© Matt Stone/The Courier Journal / USA
Colts Draft: 3 Sleeper Picks to Keep An Eye On
With the NFL Draft approaching, the Indianapolis Colts will look to add some diamonds in the rough.
The Indianapolis Colts have a lot of decisions to make in the fast-approaching NFL Draft. Many talk about the early rounds and sure-fire talents that the scouts bet their job on. However, as with every draft cycle, some names get buried underneath the hyped-up players and may get overlooked early on.
The Colts will enter the draft with the goal of attaining at least one talent that nobody else is looking at, preferably later in the seven-round process. The 2024 draft is a big one for the Colts and the franchise's future success, so getting as much talent as possible is of the utmost importance. Here are three prospects flying under the radar that could potentially be big lands for the Colts.
Safety | Tykee Smith (Georgia)
Oct 14, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Tykee Smith (23) runs after
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Initially with West Virginia, Tykee Smith transferred to Georgia in 2021, entering his third year of college. While he suffered injury setbacks in his first year as a Bulldog, he bounced back in 2022 and even better in 2023. Smith posted 70 tackles (8.5 for loss), 2.0 sacks, and 4 interceptions. Outside of the sacks, all other metrics were career highs for Smith.
Per Pro Football Focus, he notched an 84.0 overall defensive grade, 73.3 run defense, and 83.1 pass-rushing marks. He did all of this while logging 630 defensive snaps, with 260 being run and 32 pass-rushing. These statistics tell the story of an athletic and versatile safety who has experience also playing cornerback.
Per the Indy Draft Guide, Smith is a third-round prospect and could fit well at free safety with recently retained Julian Blackmon. His fit is also labeled as "high," meaning there's a chance Smith could be a decent bargain that may yield a high reward in the future.
Center/Guard | Tanor Bortolini (Wisconsin)
Wisconsin offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini (63) blocks Rutgers defensive lineman Mayan Ahanotu (92)
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
In 2023, the Colts dealt with several injuries to the offensive line. Key pieces like left tackle Bernhard Raimann, right tackle Braden Smith, and center Ryan Kelly all missed a handful of games due to various injury setbacks. With then-rookie tackle Blake Freeland struggling mightily to handle the outside line duties in the absence of starters, it showed Indianapolis may want solid depth for the protection of Anthony Richardson. Look no further than Wisconsin's Tanor Bortolini.
According to Relative Athletic Score, Bortolini posts a fantastic 9.78 (unofficial), putting him in the upper-echelon of athletic offensive linemen for this year's draft. Bortolini also had a solid year in 2023, marking 80.3 pass-blocking and 61.1 run-blocking grades on 868 total snaps, per PFF.
Perhaps the most alluring quality of drafting a player like Bortolini is his versatility, as he's also played plenty of guard throughout his football career. Currently, the Colts have plenty of depth at center behind Kelly, but if Bortolini makes a statement, he could push current starter Will Fries for the right guard position.
Running Back | Isaac Guerendo (Louisville)
Nov 25, 2023; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals running back Isaac Guerendo (23) runs
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo is as athletic as it comes in the upcoming draft. So athletic that he ranked sixth out of 1,771 running backs since 1987, according to RAS.
The Colts recently saw former running back Zack Moss land with the AFC rival Cincinnati Bengals, so there may be an opening for his skills in the backfield. While the Colts want to see what they have in receiving specialist Evan Hull, the third-string position could be up for grabs or competition with Trey Sermon. Sermon did have a few good moments from 2023, but otherwise didn't make too much of an impact to secure that spot on the depth chart.
With testing numbers very similar to Colts back Jonathan Taylor, Guerendo is a unit on the field and can make explosive plays happen. He stands 6'0" and weighs 221 pounds, yet he ran a fantastic 4.33-second 40-yard dash and looks fluid in every speed drill. Guerendo also can be used as a returner with his experience for both Wisconsin and Louisville. Through five total years in the NCAA, Guerendo returned 31 kicks for 714 total return yards (23.0 avg.). As for his collegiate running back career, he finished with 231 carries for 1,392 rushing yards (6.0 avg.) and 18 all-purpose touchdowns (one receiving).
As an addition in the Colts backfield, Guerendo would undoubtedly press Sermon for his role in the offense. If he hits his full potential, he might replace Moss and give Taylor a true weapon behind him. While there's room for Guerendo to improve as a pass-catcher, everything else is there. According to the Indy Draft Guide, Guerendo is a fifth-round prospect. If Indianapolis can land him there or later, they've potentially grabbed a draft steal.
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