Indianapolis Colts 2010 NFL Draft Grade

INDIANAPOLIS

1.31 Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
The Colts have been very successful in the draft lately, and Jerry Hughes should keep that going. He’s a great fit for this defense, and can be moved all over to rush from different three-point and standing positions. He’s Colts quick. Now, when Dwight Freeney comes off the field, this pass rush won’t disappear so severely. GRADE: A

2.63 Pat Angerer, ILB, Iowa
Angerer, however, doesn’t seem to fill a need. He’s a depth player in my mind, and while I like him a lot, he just doesn’t seem like he’ll play a lot in Indy. Maybe I’m wrong, and the Colts have had success with Iowa players before, but I think they could have gotten better value. They did need the depth though. GRADE: B

3.94 Kevin Thomas, CB, USC
It’s hard to doubt their ability to drum up gem DBs, but Kevin Thomas seems like a real reach. He’s a purely potential guy who really was unheard of until the offseason workouts started. If he was going to be a player anywhere, it was going to be in a zone scheme, so he has that going for him. GRADE: C-

3ROUND GRADE: C+

4.129 Jacques McClendon, OG, Tennessee
I’m all for protecting Peyton Manning better, but I’m not sure about the way the Colts went about it. McClendon provides necessary depth, and has a chance in the future, but I don’t think he was the best option on the board. GRADE: D

5.162 Brody Eldridge, TE, Oklahoma
Now this is more like it. Getting a guy in the fifth round who played along the O line, at fullback, and tight end during his college career is great. He’ll help Peyton Manning and this ground game more than McClendon will in my opinion. GRADE: B+

7.238 Ricardo Matthews, DT, Cincinnati
The Colts wanted to get some depth and run-stuffing ability along the defensive front, and Matthews can be that type of player for them. But at some point shouldn’t Indy actually address the DT spot in a big way? GRADE: C

7.240 Kavell Conner, OLB, Clemson
Conner is a typical Colts linebacker, like Angerer. He’s small, but he plays very fast and has the instincts and toughness to contribute on special teams now, and possibly in a bigger role later on. GRADE: B

7.246 Ray Fisher, KR, Indiana
Not a bad time to address the return game with a homestate kid in the final round. Fisher has potential as a weapon on special teams, but that’s likely all. GRADE: C

Best Pick: Jerry Hughes
Worst Pick: Jacques McClendon
Sleeper Pick: Brody Eldridge

FINAL ANALYSIS
The Colts had two big needs in my mind heading into this draft — protect Peyton Manning better and find some serious depth in the pass rushing department. They handled the defensive side with Jerry Hughes, who is an ace fit in Indianapolis. He could be Dwight Freeney 2.0. And Angerer and Conner provide valuable depth for a linebacking corps that needed it last season. Matthews is the type of defensive tackle they needed, but he has a long way to go before being a major part of the rotation. And Fisher fills a major need for an explosive return man. Watch out for him.

I’m not a fan of the Thomas pick, however. There were much better zone corners on the board, and he’s the classic hiatus hero that showed much better on the track than on the field. Maybe this is the team to coach him up, but I’m not sold. Still, the Jerraud Powers success can’t be overlooked. Brody Eldridge will be one of the most underrated picks of this draft, and should really make an impact for Indy’s ground game. I’m a fan of that move.

Looking back, Indy failed to improve their protection for Peyton Manning. They failed to get a better class of backup for Bob Sanders. And they failed to get a true impact DT. But there are some vintage Colts players in this class, and they know how to use their type of guys.

FINAL GRADE: C

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