Job openings

With the Colts’ roster effectively gutted by cuts and free agency, there are some gaping holes in the lineup. In fact, I have identified seven positions at which a new starter is needed.

Quarterback: Of the four quarterbacks who played for the Colts last season, all of them are gone. And one of them was Peyton Manning. The best player at the position right now is Drew Stanton. Mitigating factor: The Colts will almost certainly select Andrew Luck with the first pick of the draft.

Nose Tackle: Aside from a dozen or so games from Booger McFarland, the Colts have not had a good nose man since Leo Wisniewski. Anyone who thinks there’s a nose tackle prospect on the roster is doing a height/weight projection and probably does not know that much about what nose tackles actually do.

Right cornerback: This is kind of specious, actually, to say that the Colts need a No. 2 corner, because their No. 1 corner, Jerraud Powers, would be a No. 2 on just about any other team. The other corners under contract have played poorly, but some have upside. Mitigating factor: The Colts are said to be pursuing Asante Samuel, a true No. 1 corner.

Flanker: Of course I love Austin Collie (we were even born on the same hospital), but he lacks the speed and post-up qualities of a true outside man. And that’s not even factoring in his persistent concussion problems. Counting on Donnie Avery as a starter outside would be foolhardy at best.

Tight end: The Colts top two tight ends from last year — Dallas Clark and Jacob Tamme — are gone, leaving behind just Brody Eldgridge. He was drafted as a blocking tight end and has been something of a disappointment at that, while recording just 14 receptions for 84 yards and no touchdowns. A rookie quarterback will almost certainly lean heavily on his tight end next season, especially because of the dearth of receivers and the poor receiving skills of the backs on the roster.

Right inside linebacker: The Colts were hardly a linebacker-rich team and have since cut longtime starter Gary Brackett and look like they’ll lose Phillip Wheeler, who actually came into his own last season and would be a good fit for the new hybrid 3-4 scheme. The outside linebackers in the base set will be former ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis (a shaky premise that!), and one of the inside guys will be athletic, active Pat Angerer, even though he’s much smaller than most 3-4 inside guys. But the other could be anyone. Street free agent AJ Edds did a fairly nice job last season as a fill-in, but I’m not sure he’s a fulltime starter.

Fullback: The Colts have two fullbacks — Chris Gronkowski and Ryan Mahaffy — already under contract, but neither looks ready to hold down a fulltime gig.