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[Indianapolis Colts]

CBS Sports lists Colts as one of four desperate teams facing ‘make or break’ 2025 season

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It’s put up or shut up time for some of the Colts’ top leadership entering a critical 2025 campaign.

According to CBS Sports Cody Benjamin, the Indianapolis Colts are among his four desperate teams facing a ‘make or break’ 2025 campaign:

Indianapolis Colts

Like Gannon in Arizona, Shane Steichen is coming off just his second season as a head coach. Unfortunately he’s gone backward, if only slightly, since coming out from under Nick Sirianni’s wing with the Philadelphia Eagles. After a 9-8 debut, his Colts dropped to 8-9 amid a flurry of messy quarterback swaps in 2024. Even worse: His offense hinges on a near-miraculous leap from either incumbent youngster Anthony Richardson or former New York Giants castoff Daniel Jones under center. General manager Chris Ballard, meanwhile, is even riper for reevaluation; he’s survived two coaching changes while cycling through countless quarterbacks post-Andrew Luck. The Colts have won precisely one playoff game in the eight years of Ballard’s direction. They’re overdue.

While the Colts ownership can’t fire themselves, there’s no question that longtime general manager Chris Ballard, 3rd-year head coach Shane Steichen, and 3rd-year quarterback Anthony Richardson are facing critical 2025 seasons—all of whom are firmly on hot seats.

Ballard somewhat surprisingly survived this offseason, and entering his 9th season (62-69-1) with the Colts, he has to achieve meaningful results—as he has no AFC South titles and just one playoff win during that same lengthy span (which is an eternity for a modern NFL GM).

Having a turnstile at the starting quarterback position since franchise quarterback Andrew Luck retired with Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, Nick Foles, Anthony Richardson, Gardner Minshew, and Joe Flacco, Ballard won’t get another crack at the apple—should Richardson and veteran free agent addition Daniel Jones ultimately falter this year.

It’s highly questionable whether the quarterback room of Richardson and Jones will prove to be enough—and that could very well cost Steichen (17-17) his job too, who regressed a bit this past season when it came to handling the media publicly and his locker room internally.

The saying goes something like, “If you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterbacks.”

Fortunately, all 3 men of the Colts’ top leadership likely know the high stakes headed into the 2025 season regarding their continued future job security.

If they don’t achieve significant improvement from last year (i.e., at least a playoff berth, which the Colts haven’t achieved since 2020), someone else may very well be replacing them come next offseason—and rightfully so.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/4...our-desperate-teams-facing-make-or-break-2025

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts need to pick a side in the draft and load up

Photo by John Smolek/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Colts need to establish an identity, and the draft is a good place to start.

The Indianapolis Colts have an opportunity in front of them next week to carve out an identity for this franchise. As it currently stands, they are neither a defensive team nor an offensive team. Fans cannot point to one side of the ball and say, “that is where the Colts hang their hat”. Chris Ballard has spent a majority of the offseason improving the defense with two key signings in Cam Bynum and Charvarius Ward. Last year’s first round pick was spent on Laiatu Latu, and while the results are still to be determined, the belief and hope is he will make a jump in year two. Without being reckless, the Colts need to continue in this vein and really go all in on the defense.

“Build the monster” was the mantra of Chuck Pagano. It never really came to fruition during his tenure, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t worth visiting again now. This is said with the caveat of not overly reaching if top offensive talent is available, but if all things are equal, defense needs to be the focus. There are two main reasons for this: 1.) the Colts must establish an identify if they want to find success, and 2.) Anthony Richardson at quarterback is too much of an unknown. Will he be the quarterback in 2026 or even the end of 2025? To build to the strengths and ability of a player who might not be with the team in ten months would be unwise.

Draft picks can hit in any round. First rounders flame out while players selected in the seventh round can go on to the Hall of Fame. It can be a crapshoot. There do tend to be premium picks, however. Rounds one through four can produce some solid players, and it would behoove the Colts to use those picks to beef up the defense. Fans witnessed too many missed tackles and blown coverages last year. The amount of points given up and the overall defensive numbers are simply not going to win many games. Ballard needs to build something formidable that can last. A defense that can keep an offense within striking distance and create turnovers and wreak havoc is always of value, regardless of who is playing quarterback.

