Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - FACELIFT: How Will Indianapolis Colts' DEFENSE Look in 2026?

Starting point is 00:00:01 Yesterday we broke down the state of the Colts offense following the 2026 NFL draft. Now let's dive into the new look defense with quite a few rookies rounding out the top of the group. Let's get to it. You are Locked on Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Welcome to Locked on Colts. I'm Zach Hicks. That's Jake Arthur.

Starting point is 00:00:32 And today we are diving into the rest of the Colts roster. We're not really talking specialists because we know who's going to make it for the specialist. And also, I don't need to be here when we talk specialists. That can be a Jake thing on a future thing if you wants, but I don't need to be here. We are talking about the defensive side of the football, the side of the football that got a major facelift this offseason for better or for worse, I guess, when it comes to the personnel they have. And we're going to talk through all the players on the roster, all the Nodewil players on the roster. And if this defensive group is ready for the 2026 season or if they need to make more. So we'll round out today's conversation talking about the secondary.

Starting point is 00:01:09 And our second segment, we'll talk about linebackers. But let's kick it off with the defensive line, Jake. And obviously, the first position is going to be the position of some contention between with Colts fans this offseason. Edge rusher, as up right now, as of right now, the projected starters are Laotu Latu and Jalen Tuamilo, with key backups being Arden Key, Michael Clemens, George Gumbs, Jr., Caden Curry, and then our guy Darell and Chami as well. rounding out that group.

Starting point is 00:01:38 So how do you view this group overall, Jake? And do you think they need to add to this group? Or do you think it's a okay the way it is? No, it's really hard for me to believe that this will be the group that goes into training camp. I think if there's, if there's any position group that gets a new veteran free agent added to it, it's probably the edge group. Only because we know Trey Hendrickson was one of their centerpieces of the free agent period. I think they really thought they were going to have him.

Starting point is 00:02:08 And then now to miss on that and not add anybody else of significance, like I believe Arden Key and Clemens were already in the bag before Hendrickson went to Baltimore. Yeah. So they already had them in place. So they were still planning on landing Hendrickson on top of that. So for that to not happen and then to not do anything else since then and just say, all right, this guy who played 215 snaps as a rookie is going to be our starter next year, I find that really hard to believe.

Starting point is 00:02:37 So, and I don't want that to, I don't want to make that sound like we're being down on to him a lot. Like, if he starts and he like earns it, like, that's great. It's a great thing for the Colts if he earns it. But if he gets it by default because he's just the best fit they have at strong side end, then I think that is a little misguided, you know. So I do think that's right for an addition. I think the depth is pretty good. The depth is probably better than last year when you look at what Samson Ebukom and Tyquant Lewis, what those guys gave you.

Starting point is 00:03:10 They were basically old and battered, you know, in the depth of it last year. Key's a pretty good third edge rusher to have. Clemens, we'll see how that goes. Like, he was a nice prospect with some good physical attributes coming out of Texas A&M four or five years ago. It just hasn't really gone great in his time with the jet so far. But, you know, maybe it's a little better fit here. I really liked the gums pick up. And then Caden Curry is pretty interesting.

Starting point is 00:03:38 He's probably mostly a special teams guy right now. And Chami is our practice squad dream. And then as of the last like 30 minutes, Viliami Fahoko was waived. So that one got kind of answered for us. Yeah, yeah, for sure. We didn't have to add him here to the outline. But yeah, I'm with you.

Starting point is 00:03:54 If this is the group they go into training camp with, I'm very underwhelmed. And I was all all season, I was saying when they signed Arden Key and when they signed Michael Clemens, it was, hey, if these guys are replacing Lewis and Abucom, then they upgraded, right? But if one of them has to replace Quitty Pay, even with Quitty Pay having a bad season last year, they've downgraded because then it's the, you know, we call it the Tyler Warren effect, I guess on here where when Tyler Warren was added to the Colts tight end room,

Starting point is 00:04:22 what seemed like the weakest tight end room in the league became a very strong one because everyone got solidified in their roles. But when you don't have that solidifying piece, you have everybody getting pushed up the depth chart and it's the way that tight end looked on this team like in 2024 where it's like why is moe alley cox starting for us like why is arden key or jalen to him a low house starting for us is kind of the situation the colts could be in in 2020s so i'm just wondering because you know chris hewitt and that behind the scenes thing that the colts did right that they released chris hewitt was jokingly talking to louana room was like hey you manifested it right we get all the defensive linemen early and then we go linebacker and safety in the draft and we did it and i'm like yes you guys did it outside of missing on Trey Hendrickson. And there hasn't been a pivot yet, right? There has to be some kind of pivot. It can't just be, oh, shucks, we missed out on Trey Hendrickson.

