Lewis jumping between DE and DT as the 9th D-Line guy giving time where it is needed. He is pretty valuable that way. I think it will be very difficult for Cline, Williams, McIntosh or any undrafted rookie to make the final roster. It may not be the most talented D-Line in the league but I think it is going to end up giving a ton of offensive coordinators headaches during the season.
LB: Darius Leonard, Bobby Okereke, Zaire Franklin, E.J. Speed, Jordan Glassgow, Brandon King, Malik Jefferson
No question as to who the starters are and LB4 with Speed. Depth/ST players are in question but, in the end, I don’t know that Glassgow, King or Jefferson has much, if any, advantage over undrafted rookies brought in the compete. Whoever makes the final 53 as depth will have earned it.
Safety: Julian Blackmon, Khari Willis, Nick Cross (R), Rodney McLeod, Armani Watts
Honestly, I have no idea who is going to start and who will be quality depth. McLeod has started the most games of the group (123 games started) but is probably the least athletically gifted player. Blackmon and Willis have both had some injury issues and Cross is crazy talented. Regardless of who gets the title of “starter,” I think if all four are healthy then we will have a great rotation and will play a lot of 3safety/2LB looks under Gus Bradley. Again, I think this might be one of the most talented safety position groups the Colts have had in a long time. Heck, Watts as a 4-year veteran in the NFL is more talented than your average Safety5 for sure.
CB: Stephon Gilmore, Isaiah Rodgers, Kenny Moore III, Brandon Facyson, Marvell Tell III, Rodney Thomas (R), Will Redmond, Tony Brown
Besides Gilmore and Moore, Rodgers, Facyson, Tell and Thomas are all young guys with a ton of talent and not a ton of experience. I love signing Gilmore as the CB1 able to still lock down the WR1 of the opposing team. This will allow for our other CBs to concentrate on the lesser skilled receivers where their skills match up better. Moore is still one of the most effective slot corners in the league and between Rodgers, Thomas, Facyson and Tell, I think they will be able to rotate and figure out who is best effective as that other outside CB. The signing of Gilmore makes for this room to go from a potential weakness to at least average if not above average.
ST: Rodrigo Blankenship, Rigoberto Sanchez, Luke Rhodes, Jake Verity (PK)
Sanchez and Rhodes appear safe for another season as no competition has been brought in. 3 rookie PKs were invited to rookie mini-camp in addition to Verity being on contract so it would appear that Goggles is going to have to earn his spot in 2022.
In his 21 games for the Colts, his kicking stats:
20 – 29 yards = 13 of 13 (100%)
30 – 39 yards = 15 of 17 (88.23%)
40 – 49 yards = 14 of 17 (82.35%)
50+ yards = 1 of 4 (25%)
While his under 50-yard conversion rate is good, if the Colts are looking for someone who can hit longer FGs then they will probably keep bringing in guys who might be able to do it. It would not shock me to see Blankenship replaced nor would it surprise me if he is our kicker in 2022.
From my perspective, the work the Colts still need to do:
#1 – Find quality interior O-Line depth
#2 – Sign a veteran WR to give that position group better leadership
#3 – Avoid the injury bug
Seriously, I love where our roster is with the exception of interior O-line depth. The signing of the WR veteran is icing on the cake but not a requirement and avoiding the injury bug is just something every NFL team hopes for. I really do not see many holes in our roster.
Okay, freaks, have at it.
Given that, this list is not going to include any of the undrafted rookies as I have zero ideal whom of them might make the 90-man roster. It is also assured that if any of the rookies from tryouts make the 90-man, then older, more established players currently under contract will not.
All that being said, the back end of the depth charts are subject to great flexibility so I will only be covering the front parts of the depth charts.
QB: Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, James Morgan
One of my takeaways from the 2022 draft is that there were A LOT of QBs available at relative low rounds for the Colts to select and they took none of them. This translate to me that they are happy with their QB depth. No one is imagining that either Ehlinger or Morgan are the next Tom Brady and if Ryan goes down and can come in and save the season but the Colts obviously like them as backups. They could have had Willis or Corral in the 3rd and just about anyone else in the 5th round and below and they made no picks. I don’t expect this depth chart to change before the season.
RB: Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines, Deon Jackson
Again, no drafted competition for depth spots with only undrafted rookies brought in as competition for RB3. As long as injury does not happen, I don’t see any RB besides Taylor and Hines getting meaningful touches in 2022. If injury strikes, I fully expect Ballard to sign a veteran free agent that would be on the market. There always seems to be a few hanging around (right now, unsigned: David Johnson, Phillip Lindsay, Devontae Booker, Sony Michel, Carlos Hyde, Devontae Freeman, etc). We might see a different RB3 than Jackson but, huh, I really could not care less who that guy is.
