Former Freshman of the Year Could Earn a Spot on Colts Roster

Quarterback Kedon Slovis went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t make an NFL roster next season.

After the draft, Slovis signed a $30,000 guaranteed contract with the Indianapolis Colts. Now, he’ll compete for a spot on the team’s 53-man roster.

It will be extremely difficult for Slovis to make the team because he wasn’t drafted. But if he has a great training camp, he can accomplish the feat.

Kedon Slovis Could Earn a Spot on the Indianapolis Colts’ Roster

Up-and-Down Collegiate Career

Kedon Slovis was a relatively unknown prospect out of high school. USC was the only school from one of the Power Five conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC) to show interest in him. Yet, he eventually became a starting college quarterback.

Slovis began his career with the USC Trojans in 2019. As a freshman, he took over for injured starter JT Daniels and had several memorable performances. He threw for 515 yards (a school record) and four touchdowns against UCLA. He also had three other games in which he passed for at least 400 yards and four touchdowns.

Slovis finished the 2019 campaign with 3,502 yards, 30 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and an NCAA freshman-record 71.8 completion percentage. Leading USC to an 8-4 record and a trip to the Holiday Bowl, he was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

In 2020, Slovis recorded 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions during the COVID-shortened season. He struggled the next year with 2,153 yards and 11 interceptions, completing just 65 percent of his pass attempts.

Slovis transferred to Pittsburgh for the 2022 campaign. He would play one season there, throwing for 2,397 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Scottsdale, Arizona native then transferred to Brigham Young. Last season, he passed for 1,716 yards and 12 interceptions in eight games. Brigham Young posted a 5-7 record, including 2-7 in the Big 12 conference.

Can He Beat Out Sam Ehlinger?

Anthony Richardson is undoubtedly the Colts’ starting quarterback. The former fourth-overall pick played only four games last season due to a shoulder injury. However, he will return in 2024 primed for a breakout year.

In Richardson’s absence last year, Gardner Minshew took over and almost helped the team make the playoffs. He left as a free agent this offseason, though, and was replaced by veteran Joe Flacco.

Flacco will serve as Richardson’s primary backup. Sam Ehlinger is currently the No. 3 quarterback on the Colts’ depth chart.

Slovis will compete with fellow undrafted free agent Jason Bean and Ehlinger for the No. 3 spot. Again, Slovis can win the spot if he has a good training camp.

Slovis is very fast. At the combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds. That was the fastest out of the four quarterbacks that ran the drill.

He’s also intriguing because of his standout freshman season. That was Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr.’s senior year at USC as he recorded career-highs of 101 catches for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns.

When it’s all said and done, Ehlinger will likely keep his spot as the Colts’ third quarterback behind Richardson and Flacco. The former Texas Longhorn has been in Indianapolis since the team drafted him in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. He has three years of NFL experience, which includes three career starts. Management obviously likes having him around. But don’t rule out Slovis taking his job.