PFF lists Colts CB JuJu Brents as ‘breakout candidate’ before 2024 season

Could Colts 2nd-year cornerback JuJu Brents solidify himself as Indy’s #1 cornerback both now and in the future?

According to PFF, Indianapolis Colts 2nd-year cornerback Julius ‘JuJu’ Brents is the team’s ‘breakout player’ before the 2024 regular season:

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: CB JUJU BRENTS

There was considerable thought that Indy would add a corner early in the draft, but general manager Chris Ballard didn’t go that route until the fifth round. As a result, it’s fair to assume that the Colts have lofty goals for Brents in his second season. The former Kansas State Wildcat was up and down throughout his rookie campaign, but he should get more consistent with regular playing time.

Originally selected by the Colts in the early 2nd round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Brents was slow to hit the field because of a hamstring injury throughout training camp (and then a personal matter and quad injury) but eventually debuted in Week 3 for Indianapolis.

Having later reinjured that quad—costing him 7 extra games, Brents would record 43 tackles (30 solo), an interception, 6 passes defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery during 9 games (8 starts) in 2023.

Per PFF (subscription), Brents was their 66th best graded cornerback last year with a +63.2 overall grade. He was targeted 48 times in coverage for 32 receptions (66.7 reception rate), 453 receiving yards (14.2 ypr. avg.), 3 touchdown receptions, an interception, and an opposing passer rating of 109.1.

As a rookie cornerback, and with even more limited reps entering the year because of a hamstring, Brents took some initial lumps, but also showed a lot of promise as a potential long-term impact starter—if he can continue to grow and develop.

The local Indy product really is the Colts’ ideal prototype at modern day cornerback with his size, length, athleticism, and speed, in addition to his hopefully sticky coverage going forward. It’s not hard to see why PFF projects him as a breakout candidate with more experience—as he should be penciled into one of the Colts’ starting outside cornerback roles (and could quite possibly be cemented as Indy’s #1 cornerback by year-end).