Starting point is 00:05:11 Exactly, yeah. Right? And so I want to keep believing that there is a pivot. They're close. I mean, once they move on from Kenny Moore, they're going to be over $30 million in cap space. Like, there has to be some sort of pivot still coming. I don't know what that's going to be or how much of an upgrade it is, but I don't

Starting point is 00:05:27 know. I struggle to believe that this is going to be the group of edge rushers they go into training camp with but if it is good luck to chris ballard and all them trying to keep their job i guess by the end of the season you know yeah yeah and it's like the veteran free agents out there that can probably start on the strong side or all like easily over 30 years old like the bosa's clownies cameron jordan is a million years old like all those guys very old and then the the main person everyone talked about as a trade candidate jonathan grernard got traded to the eagles already during the draft. So it's like Kavon Tibido or Josh Sweat is really your two primary trade targets.

Starting point is 00:06:10 And it's like you have to kick those picks back to next year when you don't have a first round pick. So it's it's tough. But yeah, it's hard for me to believe that they're done adding at edge. But let's talk about defensive tackle where I think it's a, it's a little bit. I think we're a little more comfortable there. The depth, I think, has been upgraded a good bit. There's quality bodies there, but the starters are another year older and the health has declined a little bit. Yeah, no, for sure when it comes to defense to tackle. And so at the top, you still have DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, who are your guys, the guys who have been here for a long time, very good players. I mean, Buckner, even with banged up, as long as he's back

Starting point is 00:06:48 to being what he was, that's a pro bowl caliber player. Grover Stewart plays a position that doesn't get pro bowl nods, but very, very good in his own right. And then I think they have two quality backups and Kobe Wooden and Atatamiwa Adabori, and I believe both of them are in contract years. Yeah. And what's the one thing we always say about players in contract years is that that's when it really clicks for a lot of players. You're going to get their best, yeah.

Starting point is 00:07:10 Right, right. So you have two guys who, I mean, Atatamiwa is a very talented pass rusher, Wooden, a very talented run defender coming off the bench in really like incentivized seasons. I think we're going to see really good play out of those two. Really the big question is, what's the backup plan look like at one tech. Is it Kobe Wooden rotating in there as the one tech, which the Colts have outwardly said that he's not a one tech over and over. So that would be concerning if he is the backup up there.

Starting point is 00:07:38 Is it DeForest Buckner maybe being the backup one tech? And these guys rotate in as the three tech, that would be kind of weird. But I mean, Buckner is probably the second best option at one tech. Or is it Derek Nottie, Jerry Tillery, or Tim Smith, who are very uninspiring as backup one techs? To me, I think at three tech. they look really solid. I actually love their three tech depth. Even if Buckner isn't Buckner, I like Wooden and Atatomiwa enough to where I'm pretty good with that three tech depth.

Starting point is 00:08:08 But one tech, I'm not good with just Noddy versus Tilly versus Tim Smith versus Cam Ball. Like I just, I don't think you're going to get something great out of that or even something passable out of that. So I hope Tim Smith has the camp of his life, if that's who they're rolling with because I'd prefer him to win it over a Nottie or a Tillery. That's where I'm at. I think the best thing that could happen to them here is Tim Smith takes a real step forward. And it doesn't have to be drastic.

