Seventh-round pick Deion Burks, the Colts’ speedy offseason addition, didn’t make the cut in ESPN insider Stephen Holder’s pre-training camp 53-man roster prediction. That’s a gut punch for long-term upside, but it makes sense when you see who Holder thinks is staying instead. This isn’t just about one player; it’s a bold call reflecting the team’s immediate strategy as training camp gets ready to kick off.
The Wide Receiver Short-Term Bet
Holder’s prediction has the Colts keeping six wide receivers, and instead of Burks, it’s Laquon Treadwell getting a spot. Now, Burks brings some serious juice to the offense. He’s got impressive speed, and even at 5-10, 180 pounds, the Colts see him as someone who can line up anywhere, slot or outside. Plus, he could double as a return man, giving the special teams unit a real spark. So why cut him? Holder’s reasoning is all about instant impact. Treadwell comes with NFL experience, he knows Coach Shane Steichen’s offense, and he can potentially make a greater impact from day one. He’s also a more seasoned contributor on multiple special teams phases. It’s a classic choice: proven veteran over raw potential. The kicker? Releasing Burks means there’s no guarantee he makes it back to the practice squad. Another team could swoop in and snatch that speedster up, making this a clear gamble of passing on long-term upside for a short-term boost. You gotta wonder if that’s a risk GM Chris Ballard wants to take.
Safety Depth Prioritizes Experience
The other offseason addition left off Holder’s 53-man roster prediction is free agent safety Juanyeh Thomas. Holder’s got the Colts only keeping four safeties total, which really tightens the competition. For Thomas, playing time was always going to be a battle. AJ Haulcy looks like the favorite to lock down a starting role alongside Cam Bynum, which means those two spots are pretty much spoken for. Then there’s Hunter Wohler, who Holder sees getting snaps in defensive-back-heavy formations. Wohler brings a strong presence closer to the line of scrimmage, offering both coverage and run defense. If it truly comes down to just four safeties, Thomas’s shot likely hinges on who’s the better special teams contributor between him and Jonathan Owens. And in that specific head-to-head, Owens has the edge when you look at his special teams and defensive experience. It’s a tough break, but when roster spots are this tight, experience often wins out.
So what’s next? With training camp just around the corner, these predictions from Holder lay out some serious stakes for these players. Burks and Thomas are going to have to absolutely ball out to prove this insider wrong. Every rep in camp and every snap in a pre-season game is going to matter big-time, as they fight for their spot against proven vets in a cutthroat battle for a roster spot.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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