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With 2024 NFL training camps on the horizon, we’re starting to understand how 2024 NFL draft classes will impact each roster this season.
Let's look at the Indianapolis Colts, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from each class, while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
Who are the Indianapolis Colts rookies?
- Laiatu Latu — EDGE — Round 1
- Adonai Mitchell — WR — Round 2
- Matt Goncalves — OT — Round 3
- Tanor Bortolini — C — Round 4
- Anthony Gould — WR — Round 5
- Jaylon Carlies — S — Round 5
- Jaylin Simpson — S — Round 5
- Micah Abraham — CB — Round 6
- Jonah Laulu — DT — Round 7
Indianapolis Colts Draft Class Grade:
The Indianapolis Colts received a B+ draft grade from Sharp Football.
Which Colts Rookies Will Make An Impact?
Chris Ballard often targets older, more pro-ready prospects early in the draft, so the selection of Laiatu Latu (first round) should have come as no surprise. Latu led all Power Five rushers with a 23.7% pressure rate off the edge last year and did so with a rare arsenal of moves. Due to the presence of Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam, Latu isn’t guaranteed a starting job, but he will likely force his way into significant snaps early in his rookie year.
Adonai Mitchell (second round) is an ideal weapon to pair with Anthony Richardson. Once they’re on the same page, Mitchell’s speed and contested catch ability will make him a valuable weapon when Richardson is scrambling around extending plays. Mitchell caught 12 of 14 catchable targets at 15 or more yards downfield last year, so expect him to be used as a downfield weapon in the Colts offense.
Matt Goncalves (third round) looked like a reach based on production and a knee injury which limited him to just three games in 2023. Over the last two seasons, when the quarterback took a traditional dropback of three or more steps, Goncalves had a disappointing blown block rate of 4.8%. As a rookie, Goncalves should compete with last year’s fourth-round pick Blake Freeland for the swing tackle role.
Tanor Bortolini (fourth round) will also provide depth on the offensive line, as he started at every spot except left tackle during his career at Wisconsin. With an arm length under 32 inches, Bortolini might be limited to a role at center, but Indy will certainly give him an opportunity to prove he can play elsewhere.
Anthony Gould (fifth round) is another weapon for Richardson, but he likely makes his most immediate impact returning punts. Indy lost punt returner Isaiah McKenzie in free agency, and Gould averaged 17.6 yards per return over the last two seasons at Oregon State.
Indy will be asking Jaylon Carlies (fifth round) to make the move from safety to linebacker. He has the size for the transition, though he saw the majority of his action in the deep secondary as a three-year starter at Missouri, so expect some growing pains. A 17% missed tackle rate is also a concern for Carlies, who must clean that up if he’s going to play linebacker in the NFL. Expect to mostly see him on special teams as a rookie.
Jaylin Simpson (fifth round) has experience throughout the secondary, seeing significant action as an outside corner early in his career before a breakout performance at safety in 2023. Indy will likely take advantage of Simpson’s versatility early in his career, though free safety seems to be where he offers the most long-term potential. In 2023, he made a play on the ball once every 37 snaps in coverage from the deep secondary.
Joining Simpson in the secondary is Micah Abraham (sixth round), who lacks ideal size and is probably limited to a role in the slot. He has experience on every special teams unit, which greatly enhances his odds of cracking the final roster. Jonah Laulu (seventh round) never fully made his mark at Oklahoma after transferring from Hawaii, but was a valuable interior pass rusher as part of the defensive line rotation.
This looks like a solid class for the Colts, who added two players who should see immediate action (Latu and Mitchell). Although Indy took some risks on the offensive linemen, there’s still enough developmental upside in the Day 3 selections to provide hope this class produces a few solid contributors down the road.
This analysis continues in the 2024 Football Preview
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