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Now that the 2024 NFL Draft is well over, it's time for teams like the Indianapolis Colts to start figuring out their eventual 53-man roster.
It's true what they say: the NFL season is a 365-day-a-year job. Just ask any general manager, like the Colts' Chris Ballard. He and the team have been hard at work since Indianapolis' season ended back in January. Of course, it ended much sooner than they would have liked, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
To fix that, Ballard and the rest of the Colts staff, including head coach Shane Steichen, have to constantly be looking at ways to improve their roster for the upcoming season. Like all the other 31 teams, the Colts started tweaking their roster back in March when free agency opened. Some of the more notable additions include finalizing Michael Pittman Jr.'s new deal and adding veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to back up second-year starter Anthony Richardson.
That then moved to the draft, where the Colts made nine picks, starting with first-round, No. 15 overall selection Laiatu Latu, an edge rusher out of UCLA. But just because the draft ended didn't mean the Colts stopped adding pieces.
With all teams able to carry a 90-man roster throughout the preseason, the Colts went out and signed seven undrafted free agents, according to the team website.
Here they are:
- Jason Bean, QB/WR
- Trent Pennix, RB
- Spencer Shrader, K
- Kedon Slovis, QB
- Dalton Tucker, G
- Xavier White, WR
- Craig Young, LB
Looking at all seven undrafted free agents, if we had to pick only one to make the 53-man roster on the next-to-last Tuesday before the regular season begins, it would probably be Texas Tech football wide receiver Xavier White.
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Texas Tech's Xavier White has the best chance to make the Colts' 53-man roster
One of the biggest areas the Colts had to address this offseason was what they were going to do with Michael Pittman Jr. They solved that by signing him to a new three-year deal worth $70 million. However, entering Richardson, who only played a handful of games in his rookie season at quarterback, needed more weapons. So, with their second-round pick this year, the Colts selected Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
The Colts also drafted Oregon State wide receiver Anthony Gould in the fifth round at No. 142 overall. Not to mention that they will also have last year's starters in Josh Downs and Alec Pierce coming back, who were second and third in team receiving yards last season. However, finding valuable depth pieces in case one or multiple of these guys go down is paramount. That's where Xavier White can fill in.
Make no mistake, the Colts want to give Richardson as many resources as they can to not only limit his mistakes but also his injuries. As versatile as White is, Steichen could use him creatively in his offense. Just last season, White lined up anywhere from slot receiver to the backfield and even had meaningful time in kick and punt returns, according to Pro-Football-Focus.
In five seasons and 51 games playing for the Red Raiders, White compiled 133 receptions, 1,524 yards, and six touchdowns, while rushing 136 times for 754 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned 19 kickoffs for 407 yards and five punts for 46 yards, according to Sports-Reference.
When it comes to undrafted free agents, versatility is what a lot of coaches are looking for in players, knowing they could use them in a lot of different positions if need be. The Colts could not only find a place for White in the receiver room but also see him as a vital part of special teams, making him the best undrafted free agent to make the team roster.
