After signing Pharaoh Brown and drafting Miami’s Will Mallory this offseason, the Indianapolis Colts continue to build their tight end room. They’ve now signed Kaden Smith for the position, formerly with the New York Giants.
This also includes the waiving of guard Harris LaChance, who the Colts picked up as an undrafted free agent out of BYU.
Many will look at this sign with a question mark forming in their frontal lobe. However, this is the Colts taking their tight end room with no jokes. Continuing to add competition will guarantee players like Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson are true fits.
This isn’t to discount the aforementioned tight ends, but they haven’t panned out with flying colors to date. Alie-Cox is worth a three-year, $18 million contract that was inked up in 2021. In his first two seasons of that contract, he’s accumulated 43 catches for 505 yards and seven scores. Granson has been with the team for two seasons and has 42 catches for 408 yards and no scores.
Have there been inconsistencies at quarterback and coaching? Sure. But those aren’t numbers that will push a defense much at all.
Bringing in Smith is good for the above players. Through three seasons with the Giants, he’s put together a career slate of 33 games, 52 catches for 413 yards, and three touchdowns. Is it likely that Smith will more likely push Brown for his position? I think so.
But, this also puts notice to Alie-Cox and Granson that the time has come to be better. With a young playmaker like Jelani Woods, raw talent like Andrew Ogletree, and the move tight end like Mallory now also in the fray, this is a clear sign the Colts want the best to be in this group.
The notable names competing are now:
- Jelani Woods
- Andrew Ogletree
- Kylen Granson
- Mo Alie-Cox
- Pharaoh Brown
- Will Mallory (rookie)
- Kaden Smith
This is now stacked and full of players ready for a spot. While it’s assumed that Woods, Ogletree, Granson, and Mallory are locks, it’s not always the case. Look for this group to have a bit of an uptick in urgency with all of the names filling the tight end room during OTAs and training camp. It will be great for these players to push one another to be the best for a young and vibrant Colts team that has been assembled and needs a strong, tight-end presence.
More must-reads: