Indianapolis Colts: 4 best selections for Indy on Final Day of Draft
By Mike Luciano
1. S Ar’Darius Washington, TCU
Washington saw his teammate in Trevon Moehrig go in the second round to the Las Vegas Raiders, in part, because Moehrig has the frame to back up his standout play. Washington might’ve played safety at 5-foot-8 and 176 pounds, but he was an integral part of Gary Patterson’s 3-3-3-5 defense.
Washington absolutely flies around the field, can line up in the slot and play man coverage better than most corners at this point, and absolutely blows up ball carriers with hitting power that would make you think he had a sack full of rocks underneath his shoulder pads. Moehrig is the better prospect, but Washington has plenty of value.
The Colts would love a versatile player like Ar’Darius Washington
Washington, short of magically adding 45 pounds and turning into Bob Sanders, will likely move to cornerback at the NFL level, but he’s still a valuable piece to possess given his range and versatility. At the very least, he can be a backup to Julian Blackmon and one of the best special teams players in the league.
Ballard and this defense will love players like Washington that can line up anywhere, stick receivers in the open field, and make plays on the ball. He might be small, but he plays bigger than most 6-foot-1 safeties. He’ll be an instant contributor on special teams and in dime packages. What’s not to like about that in a late-round pick?
