Colts 2015 Player Preview: Cornerback Jalil Brown

In 2014, the strength of the Indianapolis Colts' defense was their cornerback position, and they return the top three players from that position in Vontae Davis, Greg Toler, and Darius Butler - a group that makes up one of the best trios at the position in the league.  The fourth cornerback spot, however, is up for grabs, and that's a spot that Jalil Brown will likely be looking to compete for this offseason and in training camp.

Originally drafted out of Colorado by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Brown spent the first two years of his career in Kansas City, where he played in 29 games (two starts) and recorded 33 tackles, two passes defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.  In the final round of cuts after training camp in 2013, however, the Chiefs cut Brown, and he was signed by the Colts in October of the same year.  He played in five games for the Colts in 2013, recording four tackles, before he was waived in December.  The Dolphins claimed him off of waivers, though Brown didn't play in any games for them before he was cut after training camp shortly before the 2014 season began.  The Colts signed him in September, waived him in November, and then re-signed him later in November.  In total, Brown played in five games for the Colts in 2014, recording a tackle and a pass defensed.  In his four-year career, Brown has played in 39 games (two starts) with three teams, recording 38 tackles, three passes defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

The Colts let Josh Gordy walk in free agency this year, opening up their fourth cornerback spot, but they likely filled that spot later in the offseason by drafting D'Joun Smith.  He would appear to be the favorite to earn that spot, leaving the fifth cornerback position the one for Brown to really have a shot at winning.  He has no guarantee of getting that spot, however, and he will need an impressive training camp and preseason to win the job from guys like Chance Casey, Deveron Carr, Donald Celiscar, and Sheldon Price.  Jalil Brown could certainly wind up making the Colts' 53-man roster as the fifth cornerback, but in no way guaranteed to win that spot.