Starting point is 00:08:34 I think he just has to be stout and relatively unmovable. He doesn't have to be a guy that really penetrates the backfield a lot. Just take up some space, clog up lanes, and just be in the way of the run game, essentially. Because he never was someone who contributed in, again, as a pass rusher at Alabama. He just, his role was, you know what? the run lane. And that's all the Colts need, especially as a backup. Like, that's all you need. You know, Derek Nottie and Jerry Tilly are both older guys who are coming off seasons where it very much looked like their best was behind them. So if Tim Smith can step up, I think that

Starting point is 00:09:12 would be what's best. They don't need him to play a huge role either. You just don't want to have to go and like get Eric Johnson for a third stint or like, you know what I mean? You don't want to have to make one of those almost desperation moves late in the off season. I want to say Johnson actually signed with the Vikings just the other day. Yeah. Okay. I know he hit street free agency earlier this week. Yeah, he did just officially sign with the Minnesota Vikings.

Starting point is 00:09:36 So once they cut him is when the Colts can bring him back or something like that, I'm assuming. He gets a little experience with Flores and then comes back like he did with the Patriots before. Yeah, exactly. You know, he's inevitable at this point. He's the Al-Qaeda Mohammed. You know when he hits 33 years old, he's going to have a 10-plus sack season. And then Ballard will be like, see, we always knew with him. But please don't come back.

Starting point is 00:09:56 back. Right. Right. Exactly. But yeah, I think backup one tech could be good, but I do love the three tech depth. Like I did get a lot better there. Kobe Wooden is a great addition. Tommy's getting better every single season. Hopefully Buckner is healthy this year. I'm still a little skeptical on how well he's going to look this year. But I do love the depth there. And that's probably my favorite depth spot on the Colts roster in the defensive front. But now we're going to transition to linebacker where speaking of major faceless, massive changes that came at a linebacker this officer. season. So Jake and I are going to talk about the state of the room. And if the changes are for the better in 2026 and beyond. Workplace chaos. Deadlines are stacking up. The inbox is overflowing and in that one position that you got to fill is still sitting wide open. When the pressure's on and you need the right hire, this is a job for sponsored jobs. Indeed, sponsored jobs helps you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for, skills, experience, and location, so that you're not just hoping that the right candidate stumbles across your post. Plus, here's a stat that says it all. In the minute that I've been talking to you, companies like yours made 27

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Starting point is 00:11:36 Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? This is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. All right. Welcome back. Everybody. We are taking a deep dive look at the Indianapolis Colts defense following the 2026 NFL draft.

Starting point is 00:11:52 But before we dive into linebackers, don't forget to check out the every day or club for ad-free audio episodes and access to a group chat with Zach, me and other listeners of the show. Just tap the link in our show notes or go to locked on colts. dot supercast.com to join in on the action. All right, Zach, so this, to my recollection, this is the first time since like 2017, where there hasn't been like already an era parent in the Colts linebacker quarter to like take over and be the face of the group.

Starting point is 00:12:21 Chris Ballard had to do a major overhaul going from Chuck Paganos. system over to Matt Eber Fluses from 2017 to 2018. And ever since then, there's been like a guy that's taken the mantle from the previous guy, kind of like it receiver. But this is the first big facelift since back then. Now you're looking at CJ Allen is now pretty much the guy. Akeem Davis Gaither was the only one they signed of significance and free agency. And then they also drafted Bryce Becher.

Starting point is 00:12:50 You got Hunter Woller, who I'm going to throw in here as a caveat kind of just your dime linebacker guy. not really a full-time linebacker, you know, Moonlights at safety and linebacker. But then at your depth, you got Austin and GK, Jalen Carlize, John Bullock, and Devin Barrasuke. They did release Joseph Vaughn earlier today, who was a UDFA with him last summer, but obviously kind of expendable at this point. So what do you think? Like we know C.J. Allen's going to be the starting mic, but we're going to go into camp with Davis Gatherd and Betcher kind of battling it out for the will spot.

Starting point is 00:13:23 Yeah, I mean, to start with C.J. Allen, I do like that, you know, the addition, obviously there at Mike. I have a lot of recorded time talking about C.J. Allen at this point this week. Very excited about that addition. I believe he's going to be the first rookie green dot Mike linebacker for the Colts since 2017 with Anthony Walker. Because even when Shaquille Leonard was a rookie Walker was still the green dot for like a year or two before passing it on to Leonard. And Leonard had it for a couple years before passing on to Franklin. and now Franklin is passing it on to Allen. So this is going to be the first rookie since 2017, and 2017 was kind of a weird season because they, you know, they weren't tanking, but they weren't good.

