Big question facing Colts defensive tackle position heading into minicamp

Mandatory minicamp will take place for the Indianapolis Colts from June 9-11. This is often the last big milestone in the NFL offseason calendar before training camp arrives in late July.

Through the first two weeks of OTA practices, we’ve gained some valuable insights into where things stand on the depth chart, along with who may be standing out early on, but questions at each position group remain, and that’s normal at this time of the year. It won’t be until training camp and the preseason take place that playing time and final roster decisions are made.

So as part of our Colts‘ minicamp preview, let’s highlight the one big question facing each position group. Next up are the defensive tackles.
and Grover Stewart?

The defensive tackle position was reshaped heavily this offseason, with GM Chris Ballard creating a lot of competition for playing time behind Buckner and Stewart.

Before free agency began, Ballard traded for Colby Wooden, and he then signed Jerry Tillery and Derrick Nnadi in free agency. Also returning is Adetomiwa Adebawore, who took another step forward last season.

Hovering around 300 pounds, Wooden was an undersized nose tackle in Green Bay, but he was productive as a run defender, ranking 38th out of 146 defensive tackles in PFF’s run-stop rate metric.

Wooden didn’t generate many pressures, but that’s not what he was often asked to do as a nose. With the Colts, Wooden will be moved around more.

Tillery can provide some added pass rush juice as well. That is where the bulk of his snaps and contributions have come during his NFL career, while Nnadi brings more of a run-stuffing presence to the position.

Before the NFL draft, Ballard mentioned that the defensive front was one of the most improved units on the Colts’ roster following the offseason.

“I think our depth up front is better,” Ballard said. “I do believe that. I think the additions of Colby (Wooden) — like Colby he kind of gets washed over a little bit but like he started. He’s not really a nose but because of who he is as a kid, he ended up starting for Green Bay at the nose playing a lot of snaps but we think he gives us some real versatility as we do with (Jerry) Tillery. We think he gives us some versatility.”

Leading the way once again at this position will be Buckner and Stewart, but how the rotation behind them shakes out remains to be seen. Weekly matchups and in-game situations — run vs. passing downs — could strongly dictate what those rotations look like.

It’s also possible that one player is on the outside looking in come roster cutdowns — rostering six defensive tackles is not a given. Although Tillery and Nnadi were just signed, the contracts they received do not make them roster locks.