2018 NFL Draft Recap: Indianapolis Colts

The 2018 NFL Draft has officially closed, and that means teams now have a better idea of what their rosters will look like on the path to Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta. After a somewhat-quiet free agency period and plenty of anticipation and rumors, how did the NFL Draft impact the 2018 Indianapolis Colts moving forward?

Round 1, No. 6: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

 
“Nelson doesn’t play a headline-grabbing position, but he plays a position of significant need for the Colts. It has been obvious over the years that the Colts have struggled on the offensive line, as they gave up an NFL-high 56 sacks last season, and poor play up front has played a factor in quarterback Andrew Luck missing 28 games over the past three seasons. The 3.7 yards per rush by the Colts ranked 28th in the NFL last season. Nelson excels in zone and gap-run schemes, according to coach Frank Reich.” – Mike Wells, ESPN.com


 

Round 2, No. 36: Darius Leonard, OLB, South Carolina State

 
“He’s here, in short, because of the speed. New coordinator Matt Eberflus’ 4-3 scheme will rely on linebackers who can run and hit, and cover sideline-to-sideline. They believe Leonard can grow into that player. I thought he stood out. His speed, his athleticism, his ability to cover … we thought he was the fifth-best ‘backer in the draft and we thought he has big upside.” – General Manager Chris Ballard, via IndyStar


 

Round 2, No. 37: Braden Smith, OG, Auburn

 
“Smith, another team captain, is a mauler who dominates with size, strength and toughness. Though his lack of reactive quickness can be a problem against speed-rushers, Smith’s technique, tenacity and power are enough to win most downs. He joins Nelson and Kelly to give Indianapolis one of the nastiest interior offensive lines in football.” – Joe Hopkins, FOX 59 Indianapolis


 

Round 2, No. 52: Kemoko Turay, DE, Rutgers

 
“Pass-rusher has been a position of need for several years for the Colts. They haven’t had a legitimate one since Robert Mathis had 19.5 sacks in 2013. Turay had an impressive freshman season at Rutgers, recording 7.5 sacks. But consistency was an issue for Turay, who played standing up a lot. He had only seven sacks total in his final three college seasons. Part of the reason Turay was inconsistent was because he underwent two shoulder surgeries while in college.” – Mike Wells, ESPN.com


 

Round 2, No. 64: Tyquan Lewis, DE, Ohio State

 
“The effort to upgrade a pass rush that finished with the second-fewest sacks in 2017 (25) continues with the selection of Lewis. The two-time team captain is a power-rusher with solid get-off, good length and the ability to attack the quarterback from the interior on passing downs. He needs to improve versus the run.” – Joe Hopkins, FOX 59 Indianapolis


 

Round 4, No. 104: Nyheim Hines, RB, NC State

 
“Speed, speed and more speed. Hines’ 4.38 40-yard dash was the fastest among running backs during the combine. Hines fits in with coach Frank Reich’s offensive system of moving players around the field to force mismatches. Hines spent his first two seasons as a receiver at NC State before moving to running back last season. He describes his style of play as similar to Darren Sproles, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara. Hines rushed for 1,113 yards and 12 touchdowns last season at North Carolina State. Hines will also have the opportunity to be a return specialist for the Colts.” – Mike Wells, ESPN.com
 

Round 5, No. 159: Daurice Fountain, WR, Northern Iowa

Round 5, No. 169: Jordan Wilkins, RB, Ole Miss

Round 6, No. 185: Deon Cain, WR, Clemson

Round 7, No. 221: Matthew Adams, LB, Houston

Round 7, No. 235: Zaire Franklin, LB, Syracuse

 


 

The best pre-game experience in the league, the Colts VIP Tailgates are BACK for the 2018-19 NFL Season! Learn more about our signature pre-game tailgate before every Indianapolis Colts home game.

2018 Colts VIP Tailgate Information

0
0
Your Cart
Your cart is empty