The Colts may have gotten at least 3 solid starters from last year’s draft class, even if it lacks star power right now.
According to PFF’s Bradley Locker, the Indianapolis Colts had the 24th most productive draft class from this past season:
24. Indianapolis Colts
Snaps Played: 3,057
PFF WAR: 0.05
First-round edge rusher Laiatu Latu was solid in his first pro season, reaching a 14.0% pass-rush win rate and 38 quarterback pressures on a below-average defensive line. The Colts also received surprising workloads from offensive linemen Matt Goncalves and Dalton Tucker as they endured injuries to starters, with both players playing 460 or more snaps. This upcoming season will be paramount for second-round pick Adonai Mitchell, who dropped 14.8% of catchable targets — the fourth-highest rate for any receiver with 20 or more targets.
To be fair, the Colts really won’t know what they have with this draft class until after the 2025 campaign, maybe even the 2026 season—if you’re allowing for extra development time.
The first defensive player chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft, pass rusher Laiatu Latu, with the 15th overall pick, was solid if not unspectacular. Entering last year, Latu was touted as the most NFL ready pass rusher in this past year’s draft class and finished with 4.0 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 38 total QB pressures to his credit.
That being said, it’s a fair question of whether he has the same ceiling for growth as some of the other pass rushers in last year’s class as more of a polished technician, than pure athletic freak. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’ll be pretty good in time, but I also don’t think he’ll necessarily be Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney either, who finished with 13.0 sacks and 9 forced fumbles as rookie out of Syracuse way back in the 2002 season.
Other than Latu, the Colts ended up with two players projected to be solid starters along their offensive line regarding next year’s projected starting center Tanor Bortolini, as well as swing-tackle Matt Goncalves, who is the current frontrunner at starting right guard and appears to be the long-term answer to veteran right tackle Braden Smith as it stands.
Jaylon Carlies, a 2024 5th round pick, flashed as a subpackage linebacker in coverage and having recently lost linebacker E.J. Speed in free agency, also projects as the current starter at linebacker alongside NFL All-Pro Zaire Franklin—although the Colts could very well add another starting caliber option into the mix still yet this offseason.
At the end of the day, I think whether this draft class becomes truly special rests with AD Mitchell, and if he can continue to mature and improve his overall focus and consistency.
There’s no doubt that he’s immensely talented as the Colts’ 2024 2nd round pick—with the elite ability to separate; however, there were some drops, finishing route moments, and playing through contact issues that flared up periodically as a rookie.
This draft class is far from set in stone where it’ll ultimately land, and time will tell here…
