Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - FREE AGENT SPOTLIGHT: Indianapolis Colts Get Potential Starter in Dallas Cowboys' Juanyeh Thomas

Starting point is 00:00:00 Colts might have found their next starting safety at a complete bargain, but how likely is it that he hits? 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. All right, welcome to Locked on Colts, part of the Locked on podcast network. I am your host, Jake Arthur, the Indianapolis Colts beat writer for Roundtable Sports. and today we are doing a little minisode here focusing on, well, we're going to do a whole series focusing on kind of each of the individual newcomers that the Colts had brought in. And today we're going to start with former Dallas Cowboy Safety, Juan Yee Thomas. Now the Colts brought him in pretty cheap one year, $1.3 million deal.

Starting point is 00:00:55 And it seems honestly like he's going to be able to compete to be their new starting strong safety. The Colts did lose Nick Cross in free agency. He went out to the Washington commanders. Rodney Thomas as well went out to the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. But it's way more likely that it's Cross's role to fill for Thomas. Now, they do have Jonathan Owens as well. I think Owens is probably more of a replacement for Rodney Thomas. But the Colts also could look to still upgrade over both of those spots in the draft.

Starting point is 00:01:27 But I'm going to find out more about Thomas, how he's been used in Dallas, what are his strengths and weaknesses. and I guess, you know, what to expect here in Indy when put in an optimal position. We spoke with Marcus Mosher, one of the co-hosts of Locked on Dallas Cowboys. So let's go ahead and get to that now. All right, we are welcoming Marcus Mosher to the show. He is one of the co-hosts of Locked on Cowboys. And really no better person to tell us about Juan Yee Thomas. I mean, we can look at all the stats.

Starting point is 00:02:01 We can look at PFF. but, you know, it's probably better to go to someone who has actually watched him over his career. So Marcus, thanks for hopping on here with us. Yeah, not a problem at all. I'm excited to talk about Wadia. He was a fan favorite over here in Dallas. Everybody really liked him. By the end, it just didn't quite work out.

Starting point is 00:02:21 And I think he was wanting a change of scenery. But it's a good player. I'm excited to talk about him. Yeah, and that kind of, that's going to lead us into this general thing here is just what, how do you describe his time in Dallas? because from seeing people from the Cowboys sphere, it does seem like they maybe wanted it to work out a little better. He said, I think there even was a competitive offer from Dallas to return.

Starting point is 00:02:44 But like you mentioned, he kind of wanted a new opportunity. So how would you kind of encompass his time in Dallas? So let's back up a little bit. He signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He also signed with another safety, Marquis Bell, who both of these guys made the 53-man roster as undrafted free agents,

Starting point is 00:03:01 which is pretty wild to have two safeties in the same year as undrafted free agents make it. But he didn't play at all during his rookie season in year two. He started to get on the field more as a special teams guy, but they were really excited about it because this is like a supreme athlete. He is a phenomenal player. But because he was in three different schemes in three different years, there was always a lot of movement.

Starting point is 00:03:30 They weren't quite sure where his best position is at. I mean, I can tell you where I think his best position is at. We can get to that in a little bit. But between Dan Quinn and then Mike Zimmer and then last year with Matt Iber Fluse, he ended up being a guy that just wore a lot of hats on Game Day and would play on special teams, but was always viewed as like the fourth or fifth safety on the roster. And unfortunately, that's just not a guy that gets paid a lot of money in free agency. So that's kind of been the theme of those of us looking into him.

Starting point is 00:04:02 It seems like versatility is the thing. So is that more of a product of the multiple schemes and guys just not knowing what to do with him? Or he's just legitimately a guy you should use as a chest piece? That's a tough question. I think he's at his best when you're using him at multiple spots. Because I think if you're having him as a true free safety, that's where most of his snaps came from. I think he can get a little bit exposed. But I do think he's good as a utility guy that can play in the slot,

Starting point is 00:04:33 can play as a box safety, can play as a nickel linebacker. I think when you're forcing him into a set role, that's when things can get a little hairy. But again, as a rotational safety, I think he can do a lot of good things for you on game day. Yeah, he's kind of, I guess, penciled in right now. The Colts lost Knit Cross and Free Agency.