WR: Michael Pittman Jr, Alec Pierce (R), Ashton Dulin, Parris Campbell, DeMichael Harris, Dezmon Patmon, Mike Strachan
It is clear that the top of the depth chart will include Pittman, Pierce and Dulin. Beyond that, there is a ton of potential but limited production in Campbell, Harris, Patmon and Strachan. I am excited by having Reggie Wayne on full-time as a coach and seeing how he can get these younger but talented guys contributing. I also think having a real NFL QB will skyrocket production of all our receivers as he will actually throw to the correct target for what the defense is giving.
I would not be opposed to signing a veteran WR to help lead the room with a ton of talent still available in free agency and that veteran lining up on a slot corner or LB could lead to some great production as Pittman and Pierce should start demanding the lion’s share of the defensive coverage focus not to mention the potential of our Tight End room as pass catching fools.
I find it unlikely that any of the undrafted rookie WRs we bring in will be able to unseat the guys listed above but you never know…
TE: Mo Allie-Cox, Jelani Woods (R), Kylen Granson, Andrew Ogletree (R), bunch of nobodies
Probably the most brutal of positional rooms on the roster as we have 8 on contract already but only 3 or 4 will make the final roster. I think Cox, Woods, Granson and Ogletree are the most likely and I cannot wait to see Woods on the field.
I think this could harken back to the Ken Dilger / Marcus Pollard days with Woods taking the blocking/release role of Dilger and Cox being the purer pass catcher like Pollard. Depending on how the final roster shakes out, I could see us keeping all four top TEs (Ogletree backing up Woods and Granson backing up Cox in those roles) and retaining less WRs with us being in 2TE sets more to help with the run game and protect Ryan in the pass game. Stack the box? Release both in patterns. Nickle or Dime? Run…The…Damn...Ball.
OT: Braden Smith, Matt Pryor, Bernhard Raimann (R), Shon Coleman, Brandon Kemp, Carter O’Donnell, Jordan Murray
Starters and swing OT are set with Smith, Pryor and Raimann. Who starts at LT will be determined at camp as either Pryor or Raimann will have to earn it. I have no idea about OT4. I don’t know if anyone has the inside track on it. From the sounds of it, priority undrafted rookie free agent Ryan Van Demark has as much chance as 2016 3rd round pick Shon Coleman with 16 NFL game starts under his belt but a terrible injury history or two-year Colts practice squad veteran Carter O’Donnell. Camp will tell but I like the athletic profile of almost all these guys so whomever wins out should be able to provide good depth.
OG: Quenton Nelson, Danny Pinter, Will Fries
Yes, that is right. We only have three OGs on the roster not counting whoever was brought in as undrafted rookie free agents or the potential of one of the depth OTs being able to provide OG services. While I have concerns about either 2020 5th round pick Danny Pinter or 2021 7th round pick Will Fries being up to the task of starting at RG, it appears that the Colts do not as they did not draft a single OG during the 2022 draft. If there is going to be an Achilles heel on the 2022 Colts offense, RG and OG depth appears to me to be it.
There does not appear to be much left on the veteran free agency market at OG so there is not immediate solution there. I guess we just have to hope that the Colts evaluation of Pinter and Fries is correct and that we are probably looking at undrafted rookies as further depth.
OC: Ryan Kelly
See the above section about lack of proven depth as our only backup from last year, Pinter, is probably going to start at RG. Undrafted rookies are probably going to be the depth solution here as well. Sigh…
NT: Grover Stewart, Eric Johnson (R), Chris Williams
Grover is good at NT and, hopefully, Johnson will earn rotational snaps early in the season to keep Grover fresh. While some profile sites project Johnson as a 3-tech, I think given his run stopping ability that he will project for the Colts more as a 1-tech. He needs to learn to take on double teams more effectively but otherwise his game looks to be a clone of Grover Stewart’s game in college.
DT: DeForest Buckner, Curtis Brooks (R), R.J. McIntosh
Buckner is as good as it gets as a 3-tech and Curtis Brooks has that same flashy first step and violent hands that Buckner showcases. I know some on this board do not like PFF because of their grading scale but it is hard to not get excited when seeing the below characterization:
More data on Curtis Brooks (DT, Cincinnati) from PFF for the 2021 season:
Pass Rush Win Rate: 19.3% (best in class)
Pass Rush grade: 90.4 (best)
True Pass Set win rate: 37%!! (best)
True Pass Set grade: 92.3 (best)
Run Defense Stop Rate: 13.1% (best)
Run Defense grade: 69.9
I know he played at a lower level of competition and that he is a bit undersized (6’2”, 287 pounds) but how did a kid with this production and athleticism last until the 5th round? If there is going to be a “diamond in the rough” of the Colts 2022 draft class, this kid is probably it.