Defensive units can change in a heartbeat. Chris Ballard used free agency to improve and can drive the point home in the draft. He needs to choose a lane and run with it. Truly build a monster on the defensive side of the ball and watch the offense flourish because of it. If Ballard uses at least three picks out of the first four on defense, it could make a huge impact this year and beyond. If at least two out of those three hit, we could go from talking about building the monster to actually witnessing it on the field.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/4/15/24408794/colts-need-to-pick-a-side-in-the-draft-and-load-up

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Report: Colts recently had virtual pre-draft meeting with Virginia Tech WR Da’Quan Felton

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The Colts brought in an intriguing ‘height-speed’ later round receiver prospect that has some potential upside.

According to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, the Indianapolis Colts recently held a virtual pre-draft meeting with Virginia Tech wide receiver Da’Quan Felton:

.@HokiesFB WR Da'Quan Felton is so explosive. 17.6 YPC, ran a 4.45 at 6-5, 213.#Commanders private workout. Recent virtuals #Colts, #49ers, #Giants, #Bills, #Jets.@DFeltonn x @TheDraftNetwork:https://t.co/zW46JJx2AU

— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) April 15, 2025​

The 6’5,” 213 pound (32 1/4” arms) senior wideout recorded 32 receptions for 360 total receiving yards (11.3 ypr. avg.) and 2 touchdown receptions during 12 starts in 2024.

Here’s his NFL.com draft profile:

Overview

Height, weight, speed prospect whose production suffered from scheme fit and quarterback play in 2024. Felton is a linear mover who needs to be used with a heavier dose of vertical routes to be effective. He’s a nonchalant route runner underneath with below-average hands and run-after-catch talent. While his ball-tracking fails to stand out, he can out-stride and uncover against wide corners looking to run with his post and go routes. The 2024 production was disappointing, but there will be teams ready to believe in the speed and measurables with the hope he can become a rotational option to take the top off of coverages.

Felton is projected to be a late ‘Day 3’ pick, but the height-speed combo is intriguing as a later round prospect, who may also be able to immediately contribute on special teams.

Da'Quan Felton is a WR prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 8.30 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 651 out of 3815 WR from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/vCSjtfp0O9 pic.twitter.com/VrzpHbLHSW

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 12, 2025​

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/4...t-meeting-with-virginia-tech-wr-daquan-felton

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

NFL.com’s burning question for Colts is regarding QB Anthony Richardson’s future

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Like a few members of the Colts’ top leadership, 3rd-year quarterback Anthony Richardson is facing a ‘make-or-break’ 2025 campaign.

According to NFL.com’s Jeffrl Chadiha, the Indianapolis Colts’ burning question this offseason is whether ‘this will be the end of the road’ for incumbent starting quarterback Anthony Richardson:

Indianapolis Colts

BURNING QUESTION: Is this the end of the road for Anthony Richardson?

It doesn’t look great for him. The Colts signed Daniel Jones to a one-year deal to compete with Richardson for the starting job next season. Colts GM Chris Ballard said the competition will make everybody better, which seems like another way of saying his third-year quarterback had better step up. That would be a fair approach, because it would be understandable for the Colts to have concerns about how a quarterback selected fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft is going to fare after two disappointing seasons. Richardson missed 13 games with injuries as a rookie and then was benched in Weeks 9 and 10 of last season. His career completion percentage sits at 50.6 percent. He also has thrown 11 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in 15 total NFL games. This is why Jones, who fell to third on the Giants’ depth chart before being released by New York last season, is considered a real option for Indianapolis. If Jones can just be steady, that could be enough to keep Richardson on the bench for good.

After bringing in veteran free agent Daniel Jones, the Colts have proclaimed publicly that it will be an open offseason competition between Richardson and the former New York Giants castoff for the starting quarterback job in Indianapolis.

While it still remains in the Colts franchise’s best interests for Richardson to win the job outright on the merits, it’s anyone’s guess whether he can hold off the top challenger Jones for the QB1 title throughout this year’s training camp and the preseason.

Since being the 4th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Colts haven’t handled AR’s initial development arguably all that gracefully.

