The Indianapolis Colts had a 9-8 record in 2021 and were eliminated from playoff contention thanks to a disappointing loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars to end the season. The franchise was quick to move from the Carson Wentz era and traded him after just one season with him as the starter. The Colts were active this offseason and will now hand the reins to Matt Ryan in 2022.
There should be plenty of reason for optimism this year for the Colts. The franchise has had an impressive offseason and added eight new talented players who fit the model the Colts are attempting to build in this year’s draft. The organization checked the boxes for both value and fit in most of their selections, so now let's hand out some Colts 2022 NFL Draft grades.
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Indianapolis Colts 2022 NFL Draft Grades
Alec Pierce — WR Cincinnati (Round 2)
Standing 6’3 and weighing 211 pounds, Alec Pierce possesses good size at the receiver position. He has good hands and is comfortable extending away from his body. Pierce ran a 4.33 40-yard dash and is versatile in where he lines up. His high reception point makes him a weapon in the red zone and is likely an immediate NFL contributor.
Expect Pierce to see plenty of targets with the Colts right away. He raked in 884 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season of college football. While he likely doesn’t project as a No. 1 receiver, Pierce may win this job to start the season given the need for wide receiver help.
Draft Grade: B
Jelani Woods — TE Virginia (Round 3)
At 6’7 and 253 pounds, Jelani Woods has the size you hope for in a tight end. He is an impressive blocker, which will help him get on the field right away. Woods also is a red-zone threat and raked in eight touchdowns this past season as evidence of this. He has good hands and moves well in his route-running.
While the NFL is trending toward tight ends being capable of fully functioning as wide receivers, Woods is more old school in his play. He still is fluid enough as a receiver to run short or intermediate routes and be a safety valve for his quarterback. His blocking ability will likely be his calling card as he begins his NFL career, which is a great foundation for a tight end. It is not a surprise to see the Colts investing in tight end position given Frank Reich’s track record of utilizing them heavily in his offense.
Draft Grade: B+
Bernhard Raimann — OT Central Michigan (Round 3)
After being born and raised in Austria, Bernhard Raimann came to America as an exchange student in his junior year of high school. He was a two-star recruit as a tight end before returning to Austria for his senior year. Raimann then did not play football and instead served in the military for six months. He returned to America the following year and began playing football for Central Michigan.
In his first two seasons of college, Raimann played tight end and registered 11 starts at the position. He then began adding weight and made the transition to offensive line. Despite being 25 years old, the tackle is still very raw. He is still new to football and even more new to playing offensive line.
Even with the lack of experience, Raimann showed positive signs of a future productive NFL career. He has strong hands and excellent body control. He is most effective as a zone blocker and can anchor despite his lack of weight. Look for the Colts to get him on a nutrition plan and not to rush his development even with his advanced age.
Draft Grade: B-
Nick Cross — S Maryland (Round 3)
The Colts added a physically imposing safety who makes his presence known on the field. Nick Cross is eager to make an impact in the run game and is quick to attack the line of scrimmage. He has a very high motor and is also athletic enough to play slot coverage.
In 12 games last season, Cross totaled 66 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 interceptions, 3.5 tackles for losses, and 2 forced fumbles. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention the past 3 seasons at Maryland. His coverage skills need to be sharpened but Cross will be a great addition of physicality to the Colts. Expect him to play a role in special teams right away.
Draft Grade: C+
Eric Johnson — DT Missouri State (Round 5)
After being an unrated recruit in 2016, Eric Johnson has improved a great deal. He possesses good length and an explosive first step. The burst is the best asset in his game as he can shoot across an offensive lineman’s face or into a gap.
Johnson is also effective at getting into the backfield and can track down running backs for a loss of yards. He is an impressive athlete for a 300-pounder, but he is more of an athlete than a football player at this stage of his development. Look for him to make some vast improvements to his footwork and lower-body strength. NFL linemen will likely be able to neutralize him until this occurs, but Johnson could certainly be an impact player if he puts the pieces together.
Draft Grade: C
Andrew Ogletree — TE Youngstown State (Round 6)
It was an interesting decision by the Colts to take a second tight end in the draft. While some might be critical of this decision-making, the two rookies are fairly complementary in their styles of play.
Andrew Ogletree is much more cut from the modern mold of tight ends. He stands 6’7, weighs 250 pounds, and moves very fluidly. Ogletree has a long and lean frame with deceptive speed and the ability to separate from defenders. He struggles as a blocker and likely will be utilized much more often in the passing game. One of the most important aspects of Frank Reich’s offense is how the tight ends are used, so adding two rookies provides a great long-term outlook for the organization.
Draft Grade: B
Curtis Brooks — DT Cincinnati (Round 6)
At 6’2 and 285 pounds, Curtis Brooks is a powerful rusher who utilizes good leverage in his attack. He oftentimes demanded a double-team in college. The 163 total tackles and 22.5 for a loss during his five years of college he tallied certainly opened scouts' eyes. 12.5 of his tackles for a loss occurred in his most recent season.
Brooks is somewhat lacking in his burst off the snap and struggles to shed blockers at times. He needs to improve his hand fighting as he struggles to gain control of blocks. The Cincinnati product was rated well leading into the draft, making this is a decent value pick in the sixth round, but he is still raw and will need some time.
Draft Grade: C+
Rodney Thomas — S Yale (Round 7)
In his three seasons at Yale, Rodney Thomas had 133 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and six interceptions. He had an especially noteworthy performance against Cornell in which he pulled in two interceptions and took an onside kick for a touchdown. Thomas stands 6’2 and weighs 196 pounds. He converted from linebacker to safety and was a First-Team All-Ivy League selection as a result. The Colts spoke highly of his versatility and believe he could take snaps at multiple positions for them.
While he likely will never be an every-down defender, Rodney Thomas is a solid addition in the seventh round. He is a dynamic player and fluid mover and will play a role on special teams at the minimum. It was a great exclamation point to cap off an impressive overall draft for the franchise.
Draft Grade: B
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