The Indianapolis Colts wrapped up their crop of 10 selections in the 2019 NFL Draft this weekend adding competition and depth throughout several areas on the roster.
While it remains to be seen if any immediate starters come from the draft class, there are several players on the Colts roster that will be impacted from the selections in both good and bad ways.
Here are the winners and losers for the Colts in the 2019 NFL draft:
Winner: RB Marlon Mack
Throughout the entire offseason, which included free agency and the pre-draft process, the Colts were actively bringing in running backs for visits and workouts. Despite their praise of the backfield, they continued to host potential additions.
While it wasn’t a need, many believed the Colts were going to draft a running back to help take some of the load off of Mack, especially between the tackles and in short-yardage situations. That didn’t happen, and it appears once again that the lion’s share of work will go to Mack, barring any changes.
There’s a chance some undrafted free agents will be brought in, but Mack is one of the biggest winners for the Colts as he will have a chance to truly take over the backfield entering what could be a breakout Year 3 campaign.
Loser: CB Nate Hairston
As the Colts maneuvered their way through the draft, they wound up spending two selections on cornerbacks. They took Temple’s Rock Ya-Sin at No. 34 and came back around to grab USC’s Marvel Tell in the fifth round.
There is no guarantee either prospect will be a starter right away, especially Tell, who is converting from safety to cornerback. Ya-Sin has the best chance to start right away, but even he still needs work before securing that big of a role so early.
However, there is a very high chance both players hold a roster spot when it’s all said and done. This could leave Hairston as the odd man out, especially considering how the second half of his 2018 campaign went when he failed to play more than six defensive snaps in any game.
There’s a lot of time before roster cuts, but Hairston could be fighting for his job.
Winner: S Clayton Geathers
The Colts waited until the final day of the draft to address one of their biggest needs in the safety position. They wound up trading up in the fourth round to grab Michigan State’s Khari Willis, which should show how much they liked him as a prospect.
Even so, Geathers is a winner in this scenario because the Colts didn’t draft a prospect that can immediately take over as a starter. If he’s able to stay healthy, there’s a good chance he holds on to that starting role to begin the season while Willis works in the rotation and competes with Matthias Farley.
Geathers is working on a one-year deal to prove he deserves to stay and even though the Colts really like Willis, the former will be given every chance to earn and keep the starter’s role next to Malik Hooker.
Loser: WR Chester Rogers
I’m a bigger fan of Rogers than most, but there is a chance his job is in jeopardy following the draft. Fortunately, he has special teams acumen to lean on, but even then he’s going to have heavy competition for a role in the offense.
One of the best picks the Colts made in the draft was wide receiver Parris Campbell. The speedster is a perfect fit for the scheme and could compete for the WR3 or WR4 spot immediately. With Devin Funchess and Deon Cain being added to the mix as well, Rogers faces a crucial offseason.
The addition of Campbell is going to be the biggest factor for Rogers. Campbell has much higher upside to produce given what he can do after the catch, and that could ultimately be the reason Rogers finds his way down on the depth chart. Though, I would still predict him keeping a roster spot.
Winner: TE Mo Alie-Cox
Like the running back position, there was an expectation that the Colts might build on the strength of the tight end room at some point during the draft simply to add some depth behind starters Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron. They didn’t, and Alie-Cox should be thankful.
Without the addition of a tight end during the draft, this allows Alie-Cox to have the opportunity to secure the No. 3 role as the primary blocking tight end in the room. He will have his competition, no doubt, but he’s the likely front-runner to grab that high-end depth piece.
With his size, improvements as a blocker and upside as a red-zone target, Alie-Cox has a lot to offer the Colts. Following the draft, he should have plenty of opportunities to prove he belongs as the third tight end on the depth chart.
Loser: LB Matthew Adams
In all honesty, most of the linebackers are in jeopardy of losing their jobs or even seeing a reduced role in the defense. That might even include Anthony Walker, who could see less time on third downs with the new additions. However, Adams will be the one that has the most competition to work with.
Over the course of the draft, the Colts added three linebackers that perfectly fit the defensive scheme. Two of them in Bobby Okereke and E.J. Speed offer more upside in coverage while the other, Ben Banogu, offers more as a SAM, which is where Adams played during the stretch of the season.
This isn’t to say Adams’ roster spot is in jeopardy. I still think he keeps that. But he will have a lot of competition this offseason against some excellent athletes that the Colts seem to be very high on.
