Colts Team Notes

[Indianapolis Colts]

Daniel Jeremiah discusses 3 safety targets for Colts in 2025 NFL draft

One of the best in the business when it comes to the NFL draft is Daniel Jeremiah, who was recently asked about the Indianapolis Colts and their need at safety.

With only Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas, and Marcel Dabo under contract currently, the need for help at the free safety spot is abundant, along with the need for overall improved play in the secondary.

In Lou Anarumo’s scheme, we are going to see more Cover-1, along with versatility and the ability to disguise coverages being key elements of his defense. All of that can put a lot on the plate of the safety position, so having a reliable presence on the back-end to quarterback things is a must.

The first safety that Jeremiah brought up was Georgia’s Malaki Starks, who is widely considered the top safety in this year’s class.

Starks is very versatile, able to move around the secondary, and brings a well-rounded skill set to the NFL, able to make plays in coverage and hold his own against the run.

“Starks fits that out of Georgia,” said Jeremiah about the deep safety role. “He’s someone that can play in the nickel, can play high as the safety. So that one would be the first one I would talk about as someone who can range and play over the top.”

The next safety that Jeremiah brought up as an early-round option and a fit for the deep safety spot was Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts, who has played all over the secondary in his career.

During the 2024 season, Watts generated seven pressures as a blitzer. He made 90 of his 103 tackle, attempts, according to PFF, and in coverage, had terrific ball production with six interceptions and four pass breakups.

Lastly, a late Day 2 or early Day 3 option for the Colts could be Cal’s Craig Woodson, who is an experienced player with over 2,700 career snaps.

This past year, Woodson was one of PFF’s highest-graded run defenders and tacklers at the safety position. He also held opponents to a career-low 9.0 yards per catch with two interceptions and six pass breakups.

“One of my favorite guys in the safety group who is going to be third, fourth round, maybe you get him in the fourth round is Craig Woodson from Cal,” Jeremiah added. “He plays in the deep half. He can play downhill. He can open. He’s a smooth mover. He’s got speed. He’s a firm tackler, and he’s really, really smart. Talking to the folks at Cal, they rave about his intelligence and leadership.

“I’m big on trust in the back end, and I think he’s someone you get in the third, fourth round that I would trust to put back there real early in his career.”

With all that is asked of the safety position in Anarumo’s defense, perhaps we see the Colts attempt to address this need more so in free agency as they look to add an experienced presence on the back end. But if not, these are three names to keep your eyes on throughout this pre-draft process.

Source: https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2025...cusses-3-safety-targets-colts-2025-nfl-draft/

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

ESPN projects 'bold' offseason move for Colts

What “bold” moves do the Indianapolis Colts potentially have up their sleeves this offseason?

With there being a number of different positions that the Colts could justify adding to this offseason as GM Chris Ballard looks to infuse competition throughout the roster, there are likely a few different directions they could go when it comes to being bold.

Aaron Schatz of ESPN recently put together his bold projections for a number of NFL teams this offseason, including the Colts.

So, when it comes to free agency or the draft, what move(s) does Schatz believe Ballard and the Colts could make?

Loading up on the interior offensive line in the draft.

“The Colts need to improve pass protection for quarterback Anthony Richardson while keeping the blocking strong for running back Jonathan Taylor. (They ranked fourth with a 73.9% run block win rate in 2024),” wrote Schatz.

The offensive line play for the Colts did improve towards the end of the season in 2024, not coincidentally after they got healthy. But there were stretches of inconsistent play from a unit that was supposed to be a strength of this team.

For example, from Weeks 9-12–so a month long stretch–Jonathan Taylor averaged just 2.9 yards per carry during that span if we subtract his one run against Buffalo of 58 yards.

Then, from Weeks 11 through 16, Anthony Richardson was among the most pressured quarterbacks in the NFL, according to PFF’s tracking data.

“I do think at the end of the year, the offensive line ended up playing better,” Ballard said after the season. “We had some young guys that had to play…We need to make sure we’ve got the right talent level. I’m pleased with how these young guys came along, but we gotta make sure we got enough depth there.”

As we’ve discussed before, the degree to which the Colts have to address the offensive line this offseason is all dependent upon whether or not Will Fries returns.

