Way too early 53-man roster projection for the Indianapolis Colts following their selections in the 2025 NFL Draft

Way too early 2025 Colts 53-man roster projection

Offense 

QB (3):
1. Anthony Richardson
2. Daniel Jones
3. Riley Leonard (R)

Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones' spots on the roster seem pretty much locked up. Richardson and Jones are set to compete for the team's starting QB job, and whoever loses that job will be the backup. After that, newly drafted QB Riley Leonard will battle with Jason Bean to be the team's emergency QB three. And at this moment, I'd give Leonard the leg up in that battle. 

RB (3):
1. Jonathan Taylor
2. DJ Giddens (R)
3. Khalil Herbert

WR (6):
1. Michael Pittman Jr.
2. Josh Downs
3. Alec Pierce
4. Adonai Mitchell
5. Anthony Gould 
6. Ashton Dulin 

In my opinion, WR is the easiest position on the Colts roster to predict this year. Barring an injury to any of the names above, I have a hard time seeing the Colts releasing/waiving any of the six players listed. The team is bringing in a solid group of UDFA WRs, but each has an uphill battle to make the Colts roster. And right now, I don't think it's realistic that any make it through. 

TE (4): 
1. Tyler Warren (R)
2. Mo Alie-Cox
3. Andrew Ogletree
4. Will Mallory 

The Colts made the big splash at TE, which the fan base has been begging them to make for about half a decade, by selecting Tyler Warren as the 14th pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. After him, the room seems pretty up in the air, though. I went with the veteran Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree because of their ability as blockers. And I gave the final TE spot to Will Mallory over Jelani Woods, because I think he's a better fit to backup Warren than Woods is. 

OL (9): 
1. Bernhard Raimann, LT
2. Quenton Nelson, LG
3. Tanor Bortolini, C
4. Matt Goncalves, RG
5. Braden Smith, RT
6. Jalen Travis, T (R)
7. Dalton Tucker, G 
8. Danny Pinter, C
9. Blake Freeland, T

Defense

DL: (9)
1. Laiatu Latu, DE
2. Kwity Paye, DE
3. DeForest Buckner, DT
4. Grover Stewart, DT
5. JT Tuimoloau, DE (R)
6. Samson Ebukam, DE
7. Tyquan Lewis, DE
8. Tim Smith, DT (R)
9. Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT

The Colts added two rookies to their defensive line in the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting DE JT Tuimoloau in the second round and DT Tim Smith in the sixth. I ended up having both make the roster because I think they both fit needed holes the roster had ahead of the draft. Tuimoloau will be Kwity Paye's backup and potential future successor, and the team is hoping Smith can take the reins on their backup NT job behind Grover Stewart. I think he's their best bet at the position right now, so I gave him one of the final roster spots on the Colts' defensive line. 

LB: (6)
1. Zaire Franklin
2. Jaylon Carlies
3. Segun Olubi
4. Cameron McGrone
5. Hunter Wohler (R)
6. Liam Anderson 

CB: (6)
1. Charvarius Ward
2. Kenny Moore 
3. Jaylon Jones
4. Samuel Womack 
5. Justin Walley (R)
6. Juju Brents

Corner seems like it's going to be one of the toughest positions for the Colts to cut down this year after making multiple additions to the room. The player I think is on the bubble the most of the names I listed above is the team's 2023 second round pick, Juju Brents. The young CB has struggled to stay healthy, and on paper, he doesn't seem to be a great fit for the new defensive scheme. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if the Colts try and trade him ahead of cut-down day to gain a draft pick and open a spot to keep someone like Corey Ballentine, who the team signed this offseason and is a respected special teamer. 

S: (4) 
1. Camryn Bynum 
2. Nick Cross
3. Daniel Scott
4. Rodney Thomas

Special Teams

1. Rigoberto Sanchez, P
2. Luke Rhodes, LS
3. Spencer Shrader, K 

Usually, cutting down the Colts' special teams group is pretty easy. And this year at punter and long snapper, it's still pretty cut and dry that Rigoberto Sanchez and Luke Rhodes will be with the team if healthy. Kicker, though, will be more interesting this time around. The team cut Matt Gay and plans to have Spencer Sharader and UDFA Maddux Trujillo compete for the job. I think it could end up being a pretty close battle with Trujillo's big leg, which makes him an intriguing player. But Sharder seems like the safer bet at this time, so I gave him the job for now.