Starting point is 00:04:55 They're base strong. safety, but really he did a lot more, you know, the nickel linebacker stuff like that dime linebacker. Is that what the Colts could do with him is more of like a box guy who does some stuff in coverage like out of the slot a little bit, I guess in close quarters? So now you're asking me, my opinion. This is where I agree with you. That's what we need. I think he is at his best when he is near the line of scrimmage because he, again, he is a supreme

Starting point is 00:05:23 athlete. I don't know the instincts are there. but the Cowboys during his time in Dallas had a bunch of these box safeties, including Marquis Bell, who were just better at that role. That doesn't mean Thomas isn't strong playing in the box. And actually, I thought there was some snaps in the preseason where they used him as a slot defender. And I actually think that's where a lot of his best reps came from, where a guy that can blitz, he can tackle, he can cover tight ends,

Starting point is 00:05:49 he can, you know, play in zone coverage against these slot receivers. I think the closer that he is to the ball, the more effective he is. The issue that the Cowboys ran into last year is that he had this ongoing migraine issue that they were just never able to solve. And at one point, he went on the injured reserve list for four games, hoping that he would be able to get it resolved and it never did.

Starting point is 00:06:12 And I think that's the part that it's really tricky with Juan Ye is, can he get over it? And if he can't, then I don't know if he's somebody that you can rely on to be an every week starter because you just don't want that guy in and out of your lineups. Yeah. So that that obviously was like a big point of emphasis when he spoke to us recently at kind of his like introductory presser. He said it was like identified as a nerve issue that has since been addressed. So like if you could be optimistic about that with that hopefully no longer

Starting point is 00:06:44 lingering above. Was there any other like injury issues or just that migraine thing? That was the only thing. And it was incredibly frustrating for him because he felt like this was the year, at least in 2025, This was the year that he had more snaps available and he just couldn't get on the field. And listen, as somebody who's dealt with migraines for his entire life, it's an awful thing. I don't wish it upon anybody. So I'm really hoping that Thomas can get it figured out because I do think at the very worst, he is somebody that can function as a third safety in the NFL. And we didn't even talk about it, but there's a lot of special teams ability in his game.

Starting point is 00:07:21 He's awesome at blocking kicks. He can play on coverage units. He was also a kick returner back in college. This is just a useful player that you want at the bottom of your roster that can help you on game days. And I do think around the Colts part of it, again, he seems to be maybe penciled in as their new starting like strong safety. Their replacement for Nick Cross because they brought in him and Jonathan Owens and Thomas is a bit more appealing, I would say, than Owens at this point, at least for that role. So if things were going optimally, like, do you think he could be like a weekly starting player or is he best, as you mentioned, like as a rotational guy?

Starting point is 00:08:05 I think he could be a low end starter that doesn't get you crushed on game day. But again, I think he's at his best when you're moving him around and putting him in certain packages because he's never been a full-time starter, like ever in Dallas. And I wonder, and maybe he's ready for me. I could be completely wrong here. but this is somebody that just hasn't had to handle a big workload in the NFL. I think it might be a little optimistic to think he could be in every down starter. But again, there's been a lot of players in the Cowboys that have left and gone

Starting point is 00:08:37 into a better scheme and better coaching that have had really nice career. So I'm a Juan Ye Thomas fan. I'm not putting anything past them. Honestly, for me, if he can get past the migraine thing, I do think he could be a useful player in the NFL. Yeah, I think regardless of the workload, this does seem to be. a fitting defense for him because Lou Aniruma likes to be kind of a chameleon. He's very much a weekly specific game plan kind of guy.

Starting point is 00:09:02 And he likes those versatile players. So it sounds like this is a good fit. I mean, not a guy who can't be upgraded over, but I'm certainly intrigued to see what it looks like with him getting the opportunity to be the starter. Yeah, and he's somebody that you draft or that you sign. And now you don't feel like you have to draft safety on day two. And if there's a guy that's available, that's a great fit.