If he does, then even if Braden Smith is released and Ryan Kelly ends up elsewhere, the Colts likely have their starting five in place for the 2025 season with Tanor Bortolini taking over at center and Matt Goncalves at right tackle.

However, depth will very much be a need with Blake Freeland the only backup tackle option with experience, along with Danny Pinter and Mark Glowinski hitting free agency as well.

But on the flip side, if Fries were to end up elsewhere, then offensive line, specifically right guard, vaults to a huge priority for the Colts. The only options on the roster to start at the moment are Josh Sills, Dalton Tucker, and Atonio Mafi.

“The best way to do this (improve the offensive line) might be to flood the zone,” added Schatz. “Interior offensive linemen are rarely worth taking in the first round, especially where the Colts are drafting at No. 14. But the Colts could draft interior linemen on Days 2 and 3 to build up depth at the position. Use three picks on interior linemen, combined with a free agent signing or two.”

While all eyes will be on Richardson and his growth in Year 3, putting him in a position to be successful starts with having a really good offensive line to lean on.

Source: https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/21/espn-projects-bold-offseason-move-for-colts/

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

WATCH: Colts DE Laiatu Latu going through offseason pass rush drills

Watch as Indianapolis Colts’ defensive end Laiatu Latu goes through some offseason pass rush drills in preparation for his second NFL season.

Easy mover • @laiatu_latu

NFL off-season
Sac State edition pic.twitter.com/0PJSS27TeN

— Coach Ed (@DlineCoachEd) February 14, 2025

Latu was the 15th overall pick in last year’s draft by the Colts and the first defender taken off the board.

He finished his rookie year with 38 pressures, according to PFF, which was the second-most on the Colts’ defense, and he totaled four sacks. We also saw Latu improve as a run defender as the season progressed.

When it comes to being a productive pass rusher, consistently winning your one-on-ones is crucial. Although Latu’s numbers on the surface won’t leap off the page, he did rank 27th out of all defensive ends last season in pass rush win rate, which can be a good indicator of long-term success.

Angles game

@laiatu_latu pic.twitter.com/ptHeK6u2rv

— Coach Ed (@DlineCoachEd) February 21, 2025

Oftentimes in a player’s second NFL season we seem them make the biggest jump. For one, they have a full offseason to work on their craft rather than going through the pre-draft process.

In addition to that, there is growth that often occurs from the just the added comfort that comes with having a season under your belt and knowing how to go about your days and adjusting to the play speed.

A Year 2 leap for Latu will be important for the Colts’ defensive front, especially if Dayo Odeyingbo signs elsewhere in free agency. As the Colts leading pressure getter last season, that’s a lot of production that will have to be replaced.

Among the topics covered during new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s introductory press conference last month was Latu, who Anarumo said he was a big fan of coming out of the draft.

Anarumo has spent the last several seasons working with Cincinnati pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.

Source: https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2025...atu-going-through-offseason-pass-rush-drills/

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Daniel Jeremiah provides mid-round safety option for Colts in NFL draft

We know safety is a big need for the Indianapolis Colts, but what if they aren’t able to tackle that need right away in the NFL draft? Then what?

We know the top safety options in this year’s draft include Georgia’s Malaki Starks and Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts. But there’s certainly a world where perhaps the Colts go in a different direction at pick No. 14 and don’t take Starks or one where Watts is off the board before the Colts are picking again at 45th overall.

If that scenario were to play out, one of the best in the business when it comes to the NFL draft, Daniel Jeremiah, recently highlighted a late Day 2 or early Day 3 option for the Colts and new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

“One of my favorite guys in the safety group who is going to be third, fourth round, maybe you get him in the fourth round is Craig Woodson from Cal,” Jeremiah said. “He plays in the deep half. He can play downhill. He can open. He’s a smooth mover. He’s got speed. He’s a firm tackler, and he’s really, really smart. Talking to the folks at Cal, they rave about his intelligence and leadership.”

Woodson is a very experienced player with over 2,700 career snaps and that could be an important factor in Anarumo’s scheme, where a lot of asked of the safety position.

