The Indianapolis Colts are trying to bust their way out of mediocrity in 2025 after missing the NFL playoffs for a fourth consecutive campaign last year.
For head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard, there may not be many chances left to right the ship and prove that they are the right men for the job. The Colts have won just a single playoff game in Ballard’s eight seasons at the helm, and while Steichen has a .500 record in his first two years, his fate is likely tied to Ballard’s.
Whether the Colts are successful in 2025, however, could depend on the results of their most critical roster competitions in the months ahead during their NFL training camp. Here’s a look at the three biggest Colts roster battles before camp opens on July 25:
1.) Quarterback
GettyColts quarterback Daniel Jones.
No question which position battle is the biggest for the Colts. Ballard made a point of finding a proper challenger for Anthony Richardson — the team’s No. 4 overall pick in 2023 — during the offseason and landed on another former top-10 pick in Daniel Jones, signing him to a one-year, $14 million deal in hopes that he may have a redemption arc.
The problem coming out of OTAs is Richardson’s health. Steichen said he aggravated the AC joint in his right throwing shoulder, which is similar to the injury he sustained as a rookie that limited him to four games and forced him to undergo surgery. For now, the belief is Richardson will avoid surgery and could be ready to return early in camp, but Jones has soaked up the reps in the spring and emerged as the early frontrunner for the No. 1 job. If Richardson can avoid a prolonged absence, though, he could apply the heat to Jones and deliver one of the finest quarterback battles of the 2025 offseason.
2.) Right Guard
GettyColts guard Matt Goncalves.
The Colts will have turnover at two positions on the interior of their offensive line in 2025 after letting center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries walk in free agency. They are also heading into training camp without any meaningful offseason additions at the positions, putting quite a bit of pressure on recent draft picks to rise to the challenge.
Coming out of OTAs, Matt Goncalves — a 2024 third-round selection — is the priority for the Colts at right guard, but he is also new to learning the role after playing tackle both in college and during his first season with the Colts. If he struggles, the Colts could potentially re-evaluate center Tanor Bortolini as a fit at right guard or instead turn to free agency for more help. Goncalves will also compete with second-year Dalton Tucker.
3.) Cornerback
GettyColts cornerback Jaylon Jones.
The Colts signed Pro Bowl veteran Charvarius Ward to a three-year, $54 million deal in free agency, securing a new No. 1 boundary cornerback for their defense in 2025. They will also return star slot cornerback Kenny Moore II to reinforce their secondary unit, but questions linger about who will hold down the other outside spot opposite Ward.
Fortunately for the Colts, they have two intriguing candidates vying for the No. 2 job between 2023 draft picks Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents. Jones is the frontrunner to win the job opposite Ward after starting all 17 games on the boundary and recording 100 total tackles with two interceptions and 12 pass deflections in 2024. At the same time, Brents could apply serious pressure to Jones if he can stay healthy and show some of the traits that originally drew the Colts to him in the second round of the 2023 draft.
3 Biggest Roster Battles to Watch for Colts in 2025 Training Camp