There was one common theme throughout the 2022 NFL draft for the Indianapolis Colts: bet on high-end traits and athleticism.
It was clear the Colts wanted to infuse the roster with more athletic and dynamic playmakers at different positions across the roster. It started with Cincinnati wide receiver Alec Pierce in the second round and ended with Yale defensive back Rodney Thomas II in the seventh round.
Objectively, not one player the Colts drafted could be considered unathletic. In fact, the creator of Relative Athletic Score (RAS), Kent Lee Platte, said the Colts finished with the most athletic draft class in the entire NFL.
1. Indianapolis Colts#RAS Average = 9.63
Highest RAS Jelani Woods 10.00
Lowest RAS Eric Johnson 9.17 pic.twitter.com/OdgUJjGkU9— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 30, 2022
General manager Chris Ballard told the media following the draft that athleticism is always an emphasis in their scouting. If a player doesn’t reach a certain baseline of athleticism, he isn’t even on their board.
“No, I don’t think it’s any different. Maybe it sticks out a little more this year, but I think every year we’ve got certain things that we’re looking – we’ve got bottom lines that we’re looking for. If they don’t have them, they usually don’t make our board. We’re always looking for athletic, unique traits that we want to take,” Ballard said Saturday night.
The fact that the Colts target athletic prospects isn’t a surprise. We knew this coming into the draft simply from the history over the last half-decade. But the fact that every single pick has objectively elite athleticism is wild.
The main reason that this is so important is that no matter how talented a player might be coming out of the draft, elite athleticism gives that prospect a higher ceiling. Rarely do prospects come out of the draft immediately at their ceilings. If they did, they wouldn’t be drafted very high.
Even a player like Aidan Hutchinson, the No. 2 overall pick considered one of the most polished prospects, has development coming his way. It’s natural. Having elite athleticism raises the kind of ceiling a player has and can boost them up the depth chart.
So while a number of these draft picks for the Colts may not contribute right away, their athleticism will help them develop much more quickly than a prospect who isn’t considered athletic.
With OTAs and minicamps coming up throughout May, this class should make for an interesting addition to the competitions throughout the roster.
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