Colts 2016 player preview: Tight end Erik Swoope

The Indianapolis Colts will report to training camp on July 26 with their 90-man roster, which will be cut down to 53 players by the end of the preseason. To pass the time until camp, we’re taking a look at every player on the Colts’ 90-man roster. Today, we’re looking at tight end Erik Swoope.

Who is he?

Erik Swoope has been a project player for the Colts for the past few years, as they originally signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2014 out of Miami. His collegiate career at Miami was different than most undrafted free agents in the NFL, however: Swoope was a basketball player who hadn’t played organized football at any level in his life. He had a productive hoops career, but the Colts saw his size and athleticism and signed him in an effort to turn him into a tight end. He has been on the Colts’ practice squad in each of the past two seasons, though in 2015 he was signed to the active roster for the final game and saw playing time.

What is his role?

This is a big training camp for Swoope, who will be competing with two very intriguing undrafted free agents in Mike Miller and Darion Griswold. As we’ve already talked about at length this offseason, the number three tight end position for the Colts is there for the taking, as behind Dwayne Allen and Jack Doyle the depth chart is entirely undecided. It would seem as if Swoope has the slight inside track to win the job because of his history with the Colts, but he’s going to have to impress in camp and preseason to be able to win the spot. If he doesn’t step up, it’s likely that either Miller and/or Griswold will.

What are his chances?

He’s got a legitimate shot to make the roster, but he’s going to have to outperform the other tight ends in camp.