The new Colts

The NFL draft has finally wrapped up. The Colts added 10 new players, and I am here to give you a look at all of them.

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford: It seems as though the Colts are a tremendously lucky. They went from Peyton Manning to one of the top quarterback prospects in decades. If Luck is as good as everyone says he is, the Colts will be back near the top again in no time.

Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford: Fleener is a tremendous athlete, which is becoming the most important feature of a tight end this day in age, and he is Andrew Luck’s top target from their Stanford days. Yes, this is going to be a great pick, and Fleener will be a star.

Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson: Yes, the Colts drafted another tight end, but literally every roster spot could have been construed as a “hole”. The Patriots seemed to do pretty well with their tight ends, though (Allen is a bit better blocking at tight end than Fleener).

T.Y. Hilton, WR, Florida International: Hilton is a burner. He’s undersized to do much on the edges or beat people in the corners with his size, but the Colts actually have some depth that can do that in Reggie Wayne and now Fleener, and they needed a downfield threat. Hilton fits there.

Josh Chapman, DT, Alabama: Chapman will play the nose tackle, perhaps some day in Indianapolis, which is good because the Colts are switching to a 3-4 defense. Chapman should help against the run in this regard.

Vick Ballard, RB, Mississippi State: The Colts haven’t drafted a decent running back since Edgerrin James. As a result, it’s very possible that Ballard, a 5th round pick, starts sooner rather than later. That is terrifying.

LaVon Brazill, WR, Ohio: Apparently, he has good hands, and thus I suspect he will project as a possession receiver. Again, the team needs depth, and the wideouts are one of the older units on the team, so an infusion of youth is a good thing.

Justin Anderson, G, Georgia: Weird that Andrew Luck will be going from Stanford, where he had David DeCastro at guard, to the pros, where Justin Anderson is a legitimate starting prospect, because the Colts’ line is so week. Anthony Castonzo is the only lineman of value right now, so any little bit helps.

Tim Fugger, LB, Vanderbilt: First off, great name. Fugger will play outside linebacker for the Colts in their 3-4 defense, and will likely play behind Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, who will likely be moving to that outside position.

Chandler Harnish, QB, Northern Illinois: The Colts started and ended with a QB. Solid pick, because now they have their depth chart filled at the quarterback position. No QBs drafted for years, I hope.

There are some things I like about the draft. I can envision any of these players making a contribution. I like the commitment to surrounding Andrew Luck with weapons, and I love the addition of Coby Fleener. If I had one complaint, it would be the fact that the team didn’t add a single defensive back in the draft. Still, I can’t wait until the season starts to see how the season plays out.