Tomorrow's Colts

[John Hammonds]

I often go through an exercise I call "Tomorrow's Colts", in homage to the Star Trek episode "Tomorrow's Enterprise", where I look at the roster counting only the young players.  Just those 25 and younger.  This gives me an idea of the shape of our team when it comes to asking the question "If we have only a 4-year window, or a 6-year window, who would still be here at the end of that window?  Who would our foundational players be?  And which of today's players would determine the boundary of that window, because of their retirement?"  Also, which positions should we draft, simply to backfill for those rounding out their careers.

As you look over the list, please note who is missing.

 

Tomorrow's Colts

QB Anthony Richardson (age 22)

QB Sam Ehlinger (age 25)

RB Jonathan Taylor (age 25)

RB Trey Sermon (age 25)

RB Evan Hull (age 23)

WR Alec Pierce (age 24)

WR Josh Downs (age 22)

WR Adonai Mitchell (age 21)

WR Anthony Gould (age 23)

TE Jelani Woods (age 25)

TE Drew Ogletreen (age 25)

TE Will Mallory (age 25)

T Blake Freeland (age 23)

T Jake Witt (age 24)

T/G Matt Goncalves (age 23)

G/C Tanor Bortolini (age 22)

G Dalton Tucker (age 24)

DE Kwity Paye (age 25)

DE Dayo Odeyingbo (age 24)

DE Laiatu Latu (age 23)

DE Isaiah Land (age 24)

DT Aditomiwa Adibawore (age 23)

DT Jonah Laulu (age 24)

LB Grant Stuard (age 25)

LB Cameron McGrone (age 25)

LB Jaylon Carlies (age 22)

CB JuJu Brents (age 24)

CB Jaylon Jones (age 22)

DB Jaylon Simpson (age 24)

DB Ameer Speed (age 24)

S Julian Blackmon (age 25)

S Nick Cross (age 22)

S Trevor Denbo (age 25)

 

Note anybody missing?  And how they would affect the length of our current window?

 

[Superman]

49 minutes ago, John Hammonds said:

QB Anthony Richardson (age 22) *

QB Sam Ehlinger (age 25)

RB Jonathan Taylor (age 25) *

RB Trey Sermon (age 25)

RB Evan Hull (age 23)

WR Alec Pierce (age 24) 

WR Josh Downs (age 22) 

WR Adonai Mitchell (age 21) 

WR Anthony Gould (age 23)

TE Jelani Woods (age 25)

TE Drew Ogletree (age 25)

TE Will Mallory (age 25)

T Blake Freeland (age 23)

T Jake Witt (age 24)

T/G Matt Goncalves (age 23)

G/C Tanor Bortolini (age 22)

G Dalton Tucker (age 24)

DE Kwity Paye (age 25)

DE Dayo Odeyingbo (age 24)

DE Laiatu Latu (age 23)

DE Isaiah Land (age 24)

DT Aditomiwa Adibawore (age 23)

DT Jonah Laulu (age 24)

LB Grant Stuard (age 25)

LB Cameron McGrone (age 25)

LB Jaylon Carlies (age 22)

CB JuJu Brents (age 24)

CB Jaylon Jones (age 22)

DB Jaylon Simpson (age 24)

DB Ameer Speed (age 24)

S Julian Blackmon (age 25)

S Nick Cross (age 22)

S Trevor Denbo (age 25)

 

I like this. As a way to refine my thinking on your question, I'm bolding the players that I think have a reasonable chance of a) being on the roster next season, and b) have a reasonable chance of getting a meaningful second contract from the Colts. Starred players are those that I think have a good chance of being Pro Bowlers within the next 2-3 years. And italics are rookies, on whom I'm not yet taking a position.

 

To me, the bolded are the projected young core of the roster. And the starred and bolded -- Richardson, Taylor -- represent the potential stars on the roster (Taylor already being a star-level player). 

 

Mitchell and Latu deserve recognition as well. I think highly of their prospects, they could be star level players in the future.

[Coltsfan1953]

Micah Abraham is missing.

[John Hammonds]

10 hours ago, Coltsfan1953 said:

Micah Abraham is missing.

Yes.  My bad.  He's a draft choice and should be listed.