Starting point is 00:14:02 We knew what they were going to be very good. They had a lame duck situation, yeah. Right, right. So this is like a team that's trying to win, putting a 21-year-old there at a very prime position. I think he's ready for the moment. I think he's going to be a very good player for the Colts at the gate. It gets interesting at Will linebacker because I think both,

Starting point is 00:14:20 these guys bring like potential upside and potential like intrigue. Betcher is probably a better past defender than Davis Gaither, where Davis Gaither is probably a better run defender at this point. But I do like having that one stable presence with the veteran in there with Akeem Davis Gaither, because if it was all rookies and all young players, I'd be very concerned. But having at least one player who's played in this system before, who started what, 13 to 14 games last year for the Arizona Cardinals, I do like that kind of you know, that continuity, I guess, in that room that kind of helps bridge the gap for these young players. And I think ideally the Colts would like Betcher to be that Will linebacker out the gate and supplant Akeem Davis Gather.

Starting point is 00:15:02 But, you know, he's going to have to earn it in camp. And outside of having like an incredible training camp, I think it's going to be Akeem Davis Gather's job to lose. But luckily, again, with Betcher and Davis Gather, Betcher had a lot of special team snaps in college. Davis Gather has a lot in the NFL. So whoever loses that job can be a court. special teamer. And then speaking of special teams players, Ajik and Carlis, Bullock, Bollick, I mean, Verusuk has the measurable to be a good special teamer if he comes out and can't really committed to it.

Starting point is 00:15:31 So I do think that they've rounded out that room with the proper special teamers. And again, we can call C.J. Allen a little bit of the Tyler Warren effect, right, where the room looked terrifying. It didn't look good at all. But then once you get Allen at the top, it solidifies the rest of the room. It's like, oh, okay, at Davis Gate, there's a will linebacker. Oh, okay, Hunter Woller is more of a. rotational guy. Austin Ajika is a bottom of the roster special teamer like you should be. Now it makes the room look a lot better and look a lot more normal.

Starting point is 00:15:58 So yeah, I think adding those guys in the draft was big and something I was so concerned about the way that this linebacker room looked. Now I'm not very concerned. Also another guy you didn't add in here, West Weeks, who they signed from LSU as well, looks like a special teamer on paper like 6 foot 1, 2.30, ran like a 4-5 or something as well. like just looks like a special teamer with his testing numbers. Like that's another guy who's going to factor in the bottom of the roster. So I think it looks like an NFL linebacker room now.

Starting point is 00:16:28 And we'll see what Alan looks like in his rookie season. But, you know, crisis averted, I guess, by having Allen be the draft pick and then Betcher being added in round four as well. Yeah. So you being someone who understands the ends and outs of a Lou Interimmo defense, as much as someone can from the outside, tell me if this makes sense. So they don't really have the base defense, like a four or three. Like they just don't do that.

Starting point is 00:16:52 So there's usually going to be two lineback, two or one linebackers on the field. So in run and run downs, early downs, do you see it being C.J. Allen and Akeem Davis Gaither. And then when they're in the nickel on passing downs, with it being better at will, and then in dime situations, it's Wooler. Like, do you think that might be something they look into? Yeah, it just depends on what you classify as passing downs because so much in the NFL nowadays, is every, like third and six.

Starting point is 00:17:20 Right, but even then, like, it's not as black and white as what it was maybe like five, six, seven years ago where back then, yeah, third and six clear passing down now. It's still probably like 70, 30 pass, but teams are more willing to run the ball now on those third downs. Depends where they are on the field. Right, right. So it is a little bit tougher to have like pure platooning that way. But I do think with you, like when they go into their three safety sets, which they will go into this year, I think Woller will count as that third safety or however you want to classify. If you want to classify him as a linebacker there, you can call it nickel or big nickel.