In 2024 specifically, Woodson was one of PFF’s highest-graded run defenders and tacklers at the safety position. He also held opponents to a career-low 9.0 yards per catch with two interceptions and six pass breakups.

“I’m big on trust in the back end, and I think he’s someone you get in the third, fourth round that I would trust to put back there real early in his career.”

With Anarumo at the helm of the defense we are going to see more Cover-1 from the Colts, so reliability on the back-end is a must. In addition to that, Anarumo’s defense requires versatility and relies heavily on disguising coverages, all of which, again, can put a lot on the safety’s plate.

This could mean that with experience being extremely valuable, we see the Colts tackle this need in free agency. But even so, more competition and depth is needed at safety, and Woodson could provide Indianapolis with a steady presence in the middle portion of the draft.

Source: https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2025...mid-round-safety-option-colts-2025-nfl-draft/

 

[Indianapolis Colts]

Indianapolis Colts 2025 NFL combine preview: Wide receivers

The 2025 NFL Combine kicks off this upcoming week. So let’s preview the event through the Indianapolis Colts’ lens and take a look at the wide receiver position.

For a deeper dive into the combine specifically and what you need to know from the Colts’ perspective, click here.

If you missed our NFL Combine running backs preview, you can find that here.

What’s the need for the Colts at wide receiver?​

The theme this offseason for the Colts, based on what GM Chris Ballard said after the season, is that he wants to add competition throughout the roster. And as you take a position by position look at where the Colts currently stand, just about every unit one could justify adding to.

However, receiver might be the one group where an addition isn’t necessary, especially when taking into account that there are much more pressing needs elsewhere.

Although the Colts didn’t have a receiver who put together a massive individual season, or one that even eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark, they were the only team in the NFL with three receivers who surpassed 800 receiving yards.

With Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, the Colts have three very different skill sets that can thrive in different situations–and variety is a good thing.

While AD Mitchell has to be much more consistent in 2025, if a team’s fourth receiver on the depth chart is an uber-talented second-year player, who even with the ups and downs, did show an impressive ability to create separation, well, that’s a good spot to be in.

Like any position, depth to bolster the back end can always be an offseason item, however, in addition to the four players mentioned, the Colts also have Anthony Gould–a 2024 draft pick–and I do think Ashton Dulin returns in free agency, further reducing the need to add to the receiver room in the draft.

What does the Colts current receiver depth chart look like?​

Michael Pittman Jr.
Alec Pierce
AD Mitchell
Josh Downs
Anthony Gould
Laquon Treadwell
DJ Montgomery

Which receivers were invited to the 2025 NFL combine?​

Andrew Armstrong, Arkansas

Elic Ayomanor, Stanford

Elijhah Badger, Florida

Jack Bech, TCU

Isaiah Bond, Texas

Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville

Sam Brown Jr., Miami

Pat Bryant, Illinois

Luther Burden III, Missouri

Beaux Collins, Notre Dame

Chimere Dike, Florida

Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Da’Quan Felton, Virginia Tech

Tai Felton, Maryland

Jacolby George, Miami

Matthew Golden, Texas

Tre Harris, Mississippi

Jayden Higgins, Iowa State

Traeshon Holden, Oregon

Jimmy Horn Jr., Colorado

Tory Horton, Colorado State

Kobe Hudson, UCF

Travis Hunter, Colorado

Daniel Jackson, Minnesota

Tez Johnson, Oregon

Josh Kelly, Texas Tech

KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Auburn

Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech

Dominic Lovett, Georgia

Bru McCoy, Tennessee

Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

Konata Mumpfield, Pittsburgh

Nick Nash, San Jose State

Isaiah Neyor, Nebraska

Jaylin Noel, Iowa State

Kaden Prather, Maryland

Xavier Restrepo, Miami

Jalen Royals, Utah State

Arian Smith, Georgia

Roc Taylor, Memphis

Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas

Dont’e Thornton Jr., Tennessee

Jordan Watkins, Mississippi

Theo Wease Jr., Missouri

Antwane Wells Jr., Mississippi

LaJohntay Wester, Colorado

Ricky White III, UNLV

Kyle Williams, Washington State

Savion Williams, TCU

Source: https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2025...olts-2025-nfl-combine-preview-wide-receivers/