How does PFF grade Colts 2021 draft class one year later?
A year removed from the 2021 NFL Draft, how are the seven selections for the Indianapolis Colts progressing? PFF offers an updated grade.
The Indianapolis Colts are coming off an impressive 2022 NFL Draft. They have one of the most athletic classes and were able to select several players that Indy was high on.
The hope is that they can immediately impact and also have long-term success. That’s typically the hope for every draft class, however, it doesn’t always work like that.
The Colts have seen both great and underwhelming draft classes. But what about the class they selected just one year ago, how are they doing?
With their rookie season under their belt, were they better than expected, worse, or met expectations exactly? What were their initial expectations?
Michael Renner from PFF looked into this in a recent piece where all 32 teams’ 2021 draft classes were re-graded. For Indianapolis, they were given a C+, the exact same grade they were given a year ago after the Draft.
The Class of 2021.#ColtsDraft | #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/sMl30FJDmg
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 2, 2021
Colts’ 2021 draft class grade is still a C+
The top pick last season for Indianapolis was Kwity Paye. He started last year for Indy and made the All-Rookie team. He’s expected to take a big leap for the Colts in year two.
Dayo Odeyingbo, Indy’s second pick, was slowed by an Achilles injury but is expected to consistently contribute this coming season. With these two being the top two picks, Renner argues that the class wasn’t selected to be impactful from the start and that’s why their initial grade was a C+ and why they retained it.
The good news is, that six of the seven selections are still on Indy’s roster and they all are at least two deep on the depth chart. That means that a year into their careers, they were able to make the roster and find a way to contribute.
As these young players develop throughout their careers, they have the potential to elevate their class grade. Paye and Odeyingbo should be much bigger factors this season and Kylen Granson and Michael Strachan should be able to carve out roles for themselves.
Ultimately, it’s time for this group to take a year-two leap and help the Colts chase a Super Bowl.
