The Indianapolis Colts might’ve just strung together the most athletic draft we’ve seen in recent memory, and we love that for them. After a storied history of tall, white, aging, and less-than-mobile quarterbacks, the Colts are ushering in a new era with the most athletic Quarterback the NFL Combine has ever seen, Anthony Richardson (10.00 RAS). With new head coach, Shane Steichen, coming from L.A. (Chargers) and Philadelphia after helping develop Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts, AR15 becomes the next developmental project for the QB guru.
Beyond an established franchise quarterback, the Colts then selected uber-athlete CB Julius Brents (9.99 RAS) out of Kansas State, and offensive help in the form of sure-handed WR Josh Downs (8.99 RAS) on Day 2. These are both players we loved here at the Sunday Slate, Brents went higher than we expected and we LOVED him.
Day 3 started out in the trenches with OT Blake Freeland (9.83 RAS) and Combine-winner DT/ED Adetomiwa Adebawore (9.72 RAS). We have no idea what Adebawore was doing there at pick 110, so the Colts got a steal there. Senior Bowl belle CB Darius Rush (9.80 RAS) was also a great get at pick 138, providing added competition in a CB room that no longer includes Stephon Gilmore (traded for a 5th that became Evan Hull). After Rush was another DB selection, toolsy Safety Daniel Scott (9.94 RAS) out of Cal should press for some playing time, primarily special teams. Analytics say bet on fast tight ends late, and that’s the case here with U of Miami TE Will Mallory (9.05 RAS) at pick 162. Mallory ran a blazing 4.54 40-yard-dash at 6’4”, 240 lbs. The aforementioned RB Evan Hull (9.32 RAS), ED Titus Leo (8.48), and OT Jake Witt (9.8) should all push for roster spots and depth playing time, while CB Jaylon Jones (8.79 RAS) checked out as Indianapolis’s biggest steal as a fourth-round graded prospect selected in the seventh. A great weekend for Jim Irsay and Co. Hard to believe this draft could be anything less than a B+.
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