We will be taking a position-by-position look at the current state of the Indianapolis Colts’ roster. Up next are the running backs.
With the 2025 NFL draft almost here, we will be taking a position-by-position look at the current state of the Indianapolis Colts’ roster.
Up next, let’s take a look at the running back position.
Who’s on the roster at running back for the Colts?
- Jonathan Taylor
- Khalil Herbert
- Tyler Goodson
- Salvon Ahmed
Free agency moves at running back
The Colts chose not to re-sign Trey Sermon, who was the team’s backup running back in 2024. Sermon would finish that season, averaging just 2.8 yards per rush on 56 attempts with two scores and 16 receptions for 99 yards.
Of course, the Colts are positioned well here with Jonathan Taylor, but as GM Chris Ballard said at the NFL combine, Indianapolis needs more production from the backup running back role. In 2024, Sermon and Tyler Goodson would combine for just 88 carries the entire year and averaged under 4.0 yards per attempt as a duo.
“Definitely a position that we need to make sure we have enough,” general manager Chris Ballard said at the NFL combine. “And that’s nothing against the guys we had last year. But I will say this, Zack Moss, who ended up in Cincinnati, Zack Moss was excellent for us. He was excellent. So we do have to get some more production.”
To hopefully help provide more production, the Colts signed Khalil Herbert to a one-year deal. Herbert was a sixth-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2021. For his career, he has averaged 4.8 yards per rush on 400 carries with nine touchdowns.
He has been somewhat active in the passing game during his career. His most productive season through the air came in 2023 when he caught 20 passes at 6.7 yards per attempt, according to PFF.
“I feel like I can do everything,” Herbert said. “Short yardage, outside, inside zone. I feel like I’ve been a part of offenses that have done it all. Catching the ball out of the backfield, pass pro. I’ve been asked to do it all, and I feel like I can do it well. I feel like I can do anything and help out in any way.”
Need in the NFL draft
The addition of Herbert in free agency should not stop the Colts from adding to the running back room in the NFL draft. For starters, Herbert only signed a one-year deal, so the Colts should be proactive about addressing that backup running back role.
But in addition to that, this year’s draft class is absolutely loaded at the running back position, so there is a lot of talent out there, and while the hope is that Herbert can provide a boost behind Taylor, that’s not a given either, so adding competition would be the prudent move.
Along with getting more production in the running game behind Taylor, the Colts’ offense as a whole could benefit from having an actual passing game presence out of the backfield. This was a non-existent element in 2024 and would add another dimension to the offense that defenses have to account for.
Running back big board
Here are the top running back prospects in this year’s draft, courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
- Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
- Omarion Hampton, UNC
- TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
- DJ Giddens, Kansas State
- Devin Neal, Kansas
- Damien Martinez, Miami
- RJ Harvey, UCF
- Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
- Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
- Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
- Cam Skatttebo, Arizona State
- Jaydon Blue, Texas
- Trevor Etienne, Georgia
- Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
- Brashard Smith, SMU