Hey there Colts’ fans! Here are my thoughts for this month from the Colts’ Corral:

ROSTER: The Colts got their final draft pick WR Adonai Mitchell under contract right as the mandatory veteran minicamp was ongoing, but that did not stop him from experiencing the OTAs or mandatory minicamp last week. The last draft pick to sign, he is probably the one that may have the biggest impact in 2024 without injuries thrusting someone into a more major role than anticipated. Otherwise, the only roster news was the shuffling of some deep roster guys onto the roster (a couple small college guys) or onto the waiver wire as OC Jack Anderson may have had trouble competing with the new draft picks for a backup O-line spot in 2024. Unfortunately, there was one major injury at minicamp as snakebitten SS Daniel Scott will miss a second consecutive season, this time with a torn Achilles tendon after an ACL tear in 2023’s camp. His work ethic and attitude will likely earn him another chance to make his NFL debut in 2025.

MINICAMP: The obvious big story in minicamp is the return to action of QB Anthony Richardson after an abbreviated rookie campaign that showed flashes of his freakish skill set. He was not limited in any capacity while on the field, throwing deep and scrambling around, looking like his usual athletic self and drawing lots of oohs and aahs from the audience, as well as from the coaches and his teammates. Of course, the crazy unicorn talent was never in question, but merely the overwhelming concern as to whether or not he can stay on the field in the NFL. This nagging fear of course was all the story as he was held out of the later stages of camp with a little soreness in the shoulder he had surgically repaired and which caused him to miss the bulk of he 2023 season. He and the staff say it was no big deal, and more akin to "protecting him from himself," but of course every fan is more than a little concerned about that. Cach Steichen said he would be starting if it was Sunday, so not to worry. Rookie Mitchell was agape at being on the field with Richardson, gushing about how he can do anything he wants on the field especially throwing deep. Mitchell also was showing some blossoming chemistry with Richardson, especially in the red zone in 11-on-11 drills.

Last year’s deep threat WR Alec Pierce has bulked up a bit and looks more likely to be a more physical receiver than a speed guy now that there are two speedier rookies at the position. And lead WR Michael Pittman (who sat out OTAs after bumping knees with a cornerback) is not resting on his laurel’s after becoming a top 10 paid receiver this offseason; he is still playing with a "prove it" chip on his shoulder to garner some respect from around the league. The biggest battle with fantasy relevance is the backup to RB Jonathan Taylor – he is sure to be a workhorse, but the #2 guy will get touches and could be a workhorse if there is an injury. Right now, the clear #2 is RB Trey Sermon who is drawing rave reviews from OC JimBob Cooter for always "getting the ball to the right place." If you are drafting early and looking for a handcuff, Sermon is the guy…and is worth a late round lottery pick in draftmaster leagues with big enough rosters for a dart throw.

Backup QB Joe Flacco looked pretty sharp in the team drills, being especially willing to push the ball down the field a lot. This was the big reason they brought him in this year rather than re-signing the popular Gardner Minshew as backup – they wanted the offense to remain strongly vertical if Richardson has to be out of the lineup, and they became very low-octane under Minshew in 2023 due to his weaker arm. Flacco especially clicked with mismatch TE Jelani Woods, who is coming back after missing all of last year with hamstring issues. Woods is looking like the guy that finished his 2022 rookie campaign strong, and he is expected to be a big part of the offense in 2024.

So the Colts will work out on their own for the next six weeks until returning for the training camp in July. Richardson will engage in some informal throwing with the receiving corps in the interim, and he and a few other guys recovering from 2023 injuries will do their rehab and stay close to the team. The Colts, if healthy, have a chance to be a real dark horse team in the NFL and some guys could be underrated fantasy producers that provide draft day value for your squads.

That is all from the Crossroads of America for this month. I’ll be back on the eve of training camp to update the team after Independence Day. Enjoy your summer!!

End.