Starting point is 00:09:23 great, you draft him and you play all three safeties together. I think that's the beauty of Juanay Thomas' game is that he is versatile and you can move him around. I just would caution if you're using him as a true free safety, that's when I think he gets a little dicey for him. Yeah, I don't think the Colts are going to try it just because they have Cam Bynam, who is kind of their, that's their more natural free safety. Nick Cross is a guy who did a lot of different things. And, I mean, Hunter Woller is a guy. I mean, that brings back memories from last year's draft cycle.

Starting point is 00:09:54 So I just seems like they're going to use a ton of different safeties this year. And that's the trend of the NFL. We're seeing a lot of teams use three and four safeties. And this is what the Cowboys have done in the last couple of years, that they've had four safeties that they feel really good about. And they mix and match depending on the matchup. And I think Juan,

Starting point is 00:10:12 with his athleticism, size, and versatility, it's kind of the perfect rotational safety in the NFL right now. Yeah, I dig it. Sounds like him. All right. Well, thanks so much, Marcus. I feel like that is a bit of a better glimpse behind the scenes with him than we knew before because he just, it just seemed like this general, versatile player that, you know, never quite caught on in Dallas. But I definitely feel a little more optimistic. Yeah. And we just real quickly, they had Malik Hooker, who they really liked. They had Donovan Wilson. Those are two veteran safeties that were in kind of the primes of their career. You had Marquis Bell there. You had Jay Ron Curse in 2020. there was just a lot of bodies. And I don't know, it would have been hard for any late round pick to make an impact in the safety room. So the fact that Juannie Thomas was able to get on the field earlier in his career, I think that's a pretty good sign that we could see more from him in the future.

Starting point is 00:11:08 I like it. All right. Well, thanks so much, Marcus. Anytime. It's tax time. But for a lot of us, the old way of doing taxes is a lot. Trying to book an appointment that's not the most convenient, sitting in a waiting room with a stack. of papers and just emailing back and forth and wondering if they actually get your situation.

Starting point is 00:11:28 But this year, you're getting a major upgrade because Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. That means you can meet face-to-face with a real tax expert and your documents get uploaded straight to your TurboTax app on the spot. And just like that, you're done. Your TurboTax expert works to get you every dollar that you deserve while you get real-time notifications as you go about your day. It's the relief of walking. walking in and meeting a real person and walking out knowing that your taxes are being handled correctly. Head to turbotax.com slash local to find a store near you and book your appointment.

Starting point is 00:12:06 What if sports were traded like markets? Now you could put your sports IQ to work in real time with Robin Hood prediction markets. It's not you against the house. It's you participating in a live market. You could buy or sell your positions live all game long. Use your sports knowledge and moments that matter. Robin Hood prediction markets change. the game. It's people moving the action. So when the momentum shifts, you can move with it.

Starting point is 00:12:30 Personally, I always knew I had the knowledge of the game, but never had a dynamic way to apply that knowledge. Now I can actually take part live and a market powered by people. You're no longer just a spectator. Play by play, you decide. Trade every play with Robin Hood, now available across the US. Download the Robin Hood, Robin Hood app now to begin. Futures and cleared swaps trade involve at significant risk and are not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robin Hood Derivatives LLC, a registered futures commission merchant, and swap firm. All right, thanks again, everybody, for joining us today for this little bonus episode of

Starting point is 00:13:10 Locked on Colts. We're going to have way more of these for you throughout the week and just really throughout the off season. We're going to have draft profiles as well, the Prospect Spotlight series that we've been doing, and of course our normal full length episodes, the Colts Squad show as well. So we'll have wall-to-wall coverage for you of free agency in the draft, all that good stuff.

Starting point is 00:13:30 Make sure you subscribe to our show now so that you get all of our latest episodes. If you don't already, please follow at Locked on Colts at Jake Arthur, NFL, and at Zach Hicks, too, on social media. If you never miss an episode, then remember the Everydayer Club is built for you. Get Locked on Colts audio ad free plus members-only Discord access and more. head to LockdownColts.supercast.com to join the club or follow the link in our show notes now. And with that, thank you guys again. And you have a great rest of your day.

Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - FREE AGENT SPOTLIGHT: Indianapolis Colts Get Potential Starter in Dallas Cowboys' Juanyeh Thomas

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.