Starting point is 00:17:55 But they will get Woller out there on some of those. And I could see like two-minute situations getting Betcher on the field instead of Akeem-Davis Gather, where, yes, there could be running play still. And, you know, I don't think Betcher is such a liability in the run game that he just can't play on defense. I just think it's a downgrade compared to Akeem-Davis Gather. But in two-minute drill, when teams are going to pass the ball a little bit more, I could see that going the rotation, or I could even see like a two series on, one series off type of split between them just to get Betcher's feet wet a little bit. I know teens typically don't do that, but I wouldn't be opposed to it like that.

Starting point is 00:18:28 So you could see some sort of rotation there. We did see occasional rotations last year where, you know, a GK and Bacchie were rotating. And Bacchie and, you know, Cam McGrone were rotating a little bit on defense. We could see a little bit there with Davis Gather and Betcher, depending on like if they like both these guys. but yeah they're going to find a way to get like betcher will play 100 200 plus snaps this year guarantee whether it's due to injury or whether it's due to winning a battle or rotational snaps he'll play 200 plus defensive snaps this year. Woller will play 3 to 400 plus if he's he's healthy because they they want to have some

Starting point is 00:19:04 sort of role for him like they want to get him involved so these guys will play on defense in some capacity I just don't know if it's going to be like true platooning like it was in the pass. But like you mentioned, the Colts don't do three linebackers on the field. If they ever do a base defense, it's more like a three, four or five two, however you want to classify it, where it's five defensive linemen on the field and two linebackers, rather than having three linebackers. I think last year, it was like, I want to say it was six snaps with three linebackers on the field last season. And five of them were on the goal line, I think. And one of the, it was one, I remember the one play. It was one play against Pittsburgh in the second quarter.

Starting point is 00:19:45 they had three defensive linemen and three linebackers on the field. That was the only one with three linebackers not in a goal line situation. So you won't have Betcher, Akeem Davis Gaither, and C.J. Allen, all in the field at the same time in like really any capacity next season. I just, I want to see Lou get freaky with it and have all four of them out there. I want, I want Alan, Akeem Davis Gaither, Betcher, and Wooler on the field at the same time. That's not going to happen, but I want, I want that box to get checked for me. before we get too crazy with it, where he's really going to get weird with it,

Starting point is 00:20:17 I think is the secondary. We'll talk about the cornerbacks and the safeties here in just a moment. All right, welcome back. Everybody, we are continuing our look at the Indianapolis Colts defense. And let's look at this absolutely loaded corner room. I'm not going to call it stacked because we thought it was stacked last year.

Starting point is 00:20:35 And then injuries just absolutely decimated them. But like there's a lot of noteworthy bodies here, obviously. If everything goes well, It's Sauce Gardner Mooney Ward and Justin Wally as your top three. And then as depth, you got Cam Taylor Britt, Mackay Blackman, Jonathan Edwards, Jalen Jones, Cameron Mitchell, Wyatt Echler, and Rob Carter Jr. As depth, I've got to imagine by the end of this week, we may see Echler and Carter may be on the ropes there. Kenny Moore is the big if because he's on the trade block, but we fully expect if nothing materializes there soon, he'll probably be released. Yeah, no, I mean, he's not going to be on the team in any regard.

Starting point is 00:21:14 next season. The Colts have already basically said that, that he's not going to be on the team, so we can't really count him as part of the roster. But yeah, when you look at Corner, I think it's fine. Like, it's fine. Like, sure, you love a little bit more stability here and there at some spots. I mean, as of right now, Jalen Jones is still on the roster, right? So we can't count him completely out. So that's just another, like, notable body still in the room that you and I have kind of counted out all offseason because he wasn't beloved last year by Louana Rumo. But if he has a great training camp, there's always a potential for him to still make the team.

Starting point is 00:21:47 But yeah, when you look at it across the board, the three starters, I think you've got to be really excited about with Gardner and Mooney, along with Justin Wally. But the big question is, can they stay healthy? I mean, if you look at the combined games between these three players, right, the potential was there to play 17 games in a season, right? So it's like out of 51 games. The potential out of 51 games that these guys played last year is what, like 18, like 19? Wallie missed the whole season. Ward and Gardner missed like half the season due to their various injuries.

