The Indianapolis Colts’ secondary unit is near the of Pro Football Focus’ latest rankings heading into the 2024 season.
While PFF does acknowledge that Kenny Moore is one of the best slot cornerbacks in the game, and that Julian Blackmon is coming off a career year, it’s the uncertainty beyond those two that lands the Colts’ secondary unit at No. 28 in these rankings.
The only teams ranked lower than the Colts are Jacksonville at No. 29, followed by Washington, the New York Giants, and Arizona.
In part due to injuries, this was a Colts secondary in 2023 that had to rely heavily on several inexperienced players. This resulted in inconsistent play, specifically, surrendering too many explosive plays while also not making enough plays on the football.
However, the only outside additions to either the cornerback or safety positions this offseason came on Day 3 of the draft when the Colts selected two cornerbacks. Internally, they appear to be much more bullish about this unit than the outside is.
A healthy secondary, with JuJu Brents and Dallis Flowers on the practice field for offseason programs, along with the experience gained last season will need to be two catalysts towards improved play in 2024.
“I think they’ve grown up,” said GM Chris Ballard earlier this offseason. “It’s been fun to watch them. Once you play 16-17 games in this league, you’ve grown up to the fact where you’re no longer a rookie. So I think we’ll see better play out of them.”
There will be two starting spots up for grabs this summer during training camp in the back end of this Colts’ defense. Moore will be at the nickel, Blackmon as the strong safety, and Brents appears to be locked into one of the boundary roles, however, the free safety spot and the boundary position opposite of Brents are up for grabs.
Through offseason programs, we’ve seen Jaylon Jones getting the start over Dallis Flowers—although there is still a long way to go before anything is determined—while Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas have been sharing starting reps at safety.
“I think all those guys, obviously, we drafted two young guys, but I think with Jaylon Jones, Dallis, and JuJu, they’re long, rangy guys that are physical when they get up and press,” said Shane Steichen during minicamp.
They got good vision. I love those guys. It’s a good room. A good competition there. It’s going to be a good competition, obviously, in minicamp and OTAs, but going into training camp is going to be big for all those guys.”
Given the unknowns that the Colts face in the secondary, Brents can have one of the biggest impacts on the entire team this season by making that Year 2 leap that so many successful NFL players make.