One of the major concerns surrounding the Indianapolis Colts this offseason has been their secondary. After coming off a 2023 season riddled with injuries and inexperience, there was hope that Indy would explore the market for depth and experience. Instead, Colts General Manager Chris Ballard made it clear that he wants his secondary to compete in training camp. There is still a chance that Ballard chooses to sign a veteran at cornerback or safety. However, with his recent comments, that hope could slowly fade away.
During his Press Conference at the Colts training camp, Ballard addressed the concerns about his secondary and the potential of getting a veteran from the market. He stated, “I’m not saying we won’t do something… we definitely could, but I want to see these young guys get after it and compete”. Ballard has built the reputation of keeping the players he already has on his team and letting them develop into stars. With this strategy, though, Indy will certainly have an uphill battle going into the regular season. That being said, there are several gems within the Colts’ secondary that could prove to develop into superstars during training camp.
Playmakers In The Secondary That Could Develop Into Superstars
Kenny Moore II
One of the lone veteran defensive backs the Colts have on their roster is eight-year starter Kenny Moore II. After signing his $30M contract extension this offseason, Moore is expected to have a big year in 2024. He is also the veteran and the most experienced player in the secondary which will yield pressure to him having a big year. Therefore, the Colts will look to Moore to be the leader and producer within this secondary. He will also be looked at to help the younger players develop.
JuJu Brents
One of the Colts cornerbacks entering his second year his Julius (JuJu) Brents. He had an ankle injury during OTAs but has been cleared for training camp. He will look to bring consistency and production to this Colts secondary. Brents is coming off a very promising rookie year and will look to continue his production in year two. If the Colts want to improve from where their secondary was last year, they will need Brents to step up during camp, preseason, and, ultimately, the regular season.
Dallis Flowers
Another young and inexperienced player in the Colts secondary is third-year cornerback, Dallis Flowers. With only five starts under his belt, Flowers is looking for a big year in 2024. He began the 2023 season as a starter but suffered a season-ending injury in week four. Little is known about Flowers’ ability as he is inexperienced, but he displayed a lot of promise in 2023. He will look to cement himself as a starter again in 2024.
Jaylon Jones
The Colts will have another second-year cornerback on their roster in, Jaylon Jones. He had ten starts in 2023 and was able to be a starter with Dallis Flowers season-ending injury. Jones is another young cornerback who displayed a lot of promise in 2023. He, too, will look to cement himself as a starter during training camp. His major competition will be Flowers, which will make for an interesting battle.
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