Following roster cuts, two recent Colts’ draft picks were claimed off waivers by two other teams.
Eric Johnson, a defensive tackle and fifth-round pick by the Colts in 2022, was claimed by the New England Patriots, and 2024 seventh-round pick and fellow defensive tackle Jonah Laulu was claimed by the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Colts would end up keeping five defensive tackles on their 53-man roster. The top of the depth chart was as expected with DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, and Raekwon Davis.
Adetomiwa Adebawore also made the team after an impressive summer, where refined technique and playing with more power resulted in more disruption.
The fifth spot, however, is what was up for grabs. The Colts ultimately went with Taven Bryan and his experience as a pass rusher. It was a pretty quiet preseason for Bryan, who recorded only one pressure, but SI’s Albert Breer spoke would call him a “camp surprise” during his training camp visit to Indianapolis this summer.
Johnson played 392 total defensive snaps in his first two seasons with the Colts, with 265 of them coming in 2023. Johnson was tasked with bolstering the run defense depth when Stewart wasn’t on the field, but he and Bryan would struggle to fill that role.
Laulu, meanwhile, is more of a developmental player, but it’s his versatility and athleticism that drew the Colts to him during the NFL draft.