 

Now here are the guys who are missing who will shape what our window looks like

 

4-Year Window Guys (or less)

C Ryan Kelly (age 31)

DT Grover Stewart (age 30)

K Matt Gay (age 30)

DT DeForest Buckner (age 30)

TE Mo Allie-Cox (age 30)

LB E J Speed (age 29)

P Rigoberto Sanchez (age 29)

DE Tyquan Lewis (age 29)

DE Samson Ebukam (age 29)

T Braden Smith (age 28)

G Quenton Nelson (age 28)

DB Kenny Moore III (age 28)

LB Zaire Franklin (age 28)

 

4 to 6-year Window Guys

S Ronnie Harrison (age 27)

C Wesley French (age 27)

CB Dallis Flowers (age 27)

WR Ashton Dulin (age 27)

S Rodney Thomas (age 27)

T Bernhard Raimann (age 26)

WR Michael Pittman Jr (age 26)

TE Kylen Granson (age 26)

G Will Fries (age 26)

 

[MikeCurtis]

59 minutes ago, John Hammonds said:

Yes.  My bad.  He's a draft choice and should be listed.

 

Now here are the guys who are missing who will shape what our window looks like

 

4-Year Window Guys (or less)

C Ryan Kelly (age 31)

DT Grover Stewart (age 30)

K Matt Gay (age 30)

DT DeForest Buckner (age 30)

TE Mo Allie-Cox (age 30)

LB E J Speed (age 29)

P Rigoberto Sanchez (age 29)

DE Tyquan Lewis (age 29)

DE Samson Ebukam (age 29)

T Braden Smith (age 28)

G Quenton Nelson (age 28)

DB Kenny Moore III (age 28)

LB Zaire Franklin (age 28)

 

4 to 6-year Window Guys

S Ronnie Harrison (age 27)

C Wesley French (age 27)

CB Dallis Flowers (age 27)

WR Ashton Dulin (age 27)

S Rodney Thomas (age 27)

T Bernhard Raimann (age 26)

WR Michael Pittman Jr (age 26)

TE Kylen Granson (age 26)

G Will Fries (age 26)

 

Thanks for putting this together

 

I see us grabbing a stud DT next year

 

[throwing BBZ]

15 hours ago, John Hammonds said:

I often go through an exercise I call "Tomorrow's Colts", in homage to the Star Trek episode "Tomorrow's Enterprise", where I look at the roster counting only the young players.  Just those 25 and younger.  This gives me an idea of the shape of our team when it comes to asking the question "If we have only a 4-year window, or a 6-year window, who would still be here at the end of that window?  Who would our foundational players be?  And which of today's players would determine the boundary of that window, because of their retirement?"  Also, which positions should we draft, simply to backfill for those rounding out their careers.

As you look over the list, please note who is missing.

 

Tomorrow's Colts

QB Anthony Richardson (age 22)

QB Sam Ehlinger (age 25)

RB Jonathan Taylor (age 25)

RB Trey Sermon (age 25)

RB Evan Hull (age 23)

WR Alec Pierce (age 24)

WR Josh Downs (age 22)

WR Adonai Mitchell (age 21)

WR Anthony Gould (age 23)

TE Jelani Woods (age 25)

TE Drew Ogletreen (age 25)

TE Will Mallory (age 25)

T Blake Freeland (age 23)

T Jake Witt (age 24)

T/G Matt Goncalves (age 23)

G/C Tanor Bortolini (age 22)

G Dalton Tucker (age 24)

DE Kwity Paye (age 25)

DE Dayo Odeyingbo (age 24)

DE Laiatu Latu (age 23)

DE Isaiah Land (age 24)

DT Aditomiwa Adibawore (age 23)

DT Jonah Laulu (age 24)

LB Grant Stuard (age 25)

LB Cameron McGrone (age 25)

LB Jaylon Carlies (age 22)

CB JuJu Brents (age 24)

CB Jaylon Jones (age 22)

DB Jaylon Simpson (age 24)

DB Ameer Speed (age 24)

S Julian Blackmon (age 25)

S Nick Cross (age 22)

S Trevor Denbo (age 25)

 

Note anybody missing?  And how they would affect the length of our current window?

 

 

 I like 21 on this list that can be part of a Super Bowl run over the next 3 years. 

 And we have about 10 solid vets to lead the way.

Player development and draft for defense next year, get ready to Launch!

[AKB]

On 7/24/2024 at 8:20 AM, MikeCurtis said:

Thanks for putting this together

 

I see us grabbing a stud DT next year

 

I agree we are going to have to start planning for a future without our aging DT's

[DattMavis]

6 hours ago, AKB said:

I agree we are going to have to start planning for a future without our aging DT's

Yeah, DT and oline are my guess for what we target most in the draft. Maybe a mid-round LB. At this point, it's also considered to be a top heavy DB draft, so I would like to go that route in the 1st round.