Colts breakout candidates who could help the team make the jump to the playoffs with a big 2025 season

Adonai Mitchell, WR

Adonai Mitchell had flashes in his rookie season, but for the most part, it was an underwhelming year. He played in all 17 games and recorded 23 receptions, 312 yards, and no touchdowns. The most shocking weakness he displayed came with drops after having some of the most reliable hands in college football at Texas in 2024. Where he shined, though, was his ability to generate separation at a very high rate. 

He's gonna get the chance to prove he can be a game changer for the Colts offense and will again split reps with Alec Pierce as the second outside WR. Pierce is entering a contract year, and Mitchell's mindset should be to prove he can be a starter for the team by 2026. Whether there's a planned battle for a starting spot in training camp, he should have the mentality that he's fighting for that job.

Matt Goncalves, G/T

The Colts saw Will Fries walk in free agency, and the plan for their starting RG spot is Matt Goncalves, who is entering his second season. Most of his snaps during his rookie year came at tackle, but many believed during his draft cycle that guard might be a better overall fit. If he is able to be successful at RG, the Colts will feel like geniuses; if he struggles, they are going to severely regret letting Fries walk for nothing.

Tanor Bortolini, C

The Colts say there will be a competition at center between veteran Danny Pinter and Tanor Borolini ahead of his second year. Bortolini shined when filling in for Ryan Kelly a year ago, and many around the Colts and the NFL think the sky is the limit for his potential. As a result, the Colts felt comfortable letting Kelly leave in free agency, and I'd be shocked if he wasn't their week one starter. If he is able to build off his solid rookie season and become a reliable starter going forward, that would be a major win for the team.

Defensive breakout candidates 

Laiatu Latu, Edge

The first breakout candidate on the defensive side of the ball is the team's 2024 first-round pick, Laiatu Latu. Latu finished his rookie year with four sacks, three forced fumbles, and 32 total tackles. He displayed his impressive toolkit of pass rush moves, but too often came close but didn't finish the play. Becoming a better finisher in the backfield needs to be his focus, and if he is able to do that, there's a real world where he develops into a 10+ sack type of player in 2025. And if he does a Colts defense that on paper already looks primed to take a big leap this season, it could end up one of the best in the NFL. 

Jaylon Carlies, LB

One of the Colts' biggest gambles this offseason was not adding to their LB room after losing Grant Stuard and EJ Speed in free agency. They are betting on Jaylon Carlies to not only take the starting job by the reins, but also stay healthy. Because if Zaire Franklin or Carlies have to miss time, the Colts don't have great options behind them that they can trust to play significant defensive snaps. So if he doesn't take that next step and become a solid starter for the team, this could blow up in the team's face in a massive way. 

Any of their young CBs

This last one is a group of players, because the Colts are going to have a few guys battling to be the second starting outside CB. Rookie Justin Walley and third year CBs Juju Brents and Jaylon Jones all enter training camp with their eyes set on the starting job. For the Colts, I'm sure there are people who have a preference on who takes that leap, but in all honesty, as long as one of them becomes a reliable long-term starter, it doesn't really matter who it is. So let the best man win the job, and then you also have some solid depth at a position that the Colts have struggled to find depth for quite some time.