Starting point is 00:22:17 So they were all very banged up last year. And heck, if we even talk with injuries, Cam Taylor Britt also had a pretty major injury last year as well. That caused him to miss half the season. So this has not been the healthiest cornerback room, but on paper, it's a very good one. The question is can paper translate to the field and can they stay healthy? But yeah, I like the top three guys. And even the backups, like I think there's some intrigue there, right? like Taylor Britt has played good football in this league. He's still fairly young. Hopefully he can get back to where he was. Jalen Jones was a good two-year starter for the Colts.

Starting point is 00:22:50 Had it really down season last year. But if there's a way that he could fit into this defense, I'd love to see it. Mackay Blackman, the Colts view highly, and he was okay last year, like very okay last year. Jonathan Edwards, if he can find the football in the air, would be a really good corner.

Starting point is 00:23:07 Like, it's the only thing that he needs to do is find the football. And then even Cameron, Mitchell, like you finished the last, like the last month of the season with pretty good ball, getting some starting snaps. So I think it's a fine quarterback. It's one of the better cornerback rooms that Chris Ballard has ever put together with this team, but there's just that big if, how many of these guys can stay healthy. Because if they're all healthy, this is the best cornerback room he's ever put together. But if they're injured again, then we're going to see Xavier Howard get a third shot at it or another shot at it. You know, I don't know what the

Starting point is 00:23:38 solution is, but it's a good, it's a really. good room on paper though and I'm excited about it for the potential of it I just have my fingers cross every time these guys touch the field yeah I mean as you and I discussed the other day like there's really nothing more you can do to it right now until guys start to drop like it's there's a lot of guys right here right now but I'm with you I like I do like Cameron Mitchell as like a bottom of the roster guy who knows if he makes it because it's it's probably him and Jonathan Edwards for one spot and Jalen Jones. But I'm interested, you know, they didn't draft a corner, which we thought they would because, what is it, corner and receiver and linebacker, like the three positions Ballard's

Starting point is 00:24:19 drafted the most. So they didn't draft a corner. And we thought they would, but we didn't know whether it was going to be an inside or outside guy because of the whole Kannie Moore thing. But now I'm kind of curious, do you just stick Taylor Britt there as your backup outside guy? and now Mackay Blackman is your backup nickel with some flexibility to fill whatever role may come with injuries. But, you know, Blackman is probably your next best nickel guy behind the group there. So kind of curious to see how that plays out. I definitely want to pay attention to it as practice starts. Yeah, one player that I want to throw in there for the nickel battle,

Starting point is 00:24:57 Austin Brown, who the Colts signed to a $250,000 guaranteed contract in underpriced free agency. Yeah, he played a lot of nickel corner back in 2020. corner pro football focus. It was a much better season than his past season where he played more free safety. So I'm curious to see if he's going to be in that mix for nickel. Also, Trey Washington, who we're going to mention with the safeties here in a second, played a lot of Nickel Corner in college as well. So I think the Nickel Corner competition is going to be interesting because Carter probably projects better at Nickel.

Starting point is 00:25:30 But a lot of the notable guys we mentioned here, like outside of Black men, like Jones, Edwards, and Mitchell are not going to play Nickel. Taylor Brits not going to play nickel. So it is interesting to see how that's going to break down. And if this could be a sneaky way for like a Trey Washington and Austin Brown or a Rob Carter to fight their way on the roster, show that they can play nickel. So it's kind of like what we talked about with running back yesterday where it's like just show you can pass block and you can make the team. With these other guys, it's like show you can play in the nickel and you have a chance to make it over maybe a bigger name like a Jalen Jones or a bigger name like a Cameron Mitchell because you can play in that nickel.

Starting point is 00:26:07 Yeah, I mean, shoot, that makes sense to me. All right, let's take a look at safety here real quick. So, Cam Bynum, we know, is like the only ironclad guy here. We think A.J. Halsey's probably going to be the day one. Week one starter at strong safety because we still have the summer to get through. But can Bynum and Halsey are likely starting safeties. We know they want to get Hunter Willer as involved as possible. I'm also still pretty intrigued by Juanier Thomas as well.

