As the Indianapolis Colts prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft, let’s take a look back at Indy’s 2022 Draft class and re-grade them now that they’ve played a season.
Soon, there will be a new group of rookies heading to the Indianapolis Colts. With the 2023 NFL Draft scheduled to start on April 27, the weekend where hundreds of players’ dreams come true is right around the corner. Before we welcome a new class, let’s look back at last year’s draftees.
Unlike this year, the Colts didn’t have a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, Indianapolis still put together a pretty good draft class of eight players. The class consisted of four offensives players and four defensive players. Although their rookie season was a poor year for the Colts, the class as a whole appears to be very promising and the future is bright for these young players.
When they were first drafted, all eight received initial draft grades. Now that they have a season under their belts, let’s see if those grades improved, remained the same, or dropped.
WR Alec Pierce, Round 2, No. 53
Original grade: B+
Current grade: A-
Wide receiver Alec Pierce was Indy’s first selection of the 2022 Draft and he was a good one. Everyone knew that the Colts were selecting a receiver with their first pick, it just wasn’t clear which. Indy decided on Pierce, and his initial grade was a B+. The reason why he didn’t initially receive an A was that Pierce was stylistically really similar to Michael Pittman Jr., and at the time, it seemed like it would’ve been a good idea to pair Pittman with one of the fast and shifty receivers that was available.
However, Pittman came in and immediately made a big impact with his jump ball-catching ability. As a rookie, he played in 16 games and caught 41 passes for 593 yards and two touchdowns. Averaging 14.5 yards a reception, he provided Indy with several big plays.
Now, he’ll step into the WR2 role for the Colts during his second season, and if Pierce progresses like he’s supposed to, he should be a 1000-yard receiver next season.
TE Jelani Woods, Round 3, No. 73
Original grade: A
Current grade: A
Leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft, Jelani Woods was a prospect that got a lot of people excited. His combination of size and athleticism made him intriguing as an offensive weapon. In his rookie season with the Colts, Woods used those tools to excite fans with several big plays.
He played in 15 games and caught 25 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Unfortunately, his playing time was a point of frustration for Indy’s fans. Whenever Woods was on the field and being targeted, he was making plays. He just didn’t get consistent reps or involvement in Indy’s offense.
That should change in year two as Woods becomes more of a staple in the offense.
OT Bernhard Raimann, Round 3, No. 77
Original grade: A+
Current grade: B-
Bernhard Raimann was another prospect that generated a lot of excitement leading up to last year’s draft. Some experts were predicting that he would be drafted as early as the first round. That’s why when Indy landed him in the third round with their third pick of the draft, it was instantly an A+ selection.
Unfortunately, Raimann’s career didn’t start with A+ play. He had to work to get on the field, and eventually became a starter, starting 11 games as a rookie. However, his play wasn’t all that good at first, as he contributed to a really bad Indianapolis offensive line. But, to be fair, Raimann was a rookie, playing one of the toughest positions in football.
Luckily, his play got better throughout the year, and by the end of the season, Raimann was playing a promising level of football. He should be far more improved when he returns for next season.
S Nick Cross, Round 3, No. 96
Original grade: A
Current grade: B+
The Colts traded back into the third round to select Nick Cross and it was a great selection. His college film was filled with Cross flying around making plays, and that’s exactly what he did when he arrived in Indianapolis. A strong training camp and preseason made Nick Cross the Week 1 starter at safety.
However, after starting the first two games, Cross regressed to the backup as veteran safety Rodney McLeod took over. McLeod provided Indy with a great season that no one expected and Cross just had to sit back and wait. With McLeod now moving on, Cross should be back in the rotation and ready to make plays.
DT Eric Johnson, Round 5, No. 159
Original grade: B-
Current grade: C
Eric Johnson was a great depth selection with promising college film, however, he didn’t play that much in his rookie season with the Colts. But that’s really because Indy had great interior defensive line play with DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. The fact that Johnson remained on the roster and even rotated in some is promising.
TE Andrew Ogletree, Round 6, No. 192
Original grade: C
Current grade: B+
This improved grade may be premature since Andrew Ogletree hasn’t played a snap for the Colts yet, but he was having the most impressive training camp of Indy’s rookies before tearing his ACL. Initially, this selection was a bit boggling since Indianapolis had already drafted Jelani Woods, and had Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson on the roster. But Ogletree’s plays in camp made the pick worthwhile.
If Ogletree can return and be as promising as he was last camp, and carry it over into the season, he will be a great pick for Indy.
DT Curtis Brooks, Round 6, No. 216
Original grade: A
Current grade: F
Curtis Brooks initially seemed like a great late-round steal. His college film consisted of impressive plays of him stopping the run and getting after the passer. Unfortunately, Brooks didn’t even make Indy’s 53-man roster. He was signed to the practice squad but was eventually released before being signed by the Tennessee Titans.
DB Rodney Thomas II, Round 7, No. 239
Original grade: B
Current grade: A+
The real steal of the draft was Rodney Thomas II. When he was selected in the seventh round out of Yale, the on-air analysts didn’t even know much about him. All they knew was that he was athletic and had experience playing multiple positions.
He ended up being Indy’s best rookie, and one of the Colts consistent defenders last season. After Julian Blackmon went down with injury, Thomas got an opportunity, and he never looked back. He ended up playing in all 17 games, starting 10, and recording four interceptions, six pass deflections, and 52 tackles.
With Thomas, Blackmon, and Nick Cross all in the safety room, the Colts are set up for the future at that position. Hopefully, Indy will be able to find many more talented players in this year’s draft.
READ MORE: Grading every first-round pick of the Chris Ballard era