Larger Roles on the Way for Colts' Rookie Cornerbacks

With Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. potentially facing a suspension for violating the NFL's gambling policy, rookies JuJu Brents, Darius Rush, and Jaylon Jones are likely to see an increased role.

Monday evening, the news that Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. is under investigation for breaking the NFL’s gambling policy. Later that evening, Rodgers made an official statement on the matter, taking full responsibility for his actions.

Earlier in the offseason during the 2023 NFL Draft, the Colts elected to use three draft picks on corners, and with a suspension potentially looming for the team's expected number-one outside corner, snap counts are expected to exceed expectations for the rookies.

JuJu Brents

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With the 44th pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Colts selected Kansas State cornerback JuJu Brents. Being the highest-drafted corner of the Colts' draft class, Brents seems to be the first in line to earn the potential opening as one of the team's starting outside corners. His overall ability and knowledge in zone coverage should aid him during the camp battles. Brents possesses elite length and size for the corner position that led to the Colts selecting him in the second round. The Indy native hasn't been able to participate in any on-field offseason programs as a member of the Colts due to a wrist injury he is still recovering from. Once his injury heals and he is able to take the field, he could get the first crack at the team's number-one outside corner snaps.

Darius Rush

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With the 138th pick in the fifth round of the draft, the Colts selected South Carolina's Darius Rush. Usually, when a prospect is drafted on day three, early playing expectations are slim, but I’m here to tell you Rush isn't your typical day-three corner. A source close to the Colts even shared with Horseshoe Huddle that the team had Rush targeted as someone to take in Round 3 if they passed on cornerback during the second round. They also shared that the Colts were very close to drafting him in the fourth round. It seems luck was on their side on April 29 though, and Rush fell into their lap in the fifth. This information, paired with the ball skills he possesses as a converted wide receiver, and you have a prospect who can be ready for the challenge of competing to be one of the Colts' starting outside corners if the opportunity does, in fact, show itself.

Jaylon Jones

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With the 221st pick in the seventh round of the draft, the Colts selected Texas A&M's Jaylon Jones. Often, the debate being had for a seventh-round pick is whether or not they will make the team's roster. When it comes to Jones though, there is a better chance he is getting rotational cornerback snaps for the Colts as a rookie than he does of not making the team's opening 53-man roster. While Jones isn't the elite athlete that Brents and Rush are, the argument could be made that he was the best in coverage of the three during their college careers. His ability in zone should help him beat out other fringe roster cornerbacks during training camp, and his overall coverage ability could lead to him being one of the top rotational corners on this roster sooner rather than later.

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