Colts Select Clemson Safety T.J. Green in 2nd Round
The Indianapolis Colts selected Clemson safety T.J. Green in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL Draft with the 57th overall selection.
Of course, the Colts originally had the 48th overall selection, but traded down with the Green Bay Packers in order to acquire an additional 4th and 7th round pick.
The 6’2″, 209 pound safety shined for the Tigers this past season, recording 95 tackles including 5.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
While Green was a late bloomer as he made the switch from wide receiver two years ago, he’s quickly been rising up on draft boards:
Rising prospect: #Clemson S TJ Green. He's worked himself into a possible late 1st pick. Surprisingly, some have him highly rated as a CB
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 26, 2016
As such, he’s among one of the best safety prospects in this year’s NFL Draft:
"SOURCES TELL US “There is a buzz going around about him from some people I talk to on a regular basis but I’m not sure where it is coming from. He’s fast, but what else?” — NFC executiveNFL COMPARISON Cedric ThompsonBOTTOM LINE Height/weight/speed prospect who appears to be heating up around draft circles. With just one year of full-time starting experience and so much dead tape due to deep coverage responsibilities, teams will have a limited sample size to operate from, but traits usually win out. If Green hits a fast 40 at the combine (as expected), his stock will get a bump. Green’s coverage potential is evident, but he might need time on the bench to watch and learn early on."
However, he’s been regarded as a boom or bust prospect:
"Clemson S T.J. GreenWhen you watch Green’s tape, there isn’t really enough there to get too excited, but when he put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, teams took immediate notice. There are teams who believe he has cornerback skills and that he could become a good, scheme-flexible piece on the back end, but there is also a concern that he could be overdrafted based simply on his workouts."
While Green has the size, speed, and athleticism to excel in the NFL, he also had his fair share of struggles in coverage:
Out of 120 draft-eligible safeties, T.J. Green graded dead last in coverage; QBs had a NFL rating of 115.2 when targeting him. #Colts
— PFF (@PFF) April 30, 2016
While shining in other areas:
T.J. Green's +8.2 run defense grade is the 14th-highest in this S class
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 30, 2016
Still, the Colts could use a long-term successor at safety where veteran Mike Adams just turned 35 years old and is entering the last year of his contract with the team.
Not to mention, the defense could use an infusion of youth, athleticism, and dynamic playmaking all together in what has been an aging unit.
Green has the tools to eventually develop into a starting safety for the Colts. If nothing else, the team can groom him for a season behind Adams before fully taking over the starting duties.
Something that the Colts did just recently this past season with Dwight Lowery for a season before eventually having Clayton Geathers presumably take over the reins this upcoming season.