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Build-A-Ballard: Who the Colts May Target at Edge Rusher in 2023 NFL Draft

Which edge rushers in the 2023 draft fit Ballard’s preferred mold?
Zach Hicks|
Build-A-Ballard: Who the Colts May Target at Edge Rusher in 2023 NFL Draft
Build-A-Ballard: Who the Colts May Target at Edge Rusher in 2023 NFL Draft

The Build-A-Ballard series is back for another run for the 2023 NFL Draft. Last year was the absolute peak of the series when the Indianapolis Colts selected Alec Pierce, the face of the entire offseason for these articles. Can we top that massive hit this year?

This is the fourth installment of the popular series that takes a look at past draft trends and traits that General Manager Chris Ballard seeks out in the NFL Draft.

The goal is to use Ballard’s time in Kansas City (where he was the the Director of Player Personnel or Director of Football Operations from 2013 to 2016) and his time in Indy to figure out who he may covet come draft time.

We already know Ballard loves athleticism and leadership on and off the field, but this series hopes to shed more light on traits he is looking for and help to uncover some of the players he may target in the draft.

The focus today will be on one of the Colts’ bigger needs, edge rusher. Will Chris Ballard add another edge early in the draft?

Notable Drafted Players

During Ballard’s tenure in Indianapolis and Kansas City, his organizations have drafted nine edge rushers in eight drafts. Although pass rusher hasn’t been the core need in each of those years, Ballard has still elected to use seven picks from the first two days of the draft. The top pick used to address the position was a first-round selection in 2014 and a first round selection in 2021.

We will examine six of the nine prospects to find common traits.

Dee Ford, DE, Auburn (2014)-- First Round Pick

Size:

6’2” 250 pounds

Arm length: 32.875 inches

Measurables (Pro Day):

40 Time: 4.59 seconds / 10-yard Split: 1.67 seconds / Bench Press: 29 reps / Vertical Jump: 35.5 inches / Broad Jump: 124 inches / 3-Cone: 7.07 seconds

Career Stats (College):

93 total tackles, 27.5 tackles for a loss, 20.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles

Overview of Pick:

+ Very good acceleration and burst to beat blockers off the ball.

+ Outstanding energy and work ethic.

- Trouble disengaging from blockers

- Injury history.

Kemoko Turay, DE, Rutgers (2018)-- 2nd Round Pick

Size:

6’5” 253 pounds

Arm Length: 33.375

Measurables:

40 Time: 4.65 seconds / 10-yard Split: 1.62 seconds / Bench Press: 18 reps / Vertical Jump: 34 inches / Broad Jump: 119 inches / 3-Cone: 6.84 seconds

Career Stats:

96 total tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 14.5 sacks, and 4 pass deflections

Overview of Pick:

+ Plays with good closing burst to the ball.

+ Moves easily and naturally in space.

- Raw abilities as a pass rusher

- Injury concerns.

Tyquan Lewis, DE, Ohio State (2018)-- 2nd Round Pick

Size:

6’3” 269 pounds

Arm Length: 33.75

Measurables (Pro Day):

40 Time: 4.69 seconds / 10-yard Split: 1.57 seconds / Bench Press: N/A / Vertical Jump: 35.5 inches / Broad Jump: 127 inches / 3-Cone: 7.2 seconds

Career Stats:

112 total tackles, 37 tackles for a loss, 23.5 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles

Overview of Pick:

+ Knee bend (that) helps him flatten to the quarterback sharply once he gets around the edge.

+ Plays with good hand strength and quickness.

- A bit inconsistent with his rushes on a play-to-play basis.

Ben Banogu, DE, TCU (2019)-- 2nd Round Pick

Size:

6’3” 250 pounds

Arm Length: 33.625

Measurables (Pro Day):

40 Time: 4.62 seconds / 10-yard Split: 1.59 seconds / Bench Press: 23 / Vertical Jump: 40 inches / Broad Jump: 134 inches

Career Stats:

156 total tackles, 45 tackles for a loss, 20 sacks, and 7 forced fumbles

Overview of Pick:

+ Has foot quickness and agility to alter rush challenges.

+ Inside-out move forces tackle to squeeze down, opening tighter outside track.

- Lack of a pass rush plan when rushing the passer

Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan (2021)-- 1st Round Pick

Size:

6'2" 261 pounds

Arm Length: 33

Measurables (Pro Day):

40 Time: 4.57 seconds / 10-yard Split: 1.66 seconds / Bench Press: 36 / Vertical Jump: 35.5 inches / Broad Jump: 118 inches

Career Stats:

97 total tackles, 23.5 tackles for a loss, 11.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble

Overview:

+ Explosive, twitched-up ball of power.

+ Possesses rare short-area quickness and agility.

- Production doesn't always match the traits.

Dayo Odeyingbo, DE, Vanderbilt (2021)-- 2nd Round Pick

Size:

6'5" 276 pounds

Arm Length: 35.25

Measurables (Pro Day):

N/A (Injury)

Career Stats:

122 total tackles, 26.5 tackles for a loss, 8.0 sacks, and 1 forced fumble

Overview:

+ Operates with forceful hands to displace the block.

+ Outstanding blend of height, weight and length.

