Colts Way-Too-Early 53-Man Roster Prediction for 2023

As the Shane Steichen era begins, here is a look at what his first 53-man roster could look like with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Indianapolis Colts begin OTAs this week, marking the beginning of the third and final phase of the offseason program.

At the conclusion of OTAs, wrapped up with a mandatory minicamp, the Colts will break for the summer and will not reconvene until training camp begins at Grand Park in Westfield. Believe it or not, training camp is only about two months away.

But for now, we are left wondering how the Colts' roster will be constructed. With plenty of spots up for grabs, new head coach Shane Steichen will need to make some hard decisions before Indy takes the field against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 10. Here is a way-too-early prediction for how the Colts' 53-man roster will look come Week 1.

Note: * denotes the projected starters.

Quarterbacks (3): Anthony Richardson*, Gardner Minshew, Sam Ehlinger

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All eyes will be on the quarterbacks throughout the 2023 season, specifically rookie Anthony Richardson. Richardson was taken with the No.4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to be the future of the Colts, and the 21-year-old is bound to be the starter at some point this season. The biggest thing Richardson needs is reps, and if he can grasp Steichen's offense quickly, there is a shot he starts Week 1 against the Jags.

Minshew follows Steichen from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Colts and will serve as the starter until Richardson is ready. When AR takes the field, Minshew will serve as QB2. Ehlinger makes the roster as the third quarterback, with help from the NFL's new rule regarding emergency quarterbacks.

Running Backs (4): Jonathan Taylor*, Zack Moss, Evan Hull, Deon Jackson

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

After an injury-riddled 2022, Taylor is back healthy and ready to regain the form he had in 2021 when he took the NFL by storm. Having a mobile quarterback in Richardson should help lessen the burden on Taylor, who is entering a contract year. There is a chance the Colts and Taylor agree to a long-term deal before the season gets underway.

Moss continues to serve as the backup to Taylor after a solid end to 2022. Hull, a fifth-round pick, will have a role in the passing game and as a third-down back. Hull and Jackson will battle for playing time and contribute on special teams.

Wide Receivers (6): Michael Pittman Jr.*, Alec Pierce*, Josh Downs*, Isaiah McKenzie, Ashton Dulin, Mike Strachan

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Pittman, also in a contract year, returns as the Colts' WR1 and hopes to build a connection with Richardson for years to come. Steichen views Pittman very highly and plans to make him a vital part of the offense, envisioning him in a role similar to that of A.J. Brown with the Eagles. Pierce is expected to take on an expanded role as WR2 with more chances to win deep.

The true battle will come down to who starts in the slot between Downs and McKenzie. Both have a similar build and can win quickly off the line of scrimmage. While the two will likely split reps early, do not be surprised if Downs asserts himself as a playmaker for the offense as the year goes on.

Tight Ends (5): Mo Alie-Cox*, Jelani Woods, Kylen Granson, Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory

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Tight end may be the deepest position on the Colts' roster. While Alie-Cox will likely start as the in-line tight end for the Colts, Steichen and the Colts coaching staff have big plans for Woods as he enters his second season. Woods is a mismatch all over the field, and the Colts want to exploit that mismatch whenever possible. Woods has a great chance to be TE1 by the season's end.

Granson will continue to be used as a "move" tight end with the rookie Mallory being used in this role as well. The wild card is Ogletree, who was the star of training camp last season before tearing his ACL. If Ogletree can return to his pre-injury form, the competition for snaps at tight end will be fierce.

Offensive Line (8): Bernhard Raimann*, Quenton Nelson*, Ryan Kelly*, Will Fries*, Braden Smith*, Blake Freeland, Danny Pinter, Emil Ekiyor

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The Colts made very few moves to address an offensive line that struggled for most of 2022. While the second half of 2022 saw the unit improve, Indy needs their top players of Nelson, Kelly, and Smith to play up to their massive contracts. The Colts are also expecting a jump from Raimann in his second season at left tackle, building on his strong finish to a rocky rookie campaign.

