The Indianapolis Colts surprised almost everyone selecting the speedy WR Philip Dorsett out of the University of Miami in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. Not only was Dorsett considered by many a huge risk in the first round due to his lack of overall production in college, but using a first-round pick on a position already loaded with stars like T.Y. Hilton, recently signed veteran Andre Johnson, and last year’s third round pick Donte Moncrief seemed like somewhat of a waste of a first round selection.
The Colts used their next four picks on the defensive side of the ball after having a putrid 2014 defensive campaign. Some considered the biggest need to fill in this year’s draft was protection for franchise QB Andrew Luck but the Colts didn’t look to beef up the offensive line until the seventh round when they took big-bodied Denzelle Good out of Div. II Mars Hill University.
NFL analysts have mixed reviews about the Colts’ performance in the draft. Most can agree they like the individual players selected by Indianapolis but are unsure if they Colts’ filled the needs they so badly struggled with last season, most notably the O-line. Mel Kiper Jr. explained, “The Colts managed to get several of my favorite players in the draft, yet I still think they continue to play with fire by not doing more to build quality depth along the offensive line.” Kiper went on to praise Dorsett’s potential but wondered about the need at wide receiver, “A great player but a big need?”
USA Today Sports’ Nate Davis ranked the Colts 31st out of 32 teams in terms of this year’s draft. Todd McShay really liked the third-round pick of Henry Anderson out of Stanford but felt the Colts really needed to look at O-line prospects early in the draft; “I would have liked for the Colts to address offensive line with one of their early picks, as it was the top need I had for them coming into the draft.”
Bleacher Report’s Sean Tomlinson thinks Colts’ general manager, Ryan Grigson might have cost Indianapolis their Super Bowl chances by not using early picks on team needs, “Luck was surrounded by a surplus of talent before Grigson added Dorsett. Meanwhile, the five men in front of him and the 11 men who do the defending make for nervous watching.”
The criticism most likely comes in so harshly because the Colts were considered a few players away from lifting the Lombardi Trophy in 2016 and presumably failed to fill those needs in the draft. The Colts are pegged by Gambling.com associates as a top-3 favorite to win the AFC next year.
Despite fellow division rivals like Jacksonville and Tennessee being touted as major winners in the draft, no AFC South team has Andrew Luck leading the cavalry and that’s something the Colts can and will continue to lean on.
Here is a quick breakdown of the Colts’ 2015 draft picks as well as a list of rookie free agents joining the franchise for training camp:
Round 1, Pick 29: WR Philip Dorsett (Miami)
Height: 5-9 3/4
Weight: 185 lbs.
2014 Stats: 13 GP (13 starts), 36 receptions, 871 yards, 10 TDs
Note: Dorsett ran a 4.33 40-yard dash but failed to break 900 yards receiving in a season while at Miami. He also never brought in more than 58 receptions in a year and only finished his final year in Miami with 38 receptions. Most believed Dorsett’s lack of production was more a lack of opportunity and not talent but the unknown made the speedy Miami wide-receiver a head-scratcher for a team with other major needs. Dorsett should see time kick and punt returning in his rookie season.
Round 3, Pick 61: DB D’Joun Smith (Florida Atlantic)
Height: 5-10
Weight: 187 lbs.
2014 Stats: 11 GP (11 starts), 53 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 FF, 1 INT, 8 passes defended
Note: Smith was second in the nation for interceptions in 2013 with 7 picks but came back to earth in 2014 finishing with only 1 interception presumably because no team threw his way. He was FAU’s Defensive MVP in 2014 and should be considered a potential counterpart to Vontae Davis moving forward.
Round 3, Pick 93: DL Henry Anderson (Stanford)
Height: 6-6
Weight: 294 lbs.
2014 Stats: 13 GP (13 starts), 66 tackles, 15 TFL, 8.5 sacks
Note: Anderson has received major praise from experts around the NFL and is being considered a steal of this year’s draft going in the third round. He was a first-team All-Pac12 selection in 2014 leading his team in sacks and tackles for loss. Although the Colts were more in the market for edge rushers, Anderson’s inside presence should help free up the guys on the outside.
Round 4, Pick 109: DB Clayton Geathers (Central Florida)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 218 lbs.
2014 Stats: 13 GP (13 starts), 97 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 9 passes defended, 1 FF
Note: Geathers comes from an NFL family as he is the 6th member of his family to join the league. A four-year starter at UCF, Geathers was first-team All-American Conference in 2014. The experienced safety should compete for playing time right away in Indianapolis.
Round 5, Pick 151: DL David Parry (Stanford)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 308 lbs.
2014 Stats: 12 GP (11 starts), 34 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks
Note: The Colts were clearly fond of Stanford’s defensive front as they selected two of their defensive linemen in this year’s draft adding Parry in the fifth round to Anderson’s selection. Parry produced solid numbers in Palo Alto after walking-on and should have the brains to learn the Colts’ playbook quickly; Parry was a first-team Pac12 All-Academic selection in 2014.
Round 6, Pick 205: RB Josh Robinson (Mississippi State)
Height: 5-8
Weight: 217 lbs.
2014 Stats: 13 GP (11 starts), 190 rushing attempts, 1,203 yards, 11 TDs
Note: Robinson is known for his bowling-ball type play, rolling all over defenders in the SEC for 11 touchdowns in 2014, tied for most in the conference. He leaves Mississippi State with the school record for yards per carry at 6.2. Robinson will compete to backup Frank Gore who signed this offseason after the Trent Richardson experiment exploded.
Round 6, Pick 207: LB Amarlo Herrera (Georgia)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 244 lbs.
2014 Stats: 13 GP (13 starts), 115 tackles, 10 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF
Note: Herrera is seemingly the opposite of Dorsett in terms of prospects. A first-team All-SEC selection, Herrera led the Bulldogs with 115 tackles, his second consecutive 100-tackle season, and 10 tackles for loss. His performance in college’s top conference is not in question but at 244 lbs. some believe Herrera reached his peak at Georgia and won’t heavily contribute at the NFL level.
Round Seven, Pick 255: OL Denzelle Good (Mars Hill University)
Height: 6-7
Weight: 320
2014 Stats: 10 GP (10 starts)
Note: Good is one of the rare instances where NFL teams look outside of the Division I schools and select a DII prospect. A N.C. State transfer, the big-bodied Good is hoping he can overcome the odds and compete for a roster spot coming out of small school. Good never gave up a sack while playing three years as Mars Hill.
Rookie Free Agent Signings:
QB Bryan Bennett (Southeast Louisiana), WR Quan Bray (Auburn), DB Donald Celiscar (Western Michigan), LB Cody Galea (San Diego State), LB Terrell Hartsfield (Cincinnati), LB Zack Hodges (Harvard), CB Joshua Mitchell (Nebraska), WR Ezekiel Ruffin (San Diego State), CB Al-Hajj Shabazz (West Chester), TE Jean Sifrin (UMASS), TE Justin Sinz (Purdue), S Robert Smith (Clemson), LB Junior Sylvestre (Toledo), RB Tyler Varga (Yale), C Brandon Vitabile (Northwestern)