First, the team brought in Gardner Minshew during Richardson’s rookie year as offseason quarterback competition, but the expectation was always that the former Florida Gator standout would ultimately win the job. The Colts’ stance was that having been limited to just 13 starts with the Gators collectively, Richardson needed the NFL game day reps.

After a tantalizing initial debut, Richardson was limited to just 4 starts during his rookie campaign because of a season-ending shoulder injury.

While there were high hopes entering his 2nd-year in 2024—fully recovered and after such a promising start to his pro career, Richardson endured a sophomore slump that seemingly reached its boiling over point during his infamous Week 8 ‘tap-out’ against the Houston Texans—which cost the 22-year-old starter, who still needed the reps, a 2-game benching (*although it would’ve been indefinitely if veteran Joe Flacco hadn’t played so poorly).

After the presumed learning lesson, Richardson reportedly became more of a professional within the Colts building, showing up early, staying late, and ramping up his film study to better become the ‘CEO of W. 56th street.’ His play showed some improvement down the season’s stretch too, as following the benching, Richardson led the Colts to late game-winning drives—albeit against rather lackluster NFL competition.

He still needs to improve upon his consistency and especially his passing accuracy—which was just 47.7% last season. His availability also remains a concern, as still needing valuable game day reps, Richardson missed the Colts’ last two games because of further injury.

Jones doesn’t inspire much confidence, as he’s struggled from similar issues that Richardson has regarding his durability and turnover prone tendencies. Like Richardson, he does offer dual-threat mobility, and in a simulated practice setting, likely could look better with his passing accuracy, completing more shorter passes in rhythm.

The Colts have to use 2025 to truly see what they have with Richardson—both on and off the field, and whether there’s enough production and promise to continue with him as their franchise quarterback hopeful going beyond next year.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/4...ts-is-regarding-qb-anthony-richardsons-future

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Report: Colts hosted Kansas OL Bryce Cabeldue on a Top 30 Visit

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A projected Day 3 offensive line prospect met with the Colts ahead of the NFL Draft.

The Indianapolis Colts met with Kansas OL Bryce Cabeldue for an official Top 30 visit ahead of the NFL Draft, per draft insider Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda. According to Pauline, the Colts are one of a few teams (Chiefs, Seahawks) to schedule a pre-draft visit with the Kansas offensive lineman.

Although Cabeldue played primarily at tackle in college, he projects as a guard at the next level. Typically the jump for tackles from college to the NFL is one of the hardest transitions among any position, particularly due to the insufficient athleticism of most prospects, therefore the rate at which tackles who remain tackles is far lower than those who kick inside to the interior. Bryce Cabeldue falls under the latter, though it’s not due to his lack of athleticism.

After getting turned down from participating at the NFL Scouting Combine, Cabeldue proved his athletic chops were up to standard during the Big 12 Pro Day. Here he posted the following measurements and testing numbers:

Bryce Cabeldue is a OT prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.40 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 92 out of 1508 OT from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/ZNSuDnJqzx pic.twitter.com/VFw5cAGhqv

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 10, 2025​

This Pro Day showing from Cabeldue not only proves that he is athletic enough to play at the next level but showcases his ability to make the transition as a tweener who can play at both the interior and exterior of the offensive line. Cabeldue’s natural power as a blocker also excites the prospect of moving him to guard full-time, given his mauling tendencies in the run game would fit what the Colts like to do offensively.

For more on Cabeldue as a prospect, refer to NFL.com’s prospect profile below:

Collegiate right tackle who is built like a guard and should make the move inside as a pro. Cabeldue is not much of a knee-bender but he’s low-cut, which helps him maximize his balance. He has good pop on contact and can maul his way to wins. He’s more athletic than expected inside the box, but his range as a blocker will trail off. He plays with an attacking mindset and takes the action to opponents, but he needs to play with inside hands to minimize his lack of length in pass pro. He projects as a backup guard and his toughness plays in his favor.

Bryce Cabeldue is a projected Day 3 (rounds 4-7) draft selection, but the interest from the Colts has been there since the beginning. Although Indy may just be doing their due diligence, don’t count out a late-round draft selection or a UDFA priority signing once the draft nears its end.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/4...ed-kansas-ol-bryce-cabeldue-on-a-top-30-visit

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts select top Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell in latest PFF Mock Draft

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The Colts give Lou Anarumo another horse for their revitalized defense with this dynamic playmaker.