The Colts drafted Freeland in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft to work as the team's swing tackle as he works on his game. Pinter has position versatility on the interior and can fill in in a pinch. Keep an eye on Ekiyor, the undrafted rookie out of Alabama, to push Fries for playing time at right guard.

Defensive Line (9): Samson Ebukam*, DeForest Buckner*, Grover Stewart*, Kwity Paye*, Dayo Odeyingbo, Tyquan Lewis, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Taven Bryan, Eric Johnson

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The Colts' defensive line in 2023 has a chance to be the best group assembled by general manager Chris Ballard since he took over in 2017. Buckner and Stewart man the middle, once again, and are likely to be a problem for opposing offensive linemen. Paye and Odeyingbo are entering Year 3 with a chance to take a huge leap forward.

The wild card of the group is Ebukam, whom the Colts signed in free agency this spring from the San Francisco 49ers. Finally in a starting role, Ebukam could be in line for a breakout season as he was able to produce in limited action with the Niners. Having solid depth pieces in Lewis, Adebawore, and Bryan gives the Colts plenty of options in case of injury and allows their starters to rest at different points in the game.

Linebackers (5): Shaquille Leonard*, Zaire Franklin*, E.J. Speed, JoJo Domann, Grant Stuard

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The biggest question surrounding the linebacker group, and maybe the entire defense, is the health of Leonard. If Leonard can return to full strength, the tandem of "The Maniac" and Franklin, who broke the Colts' franchise record for tackles a season ago, will be one of the better linebacker duos in the NFL. If Leonard has some setbacks, more bodies may be added to this group.

Speed returns after testing free agency and is expected to have a bigger role on defense while continuing to contribute on special teams. While Stuard is primarily a special teamer, Domann is a solid depth piece that showed flashes in the preseason a year ago.

Cornerbacks (6): Kenny Moore II*, Isaiah Rodgers Sr.*, JuJu Brents*, Darius Rush, Dallis Flowers, Jaylon Jones

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The Colts did not bring in any outside free agent help at cornerback. Instead, the team elected to draft three cornerbacks after sending Stephon Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys in a trade. While Moore and Rodgers, both in contract years, return as starters, Brents will likely replace Gilmore as the starter on the outside after being selected in the second round.

The development of the Colts' young cornerbacks will be a storyline to watch all season. Rush (fifth-round) and Jones (seventh-round) join Flowers as the likely backups in this room. While a bit raw, they are all high-level athletes that need work refining their game. It will be up to defensive backs coach Ron Milus to get the most out of this group.

Safeties (4): Julian Blackmon*, Rodney Thomas II*, Nick Cross, Daniel Scott

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Safety is another young group that is oozing with potential. With Rodney McLeod departing for the Cleveland Browns, Blackmon becomes the elder statesman of the group despite it only being his fourth season. Blackmon is joined by Thomas, who led the Colts in interceptions a season ago, in the backend to be the early starters.

The wild card in this group is Cross, whom the Colts traded up for in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Colts had high hopes for Cross a season ago, but he could never seem to put it all together. Look for Cross to be in a three-man rotation with Blackmon and Thomas, as the Colts hope Cross can be a starter at safety long-term.

Specialists (3): Matt Gay, Rigoberto Sanchez, Luke Rhodes

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The newest addition to this group is Gay, who spent the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. The Colts signed Gay to the largest free agent contract for a kicker in NFL history this spring. With a field goal percentage of 92.5% in three years with the Rams, the Colts are hoping they finally have their kicking issue solved.

Sanchez returns after an Achilles injury in training camp caused him to miss the 2022 season. Sanchez is expected to make a full recovery and is a weapon for the Colts in terms of field position. Rhodes, the All-Pro long snapper, also returns for his eighth season in Indy.

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