Colts Top 3 Rookies from 2023 Season

The Indianapolis Colts are among the NFL's youngest teams, with three rookies showing serious promise in their debut campaigns.

Once the 2023 NFL Draft concluded, the Indianapolis Colts had an astounding 12 new picks to carry into the first year of head coach Shane Steichen’s leadership.

Several injuries fell upon Indy, with multiple season-ending ones happening to rookies like quarterback Anthony Richardson (AC joint sprain), running back Evan Hull (torn meniscus), and safety Daniel Scott (ACL tear), to name some notables.

However, despite this, three players stood out and shined, even exceeding expectations while handling starting roles and big responsibilities. Those three players are cornerbacks JuJu Brents, and Jaylon Jones, and wide receiver Josh Downs.

It has to be said that Richardson won’t populate this list due to playing such a small number of snaps, even though he displayed some insane skills as a field general.

It’s time to break down how each of the aforementioned three performed and what to expect in 2024. 

JuJu Brents | Cornerback

Taken in the second round with the 44th overall pick after a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas State corner JuJu Brents immediately fit the profile of a defensive back who had range, physicality, and power at the point of attack.

While Brents struggled with injuries on and off throughout 2023, he showcased the potential to cover the NFL’s best while posing issues with his size, standing an intimidating 6’3 and possessing 34” arms.

Through a nine-game sample (eight starts), Brents put up 43 tackles, six pass defenses, and one interception, fumble forced, and fumble recovery. He would also cover the likes of pass-catchers Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens), DeAndre Hopkins (Tennessee Titans), and Davante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders), and would give them each issue while not backing down in the slightest despite his rawness as a professional defensive back.

While Brents can work on his craft in multiple areas, it’s also going to come with time, experience, and reps. This might have shown no more than against the Houston Texans in week 18 when Brents was destroyed by pass-catcher Nico Collins most of the day, including a 75-yard TD bomb from fellow rookie, C.J. Stroud. Despite these trip-ups, he’d finish third out of the team’s eight eligible corners in overall coverage grade per Pro Football Focus, posting a solid 64.5.

Expect Brents to get even better in 2024 with more time and health under his belt, as he was also hampered during the off-season and training camp. He has a high ceiling and Indy is looking for him to be a centerpiece in their defensive future.

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Josh Downs | Wide Receiver

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Drafted out of North Carolina in the third round with the 79th overall pick, Downs was a bit of a shocker when initially picked. This was due to the notion that general manager Chris Ballard wasn’t a fan of smaller pass-catchers.

But, with wide receivers coach and Colts legend Reggie Wayne making the case to get him, it happened and paid off, immensely.

Downs, despite being 5’9”, was about as efficient as a receiver can be in his rookie season. Not only would he take the starting slot position from veteran Isaiah McKenzie to start the regular season, but he would also finish second on the team in receptions (68), targets (98), and receiving yards (771).

He’d also throw in two touchdowns and a fantastic 69.4% catch efficiency. Time and time again, and with two different QBs (Richardson and Gardner Minshew), he would show consistency and come up with plays when they mattered. 

Downs does need to work on making some catches with contact but is smooth in most areas as a receiver. He’ll look to continue to ascend in Steichen’s offense as one of the most reliable targets already. 

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Jaylon Jones | Cornerback

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The former Texas A&M Aggie was picked in the seventh round with the 221st overall selection. Immediately, it was assumed either Jones wouldn’t make the final roster or was strictly for depth purposes at corner. However, once fellow draftee Darius Rush was waived in August, Jones took off and completely overshot his expectations.

Jones plays a style similar to Brents, which is very physical and usually at the point of attack. Against anyone’s pre-season predictions, Jones would play in all 17 games (10 starts) and would accumulate 44 tackles, five passes defended, and a tackle for loss. He also was one of the most efficient tacklers for Indy’s corner position, posting a grade of 72.1 and missing just three on the season.

Jones had issues at times with getting beat by more experienced receivers and overall foot speed with the quicker pass-catchers. But he also wasn’t expected to get 788 snaps and become a starter who would be leaned on.

It will be interesting to watch if Jones can keep up this momentum in 2024, as Indy could be in line to either select a cornerback in the NFL draft or sign one from free agency due to how young the position group was last season and tumultuous it showed it can be. 

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