Stampede Blue
There’s still some names who could help the Colts that remain unsigned, but it takes two to tango.
We’re now in the last lingering tiers of free agency, and the NFL Draft has already concluded, yet the 2025 Indianapolis Colts still have three remaining depth concerns.
What are they?
Having lost both veteran Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly and starting right guard Will Fries to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency, the issue isn’t that the Colts don’t have potential capable starters to internally replace them with both Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves respectively—both of whom were mid-round picks last year and held their own as rookies.
The issue is that by elevating Goncalves, who was the team’s top swing-tackle as a rookie, into the starting right guard spot means that the Colts no longer have their best backup collectively—and a highly versatile one at that entering his second season.
The Colts did draft 4th round pick Jalen Travis, but at 6’8,” 339 pounds, and a lot of long limbs, there could be a bit of an initial learning curve for the big bodied, seemingly developmental offensive tackle.
Like we saw with 2023 4th round pick Blake Freeland, now an Indy backup offensive tackle (who was passed over for Goncalves last year), there’s no guarantee that a young offensive tackle is going to be able to come in and immediately contribute at a consistent level. Goncalves made the leap fairly well in his pro debut, but he was also regarded as pretty polished as an NFL offensive line prospect.
In particular, veteran starting right tackle Braden Smith has not routinely been available, so the Colts could be playing with fire for a bit without any veteran backup additions, and Goncalves no longer on standby to replace him from the bench.
The Colts saw former starting linebacker E.J. Speed depart to the Houston Texans in free agency.
His ‘The Trenches Show’ podcast co-host Zaire Franklin was named an NFL 2nd-Team All-Pro last year, having led the league in combined total tackles.
That being said, he admittedly endured a very slow start to last season and now will be coming off an offseason ankle procedure.
Last year’s rookie 5th round pick, Jaylon Carlies, excelled as a subpackage linebacker in coverage during limited action, and appears to be at least serviceable as a potential starter, but he’s also coming off injury, having underwent an offseason shoulder surgery.
Under new veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, the Colts are expected to phase out the third linebacker in favor of an extra defensive back for added coverage purposes.
However, when looking at the Colts linebacker cupboard behind Franklin and Carlies—both of whom are coming off an offseason procedure/surgery, and it’s pretty barren.
The Colts can’t really afford to have a setback with either projected starting linebacker with the top backup name being Segun Olubi behind them—and otherwise, a lot of unknown.
If there’s...
