There's a lot of young talent on the Indianapolis Colts right now and several guys are expected to take a big leap in 2023. For the Colts and new head coach Shane Steichen, the squad is looking to put the rough 2022 behind them and build towards the future.
For the Colts, there's surely going to be a lot of eyes on rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, but there's plenty of under-the-radar guys for fans to keep a close eye on. One player in particular would be second-year tight end Jelani Woods.
The 6-foot-7, 265-pounder is a big-bodied pass-catcher who should see plenty of targets this fall and winter. In a new piece, CBS has dropped their list of under-the-radar guys who could be stars this campaign, and they mentioned Woods. We love seeing this.
Colts TE Jelani Woods could be in for a huge 2023 season
"Woods was Indy's third-round draft choice last season and was solid down the stretch. In his last six games, he caught 18 of his 27 targets for 233 yards, which included an eight-catch, 98-yard showing against the Steelers in Week 12. With the Colts selecting Anthony Richardson fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Woods could end up being one of the go-to options in the passing game. As we've seen with other rookie quarterbacks, they tend to use the tight end as a security blanket, which could be Woods in this situation.CBS' Tyler Sullivan
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In 2022, Woods caught 25 balls for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Those stats won't turn a lot of heads, but the QB play for Indy was far too inconsistent last year. While there will surely be some ups and downs for Richardson moving forward, there's a ton of excitement surrounding him.
He raised his stock in an unreal fashion leading up to the NFL Draft, leading to Chris Ballard using the No. 4 overall pick on him in late April. Richardson will surely look Woods' way early and often in 2023. It could be a year to remember for both players.