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INDIANAPOLIS – It will change, and change a lot in the coming months.
The Colts have their first 90-man roster of 2019 and that will group will take part in 11-on-11 sessions later this month as the competition ramps up.
With veterans and rookies beginning to participate later this month in full team settings, let’s take a glance at a possible depth chart this spring.
Here is a look at an early depth chart, with some educated guesses on where guys might be right now:
OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
Quarterbacks: Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett, Phillip Walker
Bowen’s Analysis: Brissett will be the backup to Luck for a third straight year.
Running Backs: Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines, Jordan Wilkins, Spencer Ware, Jonathan Williams
Bowen’s Analysis: For now, we will place Ware behind Wilkins. If Ware can prove his health though, he’s going to have a great shot at moving up the depth chart and possibly being the ‘backup’ to Mack, with Hines filling more of the gadget role.
Wide Receiver: T.Y. Hilton, Parris Campbell*, Chester Rogers, Marcus Johnson, Steve Ishmael, Penny Hart*
Bowen’s Analysis: Even with Ryan Grant and Dontrelle Inman gone, there’s some teeth to this group in terms of depth.
Wide Receiver: Devin Funchess, Zach Pascal, Deon Cain, Reece Fountain, Krishawn Hogan, Jordan Veasy, Ashton Dulin*
Bowen’s Analysis: There’s some very intriguing young bodies here, with Cain on the mend until Training Camp. This is a huge spring for Fountain.
Tight End: Eric Ebron, Ross Travis, Gabe Holmes
Bowen’s Analysis: Travis is coming off a torn ACL, but has shown some nice receiving ability when healthy.
Tight End: Jack Doyle, Mo Alie-Cox, Billy Brown, Hale Hentges*
Bowen’s Analysis: Doyle and Alie-Cox are the most consistent three-down tight end options for Indianapolis.
Left Tackle: Anthony Castonzo, Le’Raven Clark, Jackson Barton*, Antonio Garcia
Bowen’s Analysis: Clark, a third-round pick in 2016, is in the final year of his rookie contract.
Left Guard: Quenton Nelson, William Poehls
Bowen’s Analysis: Poehls was signed by the team to a futures contract at the end of the 2018 season.
Center: Ryan Kelly, Evan Boehm, Javon Patterson*
Bowen’s Analysis: Boehm and Patterson both have needed position flex.
Right Guard: Mark Glowinski, Josh Andrews
Bowen’s Analysis: Andrews saw some action last year after the Colts signed him off the Eagles practice squad.
Right Tackle: Braden Smith, Joe Haeg, J’Marcus Webb, De’Ondre Wesley
Bowen’s Analysis: Haeg could play multiple spots especially with Webb, 30, returning on a one-year deal.
DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
Left Defensive End: Jabaal Sheard, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Carroll Phillips, Jegs Jegede*
Bowen’s Analysis: Muhammad actually was a starter late last season once Tyquan Lewis went on IR.
Defensive Tackle: Denico Autry, Tyquan Lewis, Jihad Ward, Jordan Thompson*, Johnny Robinson*
Bowen’s Analysis: Lewis and Ward are two pretty nice ‘backups’ for a D-line group that wants to rotate a lot.
Nose Tackle: Margus Hunt, Grover Stewart, Sterling Shippy*
Bowen’s Analysis: At 333 pounds, Stewart weighs 35 pounds more than any other Colts defensive lineman, besides the undrafted free agents.
Right Defensive End: Justin Houston, Kemoko Turay, Gerri Green*
Bowen’s Analysis: It will be interesting to see how the role for Houston, 30, plays out in Indy.
WILL Linebacker: Darius Leonard, EJ Speed*, Ahmad Thomas
Bowen’s Analysis: The Colts have said they want Speed to first play behind Leonard at the WILL position.
MIKE Linebacker: Anthony Walker, Bobby Okereke*, Skai Moore
Bowen’s Analysis: Okereke will get his first look at MIKE and could be in the mix for some passing down duties, depending on how well he picks up this defense.
SAM Linebacker: Ben Banogu*, Matthew Adams, Zaire Franklin, Tre Thomas*
Bowen’s Analysis: Banogu and Adams have vastly different physiques, so it will be interesting to see how much this position differs in 2019.
Cornerback: Kenny Moore, Nate Hairston, Chris Milton, Marvell Tell*, D.J. Killings, Shakai Taylor*
Bowen’s Analysis: The rotation at corner will look a lot different once you start incorporating nickel looks.
Cornerback: Pierre Desir, Quincy Wilson, Rock Ya-Sin*, Jalen Collins, Jamal Peters*
Bowen’s Analysis: Ya-Sin could easily rise up on this depth chart, but the Colts actually received pretty solid corner play late last year from Moore, Desir and Wilson.
Strong Safety: Clayton Geathers, Khari Willis*, George Odum, Derrick Kindred
Bowen’s Analysis: If you are trading up 20 spots for Willis, you have to think he’s a favorite for early playing time.
Free Safety: Malik Hooker, Matthias Farley, Roland Milligan
Bowen’s Analysis: The cerebral Farley returns on a one-year deal after he ended last season on IR.
Specialists: LS-Luke Rhodes, P-Rigoberto Sanchez, K-Adam Vinatieri, K-Cole Hedlund*,
Bowen’s Analysis: This group returns in-tact for a third straight season, with the addition of a rookie camp leg to help out the 46-year-old Vinatieri.
*Rookie
