Tag: Julius Brents

Colts sign CB Julius Brents to rookie deal

Julius Brents is officially under contract with the Colts.

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The Indianapolis Colts signed cornerback Julius Brents to a four-year rookie deal, the team announced Monday.

Brents, the No. 44 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, is expected to battle for one of the starting roles on the boundary.

The former Kansas State cornerback missed the entire spring workout program after undergoing wrist surgery in March, something the Colts knew when they selected him in the second round.

An uber-athletic defender, Brents is a near-perfect fit for Gus Bradley’s defense as a long-limbed perimeter defender.

Even with questions surrounding the cornerback room, Brents offers a glimmer of hope as a foundational piece to the position for the future.

5 Colts players with the most to gain at training camp

These Colts have the most to gain at training camp in 2023.

With training camp around the corner, the Indianapolis Colts can look forward to a clean slate from last season and a chance to improve.

Head coach Shane Steichen is leading the charge and fans can expect that, at minimum, a culture shift will happen.

With a culture shift comes a change in mindset and a push for growth for many players.

Here are five Colts players with the most to gain at training camp this year:

Madden 24: Launch ratings for Colts LBs, CBs

Shaquille Leonard and Kenny Moore II lead the Colts LBs and CBs in Madden 24 ratings.

With training camp right around the corner for the majority of teams, EA Sports has started unveiling “Madden NFL 24” launch ratings ahead of the release date for the game.

After taking a look at the wide receivers and safeties, the second group to be revealed included the defensive tackles and defensive ends. Now, it’s time to take a look at the linebackers and cornerbacks for the Colts.

Here’s a look at the launch ratings for the linebackers and cornerbacks on the Colts in “Madden NFL 24:”

7 Colts rookies to watch at training camp

Rookies will be all the rage at Colts training camp.

The Indianapolis Colts are opening up their training camp on July 26 at the Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield.

This season they will be leaning on having major contributions from their rookie class. It’s a new era for the franchise and one that includes a new direction with a fresh face at the quarterback position along with several additions to the defensive side of the ball.

Here are seven first-year players to watch when training camp kicks off later this month:

1 Colt from each position to watch at training camp

Keep an eye on these Colts players during training camp.

The Indianapolis Colts officially regroup for the 2023 season down at Grand Park for training camp at the end of July.

With the season looming on the horizon and the team looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2022 showing, eyes will be on the Colts and the different talent, young and old, on the roster.

Here is one player from each position to keep an eye on during training camp and the preseason leading up to the start of the regular season:

Spotlight on Colts rookie CB Julius Brents after suspensions/releases

Julius Brents has a golden opportunity to start as a rookie.

After being suspended indefinitely for gambling, the Indianapolis Colts waived cornerbacks Rashod Berry and Isaiah Rogers. This whole debacle cost the Colts two veteran cornerbacks but opened up opportunities for three rookies headlined by Julius Brents.

Indianapolis drafted the former Kansas State star in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. Brents was a fast riser later in the draft process once the rest of the world discovered his combination size and measurables.

Brents stands at 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds with exceptional skills in press-man coverage. He does a great job keeping his head up and reacting to the football and can flip his hips quickly and leap for the football. Brents is also a physical, willing run defender and strong tackler.

With Dallis Flowers on one side, Brents looks to be in line to start on the other with fellow Jaylon Jones and Darius Rush as the primary backups. Rush in particular is a player to watch as the team’s key rotational boundary cornerback during the season.

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6 Colts rookies who could crack starting lineup in 2023

Which rookies have a chance to crack the starting lineup in 2023?

The Indianapolis Colts will be entering training camp with a massive rookie class vying for roster spots and starting roles.

With 11 draft picks (excluding Daniel Scott) and 12 undrafted free agent rookies currently on the roster, there will be plenty of competition throughout the month of August.

Cracking the starting lineup would be considered a win for the majority of rookies on any team. First-round picks certainly get more opportunities to do so, but the Colts have an intriguing rookie class with potential starters all over the place.

