Breaking down the Indianapolis Colts' 2019 draft class.
Round 2, No. 34 overall: Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple
My take: The Colts surprised many in the NFL by finishing 11th overall in total defense (16th against the pass) last season, but secondary was a legitimate concern, based on lack of depth at that position and injuries there. Ya-Sin joins a secondary that includes Quincy Wilson, Pierre Desir, Kenny Moore and Nate Hairston. Ya-Sin was a three-year starter at Presbyterian before the school moved down to Division II and stopped offering football scholarships. He transferred to Temple, where he had 47 tackles and two interceptions last season. Ya-Sin said he played mainly man-to-man coverage at Temple. The Colts, on the other hand, play more zone under defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
Round 2, No. 49 overall: Ben Banogu, DE, TCU
My take: The Colts had to address their pass-rush needs with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger on the schedule next season. The Colts, according to Banogu, look at him as a player they can line up all around the field. Banogu played defensive end at TCU, but he's athletic enough that he could see playing time at linebacker, too. He said he hasn't played linebacker since he was at Prosper (Texas) High School. Banogu had 106 tackles, including 34.5 for a loss, and 17 sacks in his two seasons at TCU after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe. It wouldn't be surprising if Banogu saw playing time at linebacker because defensive line could be the Colts' deepest position. Banogu set a record in the broad jump for defensive linemen when he jumped 11-foot-2 during the combine. His 4.62-second 40-yard dash was the sixth-fastest among edge rushers.
Round 2, No. 59 overall: Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State
My take: The Colts had to address the receiver position after dealing with injuries and inconsistent play from just about every player at the position not named T.Y. Hilton last season. Campbell, whose 4.31-second 40-yard dash was tied for the fastest among wide receivers during the combine earlier this spring, spent all four seasons at Ohio State. He had a school-record 90 catches for 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns last season for the Big Ten champions. Campbell is joining a receiving group that features Hilton, Devin Funchess and Chester Rogers. Tight end Eric Ebron is somewhat of a hybrid receiver in the offense. Campbell's speed will allow coach Frank Reich to use him in several different ways in his offense and give quarterback Andrew Luck another big-play threat down the field.
Round 3, No. 89 overall: Bobby Okereke, LB, Stanford
My take: The Colts wrapped up the second day of the draft by adding to their linebacker group with the selection of Okereke, who said he believes he'll play middle linebacker with the Colts. Anthony Walker is the Colts' starting middle linebacker. Okereke will likely also get playing time on special teams. Okereke, who interned in the office of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice while at Stanford, had 240 tackles and 10.5 sacks in his career at Stanford. The Colts had four picks in the second and third rounds. Three of those picks were used on defensive players.
Round 4, No. 109 overall: Khari Willis, S, Michigan State
My take: The Colts traded both of their fourth-round picks (129 and 135) to Oakland to move up 20 spots and select Willis. The Colts have four safeties on their roster that they're high on in Clayton Geathers, Malik Hooker, George Odum and Matthias Farley. The concern is the health of those players. Geathers has missed 23 games over the past four seasons and Hooker has missed 11 games in his first two seasons. Farley missed 11 games last season. Willis, who plays the same position as Geathers, had 196 career tackles, 4.0 sacks and four interceptions in his career at Michigan State.
Round 5, No. 144 overall: Marvell Tell III, S, USC
My take: Colts GM Chris Ballard has put a premium on improving a defense that finished 11th overall last season. Tell is the fifth defensive player selected by the Colts in six picks in the draft. Tell had five interceptions and 221 tackles in his career at USC. The Colts view Tell more as a cornerback than safety in the NFL. If that's the case, he'll become the second player the Colts have drafted who has made the switch from college safety to cornerback in the NFL. T.J. Green, who was selected in the second of the 2016, moved to cornerback in 2017 before he was released in 2018.
Round 5, No. 164 overall: E.J. Speed, LB, Tarleton State
My take: Speed, and I don't mean Speed's last name, has been a priority by the Colts with their picks so far. Speed is not only the sixth defensive player the Colts have selected in seven picks, but they're all athletic linebackers and defensive backs. Speed said he passed up the opportunity to play at Division I programs like Oklahoma State, Colorado and Colorado State to stay close to home at Division II Tarleton State (Texas) because his adopted brother was battling cancer. Speed had some legal issues while at Tarleton State. He was arrested last year and charged with two counts of organized criminal activity. The grand jury ended up no-billing the charges and the case was dismissed, according to the Stephenville (Texas) Empire-Tribune.
Round 6, No. 199 overall: Gerri Green, DE, Mississippi State
My take: Green didn't produce as much as Mississippi State first-round picks Montez Sweat, Jeffery Simmons and Johnathan Abram from that defense, but he was still a key part of the unit. Green was a defensive captain who had 31 tackles and 3.5 sacks last season. He'll try to get in the mix with the Colts' pass-rushers. Green is the seventh defensive player the Colts have selected in eight picks.
Round 7, No. 240 overall: Jackson Barton, OT, Utah
My take: The Colts have gone from making offensive line a priority in the draft to now being able to wait until the final round to select their first offensive lineman. They were able to wait because they have their starting five and four key reserves from last season currently under contract. Barton was a starting tackle his last two seasons at Utah.
Round 7, No. 246 overall: Javon Patterson, C, Ole Miss
My take: The Colts wrapped up their 2019 draft by selecting their second-straight offensive lineman. Patterson played left and right guard during his first two years at Ole Miss before adding center to the list of positions he played. He started every game last season. The Colts put an emphasis on position flexibility with their backup offensive linemen.