- Fundamentals and technique are still in development mode.

- Injury Concerns.

Changes From Last Season + Common Traits

Last year's draft class really didn't cause any major changes to the common traits section of this piece. The Colts didn't select an edge rusher, but I'm still taking two notes from the prior year selections of Dayo Odeyingbo and Kwity Paye..

Those two notes are the lack of concern regarding past injury status and production in college. Ballard has now chosen way too many players with these two concerns in their scouting reports. That leads me to believe that he tends to overlook those two "flaws" in pass rushing prospects. He is all about that upside.

Here are the common traits that can help us build a rough mold of what Ballard might look for in rookie defensive ends:

  • Excellent burst and explosion— every player had a 10 yard split under 1.7 seconds and a vertical over 34 inches
  • Weight- Every notable player has been at least 250 pounds
  • Strengths: Overall athleticism, great tackling, and burst
  • Weaknesses: Run defense and raw pass rush move set
  • Motor and tenacity— each player had a knack for playing until the whistle
  • LENGTH— Ballard has only taken one DE with arms under 33” (Dee Ford with 32.875”)
  • Leadership/Team Captaincy/Senior Bowl (a Ballard trademark with the Colts)

2023 Draft Players Who Fit

1.) Keion White, Georgia Tech

Size:

6'5" 285 pounds

Arm Length: 34

Measurables:

40 Time: N/A / 10-yard Split: N/A / Bench Press: 34 / Vertical Jump: 34 inches / Broad Jump: 117 inches

Career Stats:

120 total tackles, 33.5 tackles for a loss, 11.0 sacks, and 1 forced fumble

Overview:

Keion White is a special athlete at defensive end that brings inside-out versatility. He is a strong run defender that plays with great effort and explosion on every snap. He may be still finding his groove as a pass rusher, but that hasn't stopped Chris Ballard in the past. White checks almost every box for what Ballard looks for in a prospect, even in terms of being a Senior Bowl player, being a player that transferred up in competition, and having the ability to play both DT and DE. He is extremely similar to Dayo Odeyingbo as a prospect.

2.) Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame

Size:

6'5" 264 pounds

Arm Length: 34

Measurables:

40 Time: 4.58 / 10-yard Split: 1.66 / Bench Press: 22 / Vertical Jump: 34 inches / Broad Jump: 125 inches

Career Stats:

121 total tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, 25.0 sacks, and 7 forced fumbles

Overview:

Isaiah Foskey falls under the same umbrella as guys like Ben Banogu and Kemoko Turay as prospects. He is a juiced up pass rusher that plays with great athleticism and effort. He gets after it in the pass game, and would be a phenomenal fit as a wide-nine in Gus Bradley's front seven. Other factors that Ballard will love is that Foskey was a Senior Bowl player this past season and he gradually improved every single season in college.

3.) YaYa Diaby, Louisville

Size:

6'3" 263 pounds

Arm Length: 33.875

Measurables:

40 Time: 4.51 / 10-yard Split: 1.56 / Bench Press: N/A / Vertical Jump: 37 inches / Broad Jump: 120 inches

Career Stats:

94 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for a loss, and 10.5 sacks

Overview:

Diaby would be a selection based purely on traits, but it is hard to ignore the upside with this pass rusher. Diaby is still trying to find his rhythm as a pass rusher, but he plays with insane energy and speed on every single snap. He generated sacks in college with his pure determination rather than cleanly winning each rep. He was a Senior Bowl player this past offseason and worked his way up from being a 0 star recruit to a productive ACC player.

Honorable Mentions

  • Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State: Strong and athletic edge rusher that has some impressive film.
  • Zach Harrison, Ohio State: Huge defensive end that has inside-out versatility. Also a phenomenal athlete with sky-high upside.
  • Dylan Horton, TCU: Explosive pass rusher that had his best games late in the season when it mattered most.
  • Isaiah McGuire, Missouri: Lengthy edge rusher that is already a strong run defender with pass rush upside.
  • DJ Johnson, Oregon: Explosive and powerful player that gets after it on every snap.

Conclusion

GM Chris Ballard clearly has a type at defensive end. He likes the explosive and bendy projects that he can mold into really good players. It worked to success with Dee Ford and has shown flashes with guys like Turay and Tyquan Lewis as well. Time will tell how Paye and Odeyingbo ultimately develop, but Ballard likes his high-risk, high reward players at defensive end.

It is important to note that this analysis could be entirely wrong as it relies heavily on his time in Kansas City. It is entirely possible that Ballard disagreed with much of the decisions made during his time with the Chiefs’ organization at the defensive end position. For all I know, Ballard could take a stiff run defender in round one. Who knows? However, this series should give some kind of insight into who Chris Ballard may want to target based on his past.

Learn more about these edge rushers and many, many more by pre-ordering the Indy Draft Guide!

The most comprehensive Colts draft coverage you can find anywhere releases April 10th, 2023.

Pre-order now with this special discount code!

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Zach Hicks
ZACH HICKS

Zach Hicks is the Lead Analyst for HorseshoeHuddle.com. Zach has been on the NFL beat since 2017. His works have appeared on SBNation.com, the Locked On Podcast Network, BleacherReport.com, MSN.com, & Yardbarker.com. 

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