Veterans and rookies for the Indianapolis Colts will report for training camp on July 24th, with the first practice taking place on July 25th.
Between now and then I will be previewing the Colts’ 91-man roster with a look back at each player’s 2023 season, along with what’s ahead for 2024.
I’ll be going through the Colts’ roster alphabetically, so up next is cornerback Darrell Baker Jr. To stay up to date with our other previews, be sure to head over to Colts Wire.
2023 Season Review
Darrell Baker began the season as one of the Colts’ starting cornerbacks, but inconsistent play and eventual injuries in the secondary led to sporadic playing time throughout the season.
Baker played 469 defensive snaps in 2023 as a boundary cornerback. He was targeted 50 times, allowing 29 completions (58%) and a hefty 15.9 yards per catch–the sixth-highest average among cornerbacks.
Baker would force seven pass breakups and had a passer rating of 102.1 when targeted. Missed tackles were an issue for Baker, who missed 13 of his 46 attempts, according to PFF.
In a brutal 39-38 loss to Cleveland, Baker was flagged twice – on very questionable calls – with both penalties giving the Browns new life when it looked like the Colts were going to come away with the in.
“I don’t agree with the penalties at all,” Baker Jr. said via the Indy Star after that game “When those balls are uncatchable, usually they don’t throw those flags out, especially when they’re initiating the contact with the corner. You can put your hands on them, too, as long as you’re looking for the ball. I’m not impeding their force or anything. I don’t know what else I can do better on that.”
On special teams, Baker played 198 snaps across four different phases.
2024 Season Preview
Earlier in the offseason, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley would call the cornerback competition “wide open,” however, this is a battle that has already begun to take shape. Of course, Kenny Moore will be in the slot, and JuJu Brents appears locked into one of the boundary cornerback spots while Jaylon Jones and Dallis Flowers are competing for the other.
In the early going, it has been Jones who has been getting those starting reps.
“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.”
At a position group where five or six cornerbacks are typically rostered, that’s four spots accounted for. The Colts also spent two draft picks on the position, selecting Jaylin Simpson and Micah Abraham on Day 3. This doesn’t make them roster locks, but one would assume it gives them a leg up.
Baker, among others, will be competing with Simpson and Abraham for that final roster spot or two. When it comes to determining any back end of the roster spot, special teams play will be vital, and Baker’s experience in that regard could be an important differentiator for him.
If Baker is left off the initial roster, as a young player with both defensive and special teams experience, he would be a prime practice squad candidate, giving the Colts someone they can lean on if they find themselves in a pinch.