Colts 2018 NFL Draft Analysis: Darius Leonard

With the draft being all wrapped up, it’s time to delve into each Colts pick a little deeper. Here we discuss second round pick Darius Leonard.

The Colts had a lot of issues on the roster, one of the biggest being at the linebacker position. The team did not have a stud linebacker on the roster. They were bad tacklers, and weren’t good at rushing the passer or covering in space.

That should change with the addition of Leonard. He is a linebacker out of South Carolina State. He hardly missed any tackles, and had over 100 tackles multiple times during his college career. He also had decent covering skills, recording 6 interceptions in his career.

Leonard played in a 4-3 scheme, which fits what the Colts are trying to do now. Part of the reason the linebackers weren’t very good is the fact that they were in a 3-4 scheme indoors, which is a recipe for disaster. With the team moving to a 4-3, they should be able to rush the passer better and cover better because of that.

Leonard didn’t play the stiffest of competition in college, which is a concern. How will he adjust to the much faster pace of the NFL? There are players who play major college football who never adjust to the speed of the game, so Leonard has his work cut out for him.

The Colts seemed to know what they were doing. Leonard should be able to adjust to the speed of the game and fit into the scheme. With the lack of depth at the linebacker position, Leonard has a chance to play a lot and maybe even start.

Next: Which Colts Rookie Will Have the Biggest Impact in 2018?

Indianapolis should be able to put Leonard in a position to succeed. If he puts in the work, he could be a foundational piece for the defense for years to come.