If the Indianapolis Colts are going to make their way back to the playoffs this season for the first time since 2020, these three players and position groups have to elevate their play.

To help facilitate better play, GM Chris Ballard has created competition at each of these positions, with a mixture of new faces and returning players all vying for playing time. Regardless of who earns these reps, the competition element hopefully helps raise the level of urgency and therefore the play of the entire position.

While improved play is needed across the board for the Colts, these three units, in particular, can make a big impact by accomplishing that.

Whoever the Colts’ starting quarterback is

As we’ve detailed, there is a lot to like about the Colts’ roster. However, at the end of the day, how good this team can be is going to be determined by the play of the quarterback.

Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson are competing for that starting job, and ultimately, what head coach Shane Steichen is looking for is consistency from whoever ends up under center.

“We’re just looking for consistency on a daily basis,” Steichen said. “I mean, you look around the league, the teams that were in the playoffs, the quarterback play was consistent.”

With a skill position group that features Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Warren, and the only trio of wideouts to all surpass 800 receiving yards last season–along with what should be an improved defense–the Colts don’t need elite play at quarterback to win games. They just need some steadiness.

The defensive tackle depth

We know that the Colts have an elite duo in DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, but at a heavily rotated position like defensive tackle, where four players regularly see snaps each week, depth is a must, and it’s an area where the Colts have to be better.

To accomplish this, GM Chris Ballard has reshaped the back end of this depth chart by releasing Raekwon Davis and letting Taven Bryan walk in free agency. He then signed Neville Gallimore, drafted Tim Smith, and brought back Eric Johnson on waivers. This trio will join Adetomiwa Adebawore and compete for playing time.

When you have a starting duo that features Buckner and Stewart, there is going to be a dropoff in play when the third, fourth, and fifth members of the rotation come on the field. But what the Colts can’t have is a dropoff so steep that offenses routinely take advantage of, which was the case in 2024.

Whoever ends up as CB2 opposite of Charvarius Ward

As a collective secondary unit last season, the Colts ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in pass deflections, yards per pass attempt allowed, completion rate, and passer rating.

To remedy this, Ballard signed Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum in free agency, not to mention that Lou Anarumo’s more aggressive and disguise-heavy scheme can help elevate the play of the secondary as well.

We know that Ward will be starting at one of the outside spots and that Kenny Moore will primarily be at the nickel, but that secondary outside cornerback role is up for grabs this summer. With Ward and Moore as a one-two punch, the Colts’ cornerback unit should be quite good, but if Jaylon Jones, Justin Walley, JuJu Brents, or anyone else can provide a steady presence at that other starting spot, this unit can go from quite good to really good.

“Just consistency of work, and that’s going to have to show throughout training camp, throughout the preseason games, to determine who’s going to get that job,” Anarumo said.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Quarterback, defensive tackle depth, among Colts who must improve