Final Draft Thoughts

The NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Colts addressed several needs with their incoming group. Here are a couple of my thoughts on the incoming class:

Huuuuuughes: The TCU pass-rusher looks like a classic example of a Colts' steal. Bigger (Jason Pierre-Paul), stronger (Brandon Graham), and more athletic (Derrick Morgan) ends were taken in front of Hughes, but none of them had the production that he had during his college career. At 6'2, 260, the speedster seems to be a great fit as the third defensive end.

Only one offensive lineman drafted: I'm surprised that there was only one OL taken and it wasn’t even a tackle. This is starting to make me believe that Charlie Johnson will not be switching to guard. Most of this depends on how free agent acquistions Andy Alleman and Adam Terry perform in Camp.

Staying big on the O-Line: Jacques McClendon is massive (6’3, 324) for a guard. Given his selection, the Colts have officially added lineman that are 304 (Alleman), 324, and 335 (Terry) pounds.

Finally, a return man!: Not only does the addition of Ray Fisher show the Colts are getting serious about their return game, they also signed UDFA Brandon James of Florida. Fisher led the nation in kick return average (37.3 ypr, also a Big Ten record) while James set four SEC records during his time as a return threat for the Gators.

Defense depth: With as strong as the offense is currently constructed, the Colts really addressed their defensive depth chart. Kevin Thomas makes up for the losses of Jackson and Jennings at CB, Pat Angerer and Kavell Conner fill out the two-deep at LB, Hughes and Ricardo Matthews continue to shore up the depth at the D-Line.

Colts 2010 Draft Class: TCU DE Jerry Hughes (6’2, 260), Iowa LB Pat Angerer (6’1, 235), USC CB Kevin Thomas (6’1, 185), Tennessee G Jacques McClendon (6’3, 324), Oklahoma TE Brody Eldridge (6’5, 265), Cincinnati DL Ricardo Matthews (6’3, 294), Clemson LB Kavell Conner (6’1, 225), Indiana KR Ray Fisher (5’9, 185).