Here’s the look at Polian’s draft record the last four years.
2006
Total picks: 7
Made team: 7
Total Games Played: 306 (and counting-Addai, Keiaho, Charlie Johnson, Bethea, T.J. Rushing)
Total Pro Bowls: 2 (Addai-1, Bethea 1)
Best pick: Antoine Bethea
Worst pick: Freddy Keiaho
Starters drafted: Adda (3 seasons), Tim Jennings (1 season), Keiaho (2 seasons), Charlie Johnson (2 seasons)
Could have have had:
Instead of Addai: DeMeco Ryan (2nd), Maurice Jones-Drew (2nd), Marcus McNeil (2nd)
Instead of Keiaho: Owen Daniels (4th), Jahari Evans (4th), Elvis Dumerville (4th), Leon Washington (4th)
Instead of Rushing: Marques Colston (7th)
Summary and Grade: A. This was a crazy deep draft loaded with great players, but how can you criticize four starters (two of whom made Pro Bowls)? The worst pick was Keiaho who turned out to just be ‘a guy’ and cost the Colts a chance at a number of Pro Bowl caliber players. The Colts got more games played out of this draft than out of any of the previous four. That’s remarkable considering that four of those players are still with the team and accumulating games. This was the draft that put the Colts over the top and on to the Super Bowl. This is also the only Indy draft one of only two Indy drafts of the decade (to date) to produce two Pro Bowl players.
2007
Total picks: 9
Made team: 9
Total Games Played: 184 (and counting-Gonzalez, Ugoh, Session, Dawson)
Total Pro Bowls: 0
Best pick: Clint Session
Worst pick: Dante Hughes
Starters drafted: Gonzalez (2 seasons), Ugoh (2 seasons), Session (2 seasons), Dawson (1 season)
Could have have had:
Instead of Ugoh: Sidney Rice (2nd)
Instead of Hughes: Zach DeOssie (4th)
Summary and Grade: B. The jury is still out on this group, though it’s safe to say that the pick of Session was a definite hit. Gonzo was on his way to becoming a star before popping a knee. No one knows what do with Ugoh, but in looking back over the draft, it’s not clear that anyone else would have been a better pick. The big blow of the draft was the early retirement of Quinn Pitcock after a nice rookie year. Unless Gonzo goes on to have a long career, however, this could end up being a bit of a bust class. There’s still plenty of time for Gonzo and Session to become Pro Bowl players. If Ugoh ever blossoms into a player, this could be a very productive class. It’s important to note that all 9 draftees made the team as well. As a team becomes elite, it is harder for new players to break through.
2008
Total picks: 9
Made team: 9
Total Games Played: 166 (and counting Pollak, Wheeler, Tamme, Santi, Hart, Garcon)
Total Pro Bowls: 0
Best pick: Pierre Garcon
Worst pick: Marcus Howard
Starters drafted: Pollak (1 season), Wheeler (1 season), Garcon (1 season), Richard (1 season)
Could have have had:
Instead of Pollack: Steve Slaton (3rd)
Summary and Grade: B. This should be lower but Garcon may turn out to be the single best pick in the entire draft. At the time, people said the 2008 draft was weak, but in hindsight, it was SUPER weak. Remarkably few of the players in the draft have managed to even earn starting jobs, let alone become stars. The jury is still out on Wheeler, who I thought improved as the season went along. Garcon was a steal. Pollak has been disappointing to say the least. Looking at how bad this draft was, it’s now clear why teams like the Colts and Patriots actively traded out of it both before and during the draft. This was just a weak, weak crop of players.
2009
Total picks: 8
Made team: 6
Total Games Played: 62 (and counting-Brown, Moala, Powers, Collie, Painter, McAfee)
Total Pro Bowls: 0
Best pick: Pat McAfee
Worst pick: Terrance Taylor
Starters drafted: Jerraud Powers, Pat McAfee
Could have have had:
Too early to judge.
Summary and Grade: A. It’s way to early to effectively grade this draft, but considering the major role that Powers, Collie, McAfee had on a team that went to the Super Bowl, it’s hard to argue that the 2009 was anything other than a success. The Colts still have gotten very little from Brown and Moala, but that doesn’t mean that both guys won’t end up being good players. All in all, the pick of McAfee alone gave this team a big lift in kickoff coverage.
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