According to PFF’s Jordan Plocher, the Indianapolis Colts will select Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell with the 14th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft:

14. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: LB JIHAAD CAMPBELL, ALABAMA

With the top tight end prospect gone, the Colts turn to getting an athletic and versatile front-seven player in Campbell. He showed what a well-rounded linebacker he is in 2024, garnering an 81.0 PFF run-defense grade and an 80.1 PFF coverage grade to go with eight sacks.

The 6’3,” 235 pound linebacker (with 32 1/2” arms) recorded 117 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, an interception, 2 passes defensed, a fumble recovery, and 2 fumble recoveries during 13 starts in 2024—earning First-Team All-SEC honors.

He has a RAS [Relative Athletic Score] of 9.87 out of a maximum of 10.0.

Campbell is regarded as arguably the top off-the-ball linebacker in this year’s draft class.

Here’s his scouting report via NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, who ranks Campbell as his 9th best overall prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft:

“Campbell is a tall, rangy and explosive linebacker. He was recruited to Alabama as an edge rusher but initially moved to linebacker because of the Crimson Tide’s depth on the edges (SEE: Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner, among others). This past season, he played both off the ball and on the edge. As an off-ball linebacker, he doesn’t possess elite instincts but offers excellent speed and physicality. He can range sideline to sideline and flashes the ability to thump off blockers and collect tackles on inside runs. He displays exciting tools in his pass-rush opportunities off the edge. He can burst/bend and finish. He also grew more comfortable in coverage throughout the 2024 season. He anticipates routes and positions himself to make plays on the ball. Overall, Campbell expands the playbook for defensive coordinators and his best football is ahead of him.”

Jihaad Campbell is a name that will gain A LOT of steam next week at the Combine. Freaky burst for his size. Speed for days.

Let him rush the passer! pic.twitter.com/qknSIcYH1S

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 20, 2025​

Of course, the Colts could use a starting linebacker alongside NFL 2nd-Team All-Pro Zaire Franklin, as his former teammate (and podcast host) E.J. Speed recently departed to the Houston Texans during free agency. While the team also has 2024 5th round pick Jaylon Carlies, who excelled in coverage, he may be better suited for subpackage linebacker work.

Having already given new veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo some key horses to work with in the secondary, Campbell would give him a dynamic linebacker in the 2nd level of his defense featuring speed, athleticism, range, and physicality—and a lot of upside.

While prized Penn State tight end Tyler Warren may be the top target at #14 overall, Campbell wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize for the Colts either to help remake their defense with upgraded talent.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/4...cker-jihaad-campbell-in-latest-pff-mock-draft

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts’ RB Jonathan Taylor reportedly will announce team’s 2nd, 3rd round picks

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Colts Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor goes back to ‘Badger Country’ to help announce some upcoming picks.

Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor will reportedly announce the team’s 2nd and 3rd round picks at the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin (via The Athletic’s James Boyd):

Jonathan Taylor will announce the #Colts’ second- and third-round picks in next week’s draft in Green Bay, per the NFL.

Taylor was a second-round pick in 2020. He’s since notched three 1,000-yard seasons and earned two Pro Bowl nods.

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) April 17, 2025​

The former University of Wisconsin Badgers’ standout has a bit of a homecoming, and he’ll be announcing the Colts’ two picks, currently #45 and #80 overall, in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of next week’s NFL Draft respectively.

Taylor is fresh off his 2nd career Pro Bowl appearance, as he rushed for 1,431 yards on 303 carries (4.7 ypc. avg.) and 11 rushing touchdowns during 14 games (13 starts) in 2024.

During his first 5 seasons, Taylor has become an NFL First-Team All-Pro, 2x NFL Pro Bowler, NFL rushing yards leader, and NFL rushing touchdowns leader.

The 26-year-old workhorse has 6,013 total rushing yards on 1,228 carries (4.9 ypc. avg.) and 51 rushing touchdowns on 1,228 career carries since being selected by the Colts with the 41st overall pick in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

A number of current and former Colts have announced the franchise’s selections in the past including Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Pat McAfee, Tarik Glenn, Antoine Bethea, and Zaire Franklin, just to name a few Horseshoe Pro Bowlers.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/4...tedly-will-announce-teams-2nd-3rd-round-picks

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Report: Colts hosted Cal Poly EDGE Elijah Ponder on a Top 30 visit

Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

A small school athletic freak visited the Colts for a pre-draft visit.

