Bleacher Report looks back at how rough the 2019 Draft was for the Colts
As time goes on, the 2019 Draft is proving to have been a rough one for the Indianapolis Colts and Bleacher Report is highlighting that.
In 2019, the Indianapolis Colts didn’t have a first-round pick but they did have three second-round selections and a third. That’s four day-two picks, good value for an NFL Draft. However, the Colts are probably wishing they had some of those picks over.
Now three years removed from that Draft, that class for Indianapolis isn’t aging particularly well. In total, the Colts had 10 picks and they were: Rock Ya-Sin, Ben Banogu, Parris Campbell, Bobby Okereke, Khari Willis, Marvell Tell III, EJ Speed, Gerri Green, Jackson Barton, and Javon Patterson.
Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report recently re-graded the class now that time has passed and he gave Indy a D+. Moton points out how most of these players have faced significant challenges while trying to live up to their potential and their inability to do so, thus far, hurts the overall grade.
Colts receive D+ for 2019 Draft
Indy’s first pick of that class, Rock Ya-Sin, did have a rocky start to his career but he developed into a very solid corner in year three. So much so, that the Colts were able to trade him straight up for Yannick Ngakoue.
Bobby Okereke and Khari Willis both panned out pretty well but Willis did surprisingly retire this offseason to pursue ministry. Okereke remains with the team as a starting linebacker and should take another step towards stardom this season.
Of all the late-round picks, EJ Speed is the only one with a real impact in Indianapolis. He has shined on special teams and as a backup linebacker.
The two picks that will hunt Indy, however, are Ben Banogu and Parris Campbell. Banogu just hasn’t been able to figure it out with the Colts and there’s a chance he doesn’t even make the final roster. Campbell, on the other hand, has battled injury after injury.
There’s a chance he could turn things around if he stays healthy but that won’t change how much fans will always think about the what if. The 2019 Draft was a year loaded with elite receivers and a lot of those wideouts went after Banogu and Campbell were selected.
Guys like AJ Brown, DK Metcalf, and Terry McLaurin all could’ve been Colts. So while it has become evident that this class didn’t pan out as Indy had hoped, there will always be a lot of thought about what could’ve been.