Though no undrafted free agent rookies made this list, here are six Colts rookies who could crack the starting lineup in 2023:

Trio of Colts draft picks remain unsigned entering July

Three members of the Colts’ rookie draft class remain unsigned entering July.

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The Indianapolis Colts will officially have football before the end of the month is over when the team returns to the Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield on July 26, but a trio of draft picks has yet to sign their rookie deals.

This is not a major cause for concern yet. It happens every offseason where rookies will go into the month of July without having signed their deals. Most of the time it has less to do about money and more with the offset language of the contract.

The Colts went through this a few years ago with Shaquille Leonard in 2018, who didn’t sign his rookie deal until July 22, three days before the start of training camp that year.

The three players who have yet to sign their rookie deals as of this writing include quarterback Anthony Richardson (No. 4 overall), cornerback Julius Brents (No. 44 overall) and offensive tackle Blake Freeland (No. 106 overall).

Richardson is certainly the big name everyone will be monitoring, but it’s not as if he’s alone in this endeavor. As of this writing, only one of the top-five picks from the 2023 NFL draft has signed his rookie deal (Will Anderson Jr.). He signed a four-year deal worth $35.2 million guaranteed with a fifth-year team option.

The expectation should be that these deals will be completed before training camp arrives so no one should be hitting the panic button just yet.

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6 Colts who need to step up amid Isaiah Rodgers Sr. suspension

These Colts will need to step up with Isaiah Rodgers expected to be suspended.

The Indianapolis Colts are betting that a young group of players to compete for the starting outside cornerback spots, and that battle, unfortunately, got thinner due to Isaiah Rodgers Sr. being expected to receive a season-long suspension.

The news was first reported Wednesday by ESPN that Rodgers Sr., along with other NFL players, are expected to receive a suspension due to violations of the league’s gambling policy.

Because of the expected suspension, Kenny Moore II is the only corner on the roster that has played more than 438 defensive snaps.

Gus Bradley is going to need his young group of players to step up and take advantage of the opportunity in front of them.

Here are six players who will be looking to fill Rodgers Sr. void in the defense:

How Isaiah Rodgers’ suspension impacts Colts

How Isaiah Rodgers Sr.’s suspension impacts the Colts.

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Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. is expected to receive a season-long suspension from the league for violating the NFL’s policy on gambling.

The news was handed down Wednesday in response to an investigation that raised concerns that Rodgers was part of numerous bets on NFL games, reportedly including some that involved the team.

The expected unavailability of Rodgers casts serious doubt on the strength of the Colts’ cornerback unit. Despite returning veteran Kenny Moore II, the group is fragile regarding experience.

Several players are limited in starting experience, instead having niche skillsets related to special teams. Not to mention, the remaining unit is exceptionally young including this year’s draft class haul of Julius Brents, Jaylon Jones, and Darius Rush.

If the team chooses not to sign a veteran cornerback to replace Rodgers, fifth-round pick Darius Rush could get the nod to start in his place. Rush has elite athleticism with long arms that could help his assimilation into the role. However, asking Rush and several rookies to start in the secondary will be very challenging for the Colts and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.

What could help these young players is a quick, explosive pass rush that can disrupt games and stop passing attacks. The team’s 11th-ranked defense, which produced 44 sacks and a pressure rate of 22% in 2022, will need to step up again to help mitigate the secondary youth. Additionally, this could be a prime opportunity for Kenny Moore to shine.

Before the beginning of last season, he wanted a new contract that matched his belief that not only was he the best slot corner in the NFL, but one of the best in the league, period. This is his chance to prove that as he enters his second year in Bradley’s system. Elite play on the field and accompanying mentorship could help lessen the weight of Rodgers’s absence.

The most important thing for fans to remember is that this will continue to be fluid. The coaching staff will continue to tweak the lineup based on production, matchups, and specific packages. Patience is needed and warranted.