From the Colts.com mailbag:
Quote:
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I was looking this up the other day. It’s been over a decade since the Colts have drafted a defender that turned into a second contract guy in Indianapolis. That has to change. You need young defensive talent coming from top picks.
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And, without looking it up, can you name the last defensive player drafted by the Colts that received a new contract from the Colts after their rookie one?
BTW, this does not count Vontae Davis since he was not drafted by the Colts.....
Anyone?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Antonie Bethea, drafted in the 6th round by the Colts in 2006 and re-signed to a veteran contract after 4 seasons in 2010. Let go at the end of that contract following the 2013 season. Only missed 5 games out of a possible 128 games in his 8 years in Indy; all within his rookie and 2nd season.
Defensive players selected by the Colts following Bethea 2007 - 2014:
2007:
CB Dante Hughes
DT Quinn Pitcock
SS Brannon Condren
LB Clint Session
FS Michael Coe
DT Keyunta Dawson
2008:
LB Phillip Wheeler
DE Marcus Howard
2009:
DT Fili Moala
CB Jerraud Powers
DT Terrence Taylor
2010:
DE Jerry Hughes
LB Pat Angerer
CB Kevin Thomas
DT Ricardo Matthews
ILB Kavell Conner
CB Ray Fisher
2011:
DT Drake Nevis
SS Chris Ruker
2012:
NT Josh Chapman
ILB Tim Fugger
2013:
OLB Bjoern Werner
DE Montori Hughes
SS John Boyett
2014:
OLB Jonathan Newsome
ILB Andrew Jackson
26 guys, none of which earned a 2nd contract from the Colts. Perhaps we missed on a few guys like Phillip Wheeler, Jerraud Powers and Jerry Hughes but, overall, there was very little NFL talent there.
2015 picks of Henry Anderson, Clayton Geathers and David Parry are the next set of folks that might break this trend in actually having a Colts rookie draftee defender signed to a veteran NFL contract. We will see in 2019.
Cheers,