The Indianapolis Colts selected nine players in the 2024 NFL Draft and just a few months later cut a third of that group from their roster before the season had even begun.
As NFL teams trimmed their rosters to 53 players on Tuesday, the Colts announced they were releasing cornerbacks Jaylin Simpson and Micah Abraham and defensive tackle Jonah Laulu, among others, all of whom were selected in this year’s draft.
Simpson was selected in the fifth round (No. 164) out of Auburn, while Abraham was selected in the sixth round (No. 201) out of Marshall and Laulu was selected in the seventh round (No. 234) out of Oklahoma.
The Colts today eliminated their seventh, sixth and one of their fifth draft picks from the April draft.
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) 27 August 2024
While you expect late draft picks to be cut and possibly put on practice squads every year, having three draft picks not make the first roster is a lot. Especially a fifth-round pick like Simpson. Especially on a roster that isn’t particularly deep.
Last season, the Colts released another fifth-round cornerback before the season. Darius Rush was the 138th pick of the draft and was released on August 29, 2023. He made the Pittsburgh Steelers roster this season.
The Colts prefer the players they currently have on their roster over some they drafted in 2024. We’ll see if keeping them over the new additions proves to be a good decision by general manager Chris Ballard.
