Colts used day two of the Draft to add elite athletes around Matt Ryan
The Indianapolis Colts went all-in on athletic offensive players for day two of the NFL Draft by adding Alec Pierce, Jelani Woods, and Bernhard Raimann.
The offseason for the Indianapolis Colts was all about defense. With the exception of trading for Matt Ryan, all the moves Indy made were about building the defense.
Now, Indianapolis has finally started building around Ryan by selecting three offensive players on day two of the NFL Draft and just one defender.
In the second round, the Colts drafted wide receiver Alec Pierce from Cincinnati. Indy came back in the third round and selected tight end Jelani Woods, left tackle Bernhard Raimann, and safety Nick Cross.
We'll see how things pan out, but in terms of addressing roster needs, Colts had a hell of a night.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) April 30, 2022
Colts focused on offense in the Draft
Chris Ballard and Indianapolis had to have a theme in the type of offensive players they wanted to select: guys with size and athleticism. That’s demonstrated in the three players selected.
Pierce is 6-foot-3, 211 pounds, and ran a 4.41 40-yard dash with a 40.5-inch vertical. Jelani Woods is 6-foot-7, 259 pounds, and had a 10.00 RAS, the highest score possible on an athletic testing scale.
Bernhard Raimann, who was drafted as a left tackle, played his first two years at Central Michigan as a tight end. He retained that level of athleticism as he transitioned to left tackle.
Even Indy’s third-round defensive selection, safety Nick Cross, ran a 4.34 40-yard dash and had a 37-inch vertical jump.
These three offensive athletes should help the Colts have a more explosive offense. Jonathan Taylor and the run game are a given, but there was a lot of concern about if Matt Ryan’s blind side would be protected and what weapons he would have to throw to.
As Raimann continues to get familiar with the left tackle position, he should be able to provide long-term stability at that spot for the Colts.
If Pierce and Woods can maximize their athleticism on the NFL field, Indy’s offense will be full of pass catchers that can make explosive plays all over the field.
Putting these big bodies on the outside while Taylor dominates on the inside could be very promising for Indianapolis.
