Colts 2022 Draft Grades
With the 2022 NFL Draft in the rear view mirror we turn to evaluating each teams haul. In this article we will focus on the Colt’s selections and give the Colts a draft grade for each pick they made this weekend. We all know they traded away their first rounder in the Carson Wentz trade last offseason, so they started off with a bad grade after round one, but did they turn things around on night two? Read on to see…
53rd Overall Selection (RD2-21) Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
The Colts came into the draft needing to address WR, CB, and OL the most and they not only did so here, but also traded back and got their guy. This gave them an additional 3rd rounder. Pierce should contribute almost immediately opposite Michael Pittman Jr. He is 6’ 3” 210 LBS with 4.41 speed and possesses the ability to go up and get it with the best of them. The Colts started off their draft with a solid round 2.
Grade A
73rd Overall Selection (RD3-9) Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia
The Colts came into the draft slightly barren at the TE position. They had recently re-signed Mo Alie-Cox and drafted Kylen Granson last season. Woods is a monster of a man with great intangibles and incredible upside. Standing 6’ 7” 250 lbs he should be easy for Matty Ice to locate if he can find playing time.
Grade B+
77th Overall Selection (RD3-13) Bernhard Raimann, T, Central Michigan
With their third pick of day 2 the Colts find their potential LT of the future. Raimann played at Central Michigan and hasn’t necessarily had to block the Aidan Hutchinsons of the world, but he has held his own. He has elite athleticism and looks good on film. Some analysts thought he should be drafted in the late first round. Call this another win. If he can replace the retired Anthony Castonzo this draft was already a home run.
Grade A+
96th Overall Selection (RD3-32) Nick Cross, S, Maryland
It’s hard to question the Colts’ ability to identify quality safeties late on draft day. In fact, they found a diamond in the rough like Julian Blackmon very recently. Cross is once again very athletic and physically gifted. He possesses 4.34 speed and has the range to play single deep. He should be able to find time on the field very fast and contribute early on.
Grade A
159th Overall selection (RD5-16) Eric Johnson, DT, Missouri ST
The Colts decided to add some depth to the interior defensive line here. Ballard is betting on athleticism and upside with this pick. He is 6’ 4” 300 lbs and runs 4.87 40 time. If he can use his athleticism to generate pressure from the interior, he should find a place in the D-line rotation. Ballard seems to be drafting for athleticism a bit more than usual, time will tell if it works out.
Grade B
192nd Overall Selection (RD6-13) Andrew Ogletree, TE, Youngstown State
Another swing for the fences. Ogletree didn’t look very impressive on tape to me, putting up subpar production, but wowed in his workout. Standing 6’ 5” 260 lbs he recorded a 35” vertical, 10’1” broad jump and a knack for catching tough throws. I think this was a reach and had multiple players I liked more at this point. This includes a couple CB’s that I thought would have been better options.
Grade C
216th Overall Selection (RD6-38) Curtis Brooks, DT, Cincinnati
Adding more players to the interior D-Line here. We all know Ballard loves a competitive camp and Brooks should push others to step it up. Another gifted athlete who is quick for his size, yet I don’t see the potential here Ballard must. I watched Cincinnati film a lot this year and he didn’t stand out to me.
Grade C
239th Overall Selection (RD7-18) Rodney Thomas, S, Yale
In the 7th round teams can swing for the fences. If you hit great, if not that’s okay too. Thomas should be smart, and we can gather that just by looking at where he went to school. He has the prototypical size 6’ 2” 200 lbs and a 4.51 40 time. Playing at Yale he had a nose for the ball with 2 Int’s and double digit PBU’s. Can he translate that to the NFL though?
Grade B
Colts Draft Grade Overall B+
Considering the team didn’t have a first rounder and filled major needs with players who can contribute early on, the Colts win and win big. The only reason they don’t get an A or A+ is the Carson Wentz trade that sent their 1st away for basically a rental season and a third rounder.
Colts Draft Grade Analyst-Ken Noble.
