A few weeks ago, most of the newest Indianapolis Colts began their uphill climb toward a roster spot in the club’s rookie minicamp. Now, things are turned up a notch with the beginning of OTAs. This time, those rookies will get a chance to show what they can do when stacked up against veteran NFL players. Some are the very players a rookie will need to overtake if he is to gain a roster spot.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport recently published an article choosing each NFL team’s most exciting undrafted free agent (UDFA). These are the players singed after the draft wraps up. Some are high priority players. Others are virtual unknowns. All are longshots.
And yet, it seems as if every season, a couple crack their team’s final 53-man roster, while a handful of others find a spot on the practice squad. Those players sometimes assume important roles on the 53-man roster as the season progresses.
Undrafted receiver/returner has a golden opportunity with the Indianapolis Colts
Davenport chose linebacker West Weeks as his Colts’ “most exciting.” The LSU product plays a position of need for Indy. Despite adding Akeem Davis-Gaither via free agency, and CJ Allen and Bryce Boettcher in the draft, the Colts still have spots available at linebacker. And Weeks is a special teams dynamo, a trait which could go a long way toward securing him a spot in late August.
But I will be looking at a different UDFA this week and into the summer.
If Sahmir Hagans does end up making the roster, his will be a similar story to that of Weeks. He will win a spot by providing depth behind the starters and showing up as a force on special teams.
As for his prospects as a depth piece, Hagans, much like Weeks, plays a position that offers opportunity. He is a wide receiver, and the Colts have nothing certain after Alec Pierce and Josh Downs.
Returning veterans Ashton Dulin, Jaquon Treadwell, and Anthony Gould have all been serviceable players for Shane Steichen, as well as for special teams coordinator Brian Mason.
Free agent addition Nick Westbrook-Ikhene should get the first chance to replace Michael Pittman, Jr. He has good size and has flashed brief glimpses of downfield ability playing on some anemic offenses in Tennessee and Miami. He has also been a decent special teamer.
However, none of these players are roster locks. I suspect Westbrook-Ikhene and Dulin are close, but they have never been indispensable. And they don’t figure to be this season.
If a player like Hagans is going to supplant someone and win himself a job, it could come at the expense of Treadwell or Gould. Treadwell is entering his eleventh season and has caught just seven passes in the last four years. He is strictly a special teamer at this point.
As for Gould, the 2024 5th-round pick has yet to establish any role on offense. He has been the Colts primary kick returner over the past two seasons and has been adequate. But far from special. He has also played in just 19 games over those two years due to either injury or coaching decisions.
Clearly, there is a chance for someone who can serve as a receiver, special teams player and return man. Enter Sahmir Hagans.
These are Hagans exact skill sets. He is a short quick player who has shown surprising strength and toughness despite his 5’10”, 190-pound frame.
Hagans played more on the outside at Duke, but he profiles as a classic slot. Though he does not possess blinding speed, he showed good quickness in pre-draft drills.
He has a solid short shuttle time, designed to test how quickly a player can change direction in a short space, and the first ten yards of his 40 are excellent given his overall 4.5 time. In other words, Hagans does not take long to reach top speed and he moves nimbly in space.
Plus, he has solid upper body strength which helps him stay on course when receiving contact. Those athletic markers make him an intriguing backup for Downs in the slot. (He even wore Downs' jersey number in college). They also make him a potential standout on special teams.
Of course, marks in drills are not as important as on-field production. At Duke, Hagans was outstanding on special teams throughout his entire career. He returned both kickoffs and punts and put up excellent numbers in both. He is very active in kick coverage as well.
Throw in the fact that, though he clearly will be tried in the slot as a pro, he does have the flexibility to shift outside if necessary, it is easy to project Hagans into a number of roles. And that is what can secure a roster spot for a UDFA.
Hagan’s most likely path to roster spot would seem to be beating out Gould as a returner. To that end, he has to do a couple things first and foremost. He has to remain healthy and he has to demonstrate excellent ball security. If he is able to do that, then it comes down to how many plays he can make this summer.
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