2025 Indianapolis Colts Place Preview: Cornerback

Indianapolis, IN — The conclusion of Independence Day weekend implies that coaching camps throughout the NFL are quickly to kick off festivities. As in lots of such circumstances, the place battles from quarterback to longsnapper will probably be in abundance leaguewide.

As for the Indianapolis Colts, one of many extra intriguing place rooms to look at for in the course of the preseason is the cornerbacks. Whereas presumed CB1, Charvarius Ward, is slotted to steer the pack, the battle for his working mate ought to be enjoyable.

Third-year CB Jaylon Jones blossomed right into a professional starter final season, thus is favored to retain the job alongside Ward. Nevertheless, therein lies a actuality the place one of many slated backups — JuJu Brents, Samuel Womack III, and Justin Walley — finds a brand new gear to win the function in query.

Since slot cornerback has the place’s title baked into it, etymologically, one would suppose these positions are one and the identical. Provided that modern-day defenses make use of a nickel nook in base greater than ever earlier than, I’d think about it its personal place amongst the defensive backfield, one that could be a true hybrid between a cornerback and a security. No matter my designation, slot cornerbacks will certainly be thought of corners for this train.

Projected Starters

Charvarius Ward, Kenny Moore II (SLCB), Jaylon Jones

As alluded to, this place room may very nicely be the Colts’ greatest in 2025, and that power in numbers begins on the prime with its projected starters. Whether or not or not you’re a Colts fan studying this, likelihood is you’re conscious of the consistency that Kenny Moore II has supplied Indy since he turned a starter years in the past. Moore II could also be getting ready to 30 years previous, however his competitiveness, management, and sturdiness have served him a profitable system up till this level — there’s no purpose to guess towards twenty-three now, particularly contemplating how new DC Lou Anarumo will make the most of him on the line of scrimmage.

The massive-ticket add in free company is former All-Professional Charvarius Ward. Coming off an understandably down yr in San Francisco — a turmoil-filled season that was a byproduct of dropping his one-year-old daughter to coronary heart issues — Ward wanted a change of surroundings and acquired simply that within the type of a midwestern residence. An All-Professional in 2023 after hauling in 5 interceptions and notching a league-high 23 passes defended, Ward is hungrier than ever.

As talked about, Jaylon Jones is coming off a powerful sophomore season the place he began all 17 video games because the protection’s de facto CB1, racking up 100 tackles, 2 INTs, and 12 passes defended. The beginning spot alongside Ward in no way belongs to anybody, however Jones is definitely the frontrunner going into coaching camp resulting from his confirmed ground as a beginning cornerback.

Backups/Rotational

JuJu Brents, Samuel Womack III, Justin Walley, Corey Ballentine

This group offers depth that Indy’s cornerback room has desperately wanted in recent times. After throwing dart after dart, it feels as if Ballard and Co. have lastly created a cornerback room price trotting out.

Samuel Womack III’s spot begins and general play as an early-season waiver declare have been all that you could possibly ask for in an in any other case rocky season, particularly defensively. He supplied a breath of recent air to final yr’s room and appears to solidify himself because the go-to backup behind Jones. Similar goes for JuJu Brents, although his highway will probably be one much more traveled. Brents has struggled to remain wholesome by means of two years within the league, however given there’s no gaping gap at beginning nook, the strain to return to type fades a bit. Specializing in being and staying wholesome is Brents’ important precedence.

Justin Walley and Corey Ballentine current intriguing prospect profiles heading into the season, each of which have them projected because the slot corners beneath Kenny Moore II. Ballentine was signed with a particular groups function in thoughts, whereas the Colts drafted Walley within the third spherical (increased than the consensus board had him ranked) resulting from an identical infatuation this regime had means again once they claimed Kenny Moore II off waivers. To not recommend that Walley is destined for a profession like Moore’s, however clearly the Colts really feel strongly about his potential in that regard. It’d be a tricky climb for Ballentine to carve himself out a rotational function on the surface, however as of now, Kenny Moore II’s backup in ready is empty. Certainly one of these 4 will slot in that function, and coaching camp is when that’s determined.

Fringe Lively Roster/Apply Squad

David Lengthy Jr., Alex Johnson, Johnathan Edwards

We’ll greater than doubtless see essentially the most of this trio throughout Indy’s three preseason video games in August, however there’s no hurt in previewing what they’ll deliver to the desk in coaching camp.

David Lengthy Jr. is a former third-round decide from 2019 who has struggled to search out his footing within the NFL so far. He has began 12 video games and appeared in 79 complete since getting into the league, totaling 96 tackles, 8 handed defended, and 1 interception.

Alex Johnson (2024) and Johnathan Edwards (2025) are undrafted free brokers who want to show themselves. There’s not way more to say about this group apart from it consists of three totally different but equally hungry people. No matter their names or pedigrees, these are amongst essentially the most intriguing camp battles yr in and yr out. It’s close to unimaginable to not root for every of those that fall into this grouping, and that usually makes for an important story (i.e., Kenny Moore II).