Top Takeaways: Colts Wrap Up 2019 Offseason Workout Program

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» Awards season: Before completely moving on to the 2019 season, several Colts were recognized for their performances throughout 2018. Of the more notable awards, quarterback Andrew Luck was named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year and linebacker Darius Leonard was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, while head coach Frank Reich was named the AFC Coach of the Year at the NFL 101 Awards.


» Taking care of your own: The Colts didn’t waste much time ensuring several key players would be back for at least the 2019 season, as the team this offseason re-signed the likes of kicker Adam Vinatieri (Jan. 28), guard Mark Glowinski (Jan. 29), tight end Ross Travis (Feb. 26), defensive tackle Margus Hunt (March 5), cornerback Chris Milton (March 13), cornerback Pierre Desir (March 14), safety Clayton Geathers (March 20), tackle J’Marcus Webb (April 5), punter Rigoberto Sanchez (June 4), long snapper Luke Rhodes (June 11) and cornerback Kenny Moore II (June 13). General manager Chris Ballard has repeatedly discussed the importance of rewarding the players who not only produce — and all these players have held up their end of the bargain in that area — but who also represent everything that the organization stands for. While the team had plenty of cap space entering the offseason — usually at times more than any other team in the league – Ballard wanted to make sure he had enough room to take care of his own players’ new deals, and the Colts have met that goal this offseason.


» Welcome to the squad: But while the Colts will see many returners from last year’s team, Ballard and his staff, as well as Reich and his staff, have also been hard at work making tweaks, big and small, to the roster to continue adding talent and competition on offense, defense and special teams. In free agency, the Colts signed wide receiver Devin Funchess, who brings a rare mixture of size (6 foot 4, 225 pounds), speed and route-running ability to the offense. On defense, Indy brought in veteran Justin Houston and his 78.5 career sacks with the hope that switching him from a 3-4 outside linebacker to a 4-3 defensive end will only add to his résumé as a pass-rushing nightmare.


» With the next pick…: Last year, the Colts had one of the better draft classes in recent memory, as Leonard (a second-round pick) and guard Quenton Nelson (a first-round pick) each became the first pair of rookie teammates to be named First-Team All-Pro since 1965, when future Hall of Famers Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers accomplished that feat with the Chicago Bears. And that’s on top of several other 2018 Colts draft picks that made major contributions throughout their rookie seasons, guys like Braden Smith at tackle, Kemoko Turay and Tyquan Lewis at defensive end, Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins at running back and Matthew Adams and Zaire Franklin at linebacker. And as great as that draft class was, Ballard and his scouting staff knew the pressure was on to do it all over again with the 2019 draft class — and they delivered. The Colts ultimately made four trades throughout the draft to acquire 10 picks in all: cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, linebacker Ben Banogu, wide receiver Parris Campbell, linebacker Bobby Okereke, safety Khari Willis, cornerback Marvel Tell III, linebacker E.J. Speed, defensive end Gerri Green, tackle Jackson Barton and center Javon Patterson. The team’s first four picks, all coming in the second and third rounds, couldn’t have gone better, as the team added at two major positions of need — corner and wide receiver — while it also added two quick, athletic pieces at linebacker who can play all over the field. Many of these guys were also seen already getting in first-team reps during offseason workouts, so while the development needs to be accelerated in July with the start of training camp, it’s safe to say the future is extremely bright in Indianapolis.