The Indianapolis Colts brought in Cal Poly defensive end Elijah Ponder on a Top 30 visit, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reported.

First and foremost, Ponder is an elite athlete who showcased as much at his Pro Day. Sporting ideal hand size (10”) and arm length (33”), Ponder ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash (to pair with an elite 1.56 10-second split) and lit up the explosive testings with 99th percentile rankings in both the vertical and broad jumps.

Ponder also participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl All-Star and was named one of Chad Reuter of NFL.com’s top performers of the event.

While Ponder’s prospect profile will inevitably be critiqued due to playing inferior competition in the FCS, his athletic profile is certainly up to NFL standards.

Elijah Ponder is a DE prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.70 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 62 out of 2012 DE from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/uVqWCjKhTE pic.twitter.com/Pvic81UWio

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 31, 2025​

While Ponder is a bit undersized as a modern-day NFL edge defender, standing at 6’2” tall and weighing a modest 251 lbs, his experience, durability, and sound tackling off the edge are what solidify him as an NFL prospect.

As a key member of the Cal Poly Mustangs’ defense for four straight seasons, Ponder exemplified his consistency and reliability by racking up 2,500 defensive snaps across four healthy seasons. Not only that, Ponder became a secure tackler during his last two seasons at Cal Poly, sporting a 9.5% missed tackle rate in 2023 and following that up with a 3.2% missed tackle rate this past season.

As a pass rusher, Ponder had his most productive season in 2023, where he totaled 51 pressures and nine sacks, though his regression to the 2024 season dwindled only slightly — 38 pressures and seven sacks — while he blossomed into a more formidable run-stopper.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, mastermind behind the illustrious annual NFL Draft guide known as The Beast, even named Ponder as his highest-ranked non-Combine prospect at his position.

My highest-ranked non-Combine prospects on defense:

EDGE: Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly
DT: Kyonte Hamilton, Rutgers
LB: Jailin Walker, Indiana
CB: Korie Black, Oklahoma State
SAF: Dan Jackson, Georgia pic.twitter.com/MA9jqYVtbG

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 16, 2025​

While the Colts are returning most of their starting production from the past two seasons, the loss of Dayo Odeyingbo to free agency, as well as the bleak contractual future of the defensive room, makes adding depth across the defensive line and especially at edge necessary.

Ponder is currently projected as a late Day 3 (rounds 4-7) draft selection, but don’t be surprised if you hear his name called earlier than that.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/4...cal-poly-edge-elijah-ponder-on-a-top-30-visit

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Colts set to host draft day event from Lucas Oil

Photo by John Smolek/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Still time to get your tickets to the Colts draft party.

What are you doing Thursday night? Ok, you are probably watching the NFL draft and wondering who the Indianapolis Colts will select with the 14th overall selection. Perhaps the better question is from where will you be watching the draft? The majority of us will be watching from the comfort of our homes, while others will venture out to local bars and restaurants. The Colts are giving fans yet another option to enjoy the festivities from Lucas Oil Stadium.

The event is 21+ and only cost ten dollars. That ten dollars gets you a whole lot more than just in the door, however. It starts with field access. It sounds simple, but being on the field can be a truly unique experience and allows fans to see the stadium from a different vantage point. There will also be appearances by Blue and the Colts cheerleaders.

Additionally, and the most enticing aspect for someone like myself is access to players and autographs. Zaire Franklin, Alec Pierce, Laiatu Latu, and Edgerrin James are all scheduled to make appearances. Experiences like that are hard to come by and are always a hit for fans. To cap off the night, there will be a drone light show.

Whether it is Jim Irsay’s kickoff concert or this draft party, the Colts are good at providing fans unique and fun ways of engaging in and experiencing the action. The price point can’t be beaten and having field access and meeting current and legendary players is more than worth the price. If the Colts can nab a dynamic player that gets fans excited, it will be the cherry on top. Get your tickets today and enjoy.

Source: https://www.stampedeblue.com/2025/4/19/24411885/colts-set-to-host-draft-day-event-from-lucas-oil