Will these Colts still be Colts in Week 1?
The Indianapolis Colts, like the rest of the NFL, are preparing for the next season. They haven’t had an especially active offseason, but they did add to their roster via the NFL Draft. These additions will have a significant impact on their roster entering training camp and the 2024 season. Players who were previously guaranteed a spot on the roster may now have to work harder between now and Week 1. Mo Alie-Cox, DJ Montgomery, and Sam Ehlinger are three Colts on the roster that appear to be potential training camp cut candidates.
A crowded tight end room
The Colts have an abundance of tight ends on their roster. Some would argue that they have too many after investing a significant amount of draft picks in that position. The Colts have selected a tight end in three of the last four drafts. In 2022, Indianapolis used third- and sixth-round picks on Virginia’s Jelani Woods and Youngstown State’s Drew Ogletree, a fourth-round pick on Kylen Granson in 2021, and a fifth-round pick on Miami’s Will Mallory in 2023.
This highlights veteran Mo Alie-Cox. The former VCU basketball player has been a strong blocker and red zone target throughout his career, but not much else. He has never had more than 40 receptions or 400 yards in any season in his career. Last year, he had just 13 receptions for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
Not only does Alie-Cox not produce large numbers, but he is also the Colts’ most costly tight end. He is expected to make slightly around $6 million next season. However, Indianapolis could waive Cox this offseason without it impacting their cap sheet.
Woods is ready to return from the persistent hamstring ailment he suffered last year. The Colts also have a variety of options at their disposal. Alie-Cox’s playing time is not assured in 2024. If Indianapolis can save money by releasing him, a roster position does not appear to be a guarantee for him either.
No DJ Montgomery?
The Colts made significant additions to their wide receiver corps during the 2024 NFL Draft. They drafted Texas’ Adonai Mitchell in the second round and Oregon State’s Anthony Gould in the sixth. Indianapolis hopes Mitchell will become a dynamic aerial threat downfield. He will be on the roster. Gould’s ability as a return man should also earn him a berth on the roster.
Add those two to Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, and the Colts have five receivers. Ashton Dulin has been a special teams standout for them for years. With his health restored, he should be able to reclaim a spot on the roster. That’s six, the average number of receivers on an NFL team’s 53-man roster. Someone will be the odd man out.
That may be DJ Montgomery. Montgomery had some moments with the Colts last season. Last season, he caught his first NFL touchdown in the Colts’ 30-13 victory over the Steelers.
DJ ➡️ TD
📺 NFLN pic.twitter.com/sKFcYdZ2TE
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 16, 2023
Montgomery is a good player who can also contribute on special teams, but he could be caught up in a roster crunch. He is yet another Colts cut candidate between now and training camp.
Who will be QB3?
The struggle to be Indianapolis’ third-string quarterback is not unimportant. Anthony Richardson appeared in only two full games last season before suffering a shoulder injury that ended his season. Joe Flacco replaced Gardner Minshew as the backup this offseason, but if Richardson is injured again, the Colts will require a reliable backup.
Sam Ehlinger is the incumbent, against youngster Kedon Slovis. Slovis appeared to be a promising quarterback prospect during his college career. He passed for 31 touchdowns as a freshman at USC, completing more than 71% of his throws. Slovis was unable to maintain it over five college seasons, but there is something to work with there.
Ehlinger was also a college great at Texas, but he has not been able to match that in the NFL. He made three starts in 2022, but passed for only 513 yards total. Ehlinger had more interceptions (three) than touchdowns (two) and averaged less than six yards per attempt.
Slovis has a chance to win the race for the third quarterback position. If he succeeds, he might earn a spot on Indianapolis’ 53-man roster. Ehlinger needs to bring his A-game to the Colts’ training camp this season.
