4 positions the Colts could strengthen after roster cuts
The initial 53-man rosters for the Colts and the rest of the NFL must be finalized by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 27. That means each team will trade 37 players league-wide, creating the opportunity for potential new additions.
Players with four or more years of NFL experience who opt out immediately become free agents and can sign with any team. Players with three or fewer years of NFL experience are subject to waivers and, if claimed, must be added to the team’s 53-man roster. If the player is not claimed, he becomes a free agent and can sign with any team.
Could the Colts revamp their roster with new additions once the league’s final cuts are made? I’m guessing that given how the season has gone so far, the answer to that question will be no.
However, if GM Chris Ballard is indeed looking for possible roster additions, the following four positions could be on his radar.
Corner
An obvious answer. Throughout training camp, JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones established themselves as boundary starters at that position. However, as we saw during preseason games, the margin for error at Colts cornerbacks is razor thin. Dallis Flowers had many ups and downs this summer and was often penalized. While rookie Jaylin Simpson still needs time to develop.
Security
Another obvious choice. Credit to Nick Cross, whose play in the preseason helped him break away in the free safety competition. However, just like with the cornerbacks, there are big question marks about the depth of this unit, and I suspect Cross’s run during the regular season will be short if he struggles on the back end.
Tight end
With Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, Drew Ogletree, and Will Mallory, I don’t expect the Colts to add to this position group. They seem confident in their strength in numbers approach and creating a room with a variety of skills for Shane Steichen to build his game plans around. However, throughout training camp, this was a position group where no one seemed to consistently stand out either.
Swing tackle
Ballard mentioned swing tackle as one of the competitions to keep an eye on this summer. During the preseason, Blake Freeland’s play was very inconsistent, especially in pass protection, while rookie Matt Goncalves, as expected, has had some setbacks as he goes through the learning curve that comes with making the jump to the NFL. Perhaps a veteran tackle could provide some stability at the position in case an injury occurs.
Stay up to date with the Colts’ roster changes here
The Colts’ roster cuts began on Sunday as they must reduce their roster from 91 to 53 players by the deadline on Tuesday afternoon. Stay up to date with all reported moves here. Notably, the Colts have already released veteran safety Ronnie Harrison.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 4 Positions the Colts Could Strengthen After Roster Cuts