DE: Yannick Ngakoue, Kwitty Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, Tyquan Lewis, Ban Banogu, Kameron Cline
The trade for Ngakoue is my favorite move this off-season. Sure, getting rid of Wentz is great and getting Ryan for only a 3rd round pick is huge, but Yannick is a guy who could power our defense for years to come. He will spearhead our pass rush along with Buckner and will have some great supporting guys in Paye, Odeyingbo and Lewis for 2022 helping out. While many are as yet unproven, I think this group of DE could be the strongest we have had in Colt’s blue since both Freeney and Mathis lined up at the same time on the D-Line.
That said, I think the “pure” DE lineup will be Ngakoue, Paye, Odeyingbo and Banogu at the 9-wide position with Lewis jumping between DE and DT as the 9th D-Line guy giving time where it is needed. He is pretty valuable that way. I think it will be very difficult for Cline, Williams, McIntosh or any undrafted rookie to make the final roster. It may not be the most talented D-Line in the league but I think it is going to end up giving a ton of offensive coordinators headaches during the season.
LB: Darius Leonard, Bobby Okereke, Zaire Franklin, E.J. Speed, Jordan Glassgow, Brandon King, Malik Jefferson
No question as to who the starters are and LB4 with Speed. Depth/ST players are in question but, in the end, I don’t know that Glassgow, King or Jefferson has much, if any, advantage over undrafted rookies brought in the compete. Whoever makes the final 53 as depth will have earned it.
Safety: Julian Blackmon, Khari Willis, Nick Cross (R), Rodney McLeod, Armani Watts
Honestly, I have no idea who is going to start and who will be quality depth. McLeod has started the most games of the group (123 games started) but is probably the least athletically gifted player. Blackmon and Willis have both had some injury issues and Cross is crazy talented. Regardless of who gets the title of “starter,” I think if all four are healthy then we will have a great rotation and will play a lot of 3safety/2LB looks under Gus Bradley. Again, I think this might be one of the most talented safety position groups the Colts have had in a long time. Heck, Watts as a 4-year veteran in the NFL is more talented than your average Safety5 for sure.
CB: Stephon Gilmore, Isaiah Rodgers, Kenny Moore III, Brandon Facyson, Marvell Tell III, Rodney Thomas (R), Will Redmond, Tony Brown
Besides Gilmore and Moore, Rodgers, Facyson, Tell and Thomas are all young guys with a ton of talent and not a ton of experience. I love signing Gilmore as the CB1 able to still lock down the WR1 of the opposing team. This will allow for our other CBs to concentrate on the lesser skilled receivers where their skills match up better. Moore is still one of the most effective slot corners in the league and between Rodgers, Thomas, Facyson and Tell, I think they will be able to rotate and figure out who is best effective as that other outside CB. The signing of Gilmore makes for this room to go from a potential weakness to at least average if not above average.
ST: Rodrigo Blankenship, Rigoberto Sanchez, Luke Rhodes, Jake Verity (PK)
Sanchez and Rhodes appear safe for another season as no competition has been brought in. 3 rookie PKs were invited to rookie mini-camp in addition to Verity being on contract so it would appear that Goggles is going to have to earn his spot in 2022.
In his 21 games for the Colts, his kicking stats:
20 – 29 yards = 13 of 13 (100%)
30 – 39 yards = 15 of 17 (88.23%)
40 – 49 yards = 14 of 17 (82.35%)
50+ yards = 1 of 4 (25%)
While his under 50-yard conversion rate is good, if the Colts are looking for someone who can hit longer FGs then they will probably keep bringing in guys who might be able to do it. It would not shock me to see Blankenship replaced nor would it surprise me if he is our kicker in 2022.
From my perspective, the work the Colts still need to do:
#1 – Find quality interior O-Line depth
#2 – Sign a veteran WR to give that position group better leadership
#3 – Avoid the injury bug
Seriously, I love where our roster is with the exception of interior O-line depth. The signing of the WR veteran is icing on the cake but not a requirement and avoiding the injury bug is just something every NFL team hopes for. I really do not see many holes in our roster.
Okay, freaks, have at it.