Colts Most Competitive Position Group – CB

The Indianapolis Colts’ cornerback room is shaping up as the team’s deepest and most contested unit heading into the 2025-26 season. General manager Chris Ballard overhauled the secondary after hiring veteran DC Lou Anarumo, targeting experienced, press-coverage corners that fit Anarumo’s aggressive scheme. The crown jewel of the offseason was Charvarius Ward, an established All-Pro cornerback. Ward (6’1″) brings Super Bowl pedigree (3 starts) and elite playmaking to Indy. In 2023 he led the NFL with 23 passes defensed, earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors. Joining Ward as a cornerstone is Kenny Moore II, a nine-year veteran slot corner. Moore is widely regarded as one of the league’s best slot defenders – PFF ranks him among the top 30 corners in the NFL – and he consistently frustrates receivers (limiting completions to 57.3% in coverage). As Ballard and Steichen noted, Anarumo’s “tight coverage, press man stuff” style rewards physical, playmaking defenders like Ward and Moore. Together they immediately project as two of Indy’s three starters.

Emerging Talent and Returning Cornerbacks

Behind the veterans, a deep crop of young corners will battle for starting roles. Jaylon Jones (6’2″, 3rd year) enjoyed a breakout in 2024, starting all 17 games and racking up over 100 tackles with two picks and 12 passes defended. Stampede Blue notes Jones “blossomed into a legitimate starter” and will head into camp as the frontrunner for the outside corner opposite Ward. JuJu Brents (6’3″, 2023 2nd-round pick) brings ideal size and press-coverage ability but has battled injuries, playing only 11 games in his first two seasons. SI’s preview calls Brents “too far back on the depth chart” to be a lock for Week 1, but his long limbs and scheme fit (as a former zone corner converting to press man) mean he “should get some playing time opposite Ward” if healthy. Sam Womack III (5’10″, claimed off waivers in 2024) also enters the mix. Womack showed in limited action that he can be a difference-maker – SI notes his 2024 season included an interception and forced fumble – and Colts coaches will evaluate whether he can steal significant snaps outside or in the slot.

Rookies and Fringe Contributors

The Colts also added youth and depth via the draft and free agency. Justin Walley, a 5’10″ corner from Minnesota, was their third-round pick in 2025. Ballard’s staff evidently believes Walley has starter upside: Stampede Blue notes that Walley was selected “higher than the consensus board had him ranked” and projects him as a slot contender backing up Moore. Another young face is Johnathan Edwards (6’1″), an undrafted free-agent from Tulane signed in May 2025. Edwards is an intriguing developmental player – the Colts’ press release highlights his solid college ball (124 career tackles, 22 pass breakups) – but he’ll need to prove himself on the practice field to win a roster spot.

On the roster bubble are a few more names. Corey Ballentine (5’9″) was signed as a free-agent primarily for special teams and nickel duty; he’ll likely compete for depth but could sneak into sub-packages. 27-year-old David Long Jr. (5’11″) was re-signed in March 2025 as a special-teams ace; his NFL resume (Super Bowl ring, NFL special-teams starter) suggests he’s in contention for the practice squad or spot duty. Other undrafted rookies like Alex Johnson (2024) are also fighting to hang on. In short, beyond Ward and Moore the corner room is an “intriguing” free-for-all of young players vying for playing time.

Projected Starting Corners

Based on each player’s résumé, system fit, and performance, media outlets have identified the likely starters. Stampede Blue’s 2025 preview projects Charvarius Ward (outside) and Kenny Moore II (slot) as locks, joined on the outside by Jaylon Jones. Sports Illustrated’s preview likewise heralds Ward as the new No. 1 starter, teaming with Moore, and lists Jones and even rookie Walley as part of the “solid group” ahead of Brents. In short, most analyses see Ward and Moore anchoring the defense, with one outside corner job expected to go to Jones and the other to come from the Brents/Womack/Walley/Long crop as training camp unfolds.

Likely 2025 Colts Corners:

• Charvarius Ward (outside) – veteran All-Pro addition, led NFL in passes defended (23) in 2023.
• Kenny Moore II (slot) – seasoned slot specialist, ranked among PFF’s top 30 corners.
• Jaylon Jones (outside) – third-year, 17-game starter in 2024 (100 tackles, 2 INT).

Other contenders – JuJu Brents, Sam Womack III, Justin Walley, Corey Ballentine, David Long Jr. – provide depth and will compete fiercely for starting roles or major rotations. Ultimately, the Colts’ cornerback competition will be settled in training camp, but with multiple veterans and promising youngsters, this position group is indeed the team’s most contested heading into 2025.