Starting point is 00:26:34 That's another guy that can kind of fill multiple roles. So I would imagine that's your top four, but really you're going to see three used this year. It's going to be Bynum, Halsey, who they hope they never have to leave the field that often, but we're going to see Woller doing a lot of stuff down there, the line of scrimmage too. Yeah, if everyone stays healthy in this room, which is always a big gift with the Colts, we keep saying that for every position group here. But I think their idea is to keep five guys, and it'll be Bynum, Halsey, and Woller getting actual playing time on defense, with whoever is their backup free safety being on the roster as that plus a special team role.

Starting point is 00:27:10 And then that like bottom guy will be like a pure special teamers type role. So I do see Juan Ye Thomas, Jonathan Owens, Nassir Adderly, Rubin Lowry, even Daniel Scott, Trey Washington. I think they're all in that same tier for the Colts, right? It's not like Wangay Thomas got some like $5 million per year contract. It's not like Jonathan Owen's got that kind of contract, right? They're here on vet minimums. So I do think it's going to be like a pretty healthy battle.

Starting point is 00:27:35 between all those guys. So it wouldn't shock me if we come out of training camp. And, you know, lo and behold, Ruben Lowry and Trey Washington won that battle because their special team's ability. And because Lowry was here for most of last season, right? Like that could be an inside track that he has. But, you know,

Starting point is 00:27:51 if it were up to me, just based off what I've seen from all these players, I would go buying them, Halsey, Wooler, Thomas, and Owens. But, you know, you leave the door open, like if Adderley can return to some of the form he had back when he played, if Lowry's the height,

Starting point is 00:28:04 weight speed guy. Like maybe he could be a better special teamer than Jonathan Owen. So yeah, I think they had their top three guys, but I think it's going to be a very healthy battle between those like five or six guys behind them to make those two spots work. And then maybe one or two of them can make it on the practice squad. So yeah,

Starting point is 00:28:20 safety's going to be a good battle. But I think we have our top three guys set in place if they stay healthy in Bynum, Halsey, and Woler for sure. Yeah. All I know is I need to see Ruben Lowry in action. And like it was such a mystery only to you and me because we're nerds. But like for them to pick him up off waivers end season and then just stash him the entire year for us to never see anything about like, I need to see what's going on there. They had him slow cooking.

Starting point is 00:28:46 You know how you can put food on the slow cooker like all day and you come home and your whole house smells good? They had him slow cooking for like three for like three straight weeks or whatever. That meat has gone past expiration, but it still smells good. Like you don't even know. Like I asked questions. about him to the team the week he was signed and then he has never been seen again since. Like, I need to know what's going. Like, I need to see him out there playing.

Starting point is 00:29:13 Even if he's terrible, I just need to know. Yeah, you know what's funny is I think of all the safeties currently on the roster right now, the third most got the guy who's played the third most snaps for, or no, the guy who's played the second most snaps for the Colts is Trey Washington, right? Now I'm saying Trey Washington's played the second most with the Colts, right? Because he actually played last year. Got a couple snaps, but I think Washington out snapped him.

Starting point is 00:29:36 And then Thomas isn't here. So Trey Washington maybe has an inside track because he played a little bit. So it's like, I do think all these guys are in a similar tier. So we'll see what training camp looks like. And like I said the other day with wide receiver, those first couple days of camp and practice that you're going to be at, Jake, will be really telling because you'll be able to say, like, hey, it was Trey Washington running with the second team out there over Wannier Thomas and over Jonathan Owens, that speaks volumes to how they view him, or if Juanio Thomas is already out there

Starting point is 00:30:06 with the second team to start camp, then it could be a sign of things to come for the rest of training camp. But those first couple practices will be big telling points to see where these guys stand and who has the leg up in these battles. But that's all we have for today, guys. We want to thank you for tuning in to Lockdown Colts as always. We'll be back yet again tomorrow. So make sure you subscribe and follow Lockdown Colts. So you get all the latest episodes. If you don't already, make sure you're following out Lockdown Colts at Jake Arthur, NFL, and at Zach Hicks, too. all on socials. And if you never miss an episode, the Everydayer Club is built for you. Get us ad-free plus members-only Discord access and much more.

Starting point is 00:30:40 Head to Lockdowncults.com to join the club. Thank you all for tuning in and we'll see you guys back here tomorrow afternoon.

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