2022 NFL Draft thread - Day 2 discussion - Rounds 2 and 3

[Brylok]

On paper, this is pretty fantastic for the Colts. I hope all these guys pan out. Very happy!

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by Brylok

On paper, this is pretty fantastic for the Colts. I hope all these guys pan out. Very happy!

Colts just got way bigger and more athletic tonight. I don't think Khari Willis is long for a starting role.

[Spike]

We will all have to see how this pans out, but I would give Ballard an A so far in this draft. Filled some needs with some really damn good players without having to reach. WR, TE, OL, & Safety. Best haul in a shitload of years. It's amazing that he did all this without a first round pick. Losing that 1st round pick doesn't hurt so much, if at all, anymore.

[Oldcolt]

Ballard does know how to construct a roster. I’m hopeful for some offensive line depth. Excellent guards can usually be found in these upcoming rounds

[Ironshaft]

Rating scales are subjective. We don't know for sure all that goes into it and it is often in the eye of the beholder.

That being said.....in the Next Gen NFL stats on the league's page, our draft picks ranked:

Bernhard Raimann graded as the #5 offensive tackle with the 4 graded above him all being drafted in the 1st round.

Nick Cross graded as the #5 safety with the 4 graded above him all being drafted in the 1st and 2nd rounds (2 in 1st, 2 in 2nd)

Jelani Woods graded as the #7 tight end. 3 graded above him have not been drafted and the other three were picked in the 2nd or 3rd rounds.

Alec Pierce graded as the #15 wide receiver which is ironic as he was our highest pick. I know his athletic ability is not nearly as high as many on the list above him. I just have to hope that his football smarts set him apart. The Colts obviously liked him.

I LOVE the positions the Colts drafted. I really like the profiles/bios/backgrounds of the players they picked. I hope it translates into excellent play on the field.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Originally Posted by Spike

We will all have to see how this pans out, but I would give Ballard an A so far in this draft.

Ballard's drafting in even number years has been outstanding.

2018 Draft - Quenton Nelson, Darius Leonard, Braden Smith, etc.

2020 Draft - No first round pick but still selected Michael Pittman Jr, Jonathan Taylor, Julian Blackmon, etc.

2022 Draft - Looks promising....

The odd number years has been a bit uglier - although I give him a mulligan for his first draft in 2017 because he hadn't set up his org structure yet. I also think he was evaluating the evaluators (scouts) as much as the players. And it is still a bit early to judge last year's draft class.

[CletusPyle]

Originally Posted by Spike

We will all have to see how this pans out, but I would give Ballard an A so far in this draft. Filled some needs with some really damn good players without having to reach. WR, TE, OL, & Safety. Best haul in a shitload of years. It's amazing that he did all this without a first round pick. Losing that 1st round pick doesn't hurt so much, if at all, anymore.

I agree, the Redskins picked Dotson with our #1 pick, I think Dotson is going to do very well in the NFL, but I doubt Ballard takes him with the 16th pick, we may have gone with an OL pick, but considering what we came away with in the 2nd and third the Colts did very well! The only question will be if we could have improved the Raimann pick...I like that pick a lot so I think Ballard has to feel really good about this draft so far!

[JAFF]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

Colts just got way bigger and more athletic tonight. I don't think Khari Willis is long for a starting role.

Willis “knows” how to play at the nfl level, he makes plays. I wouldnt write him off

[Ironshaft]

Originally Posted by CletusPyle

I agree, the Redskins picked Dotson with our #1 pick, I think Dotson is going to do very well in the NFL, but I doubt Ballard takes him with the 16th pick, we may have gone with an OL pick, but considering what we came away with in the 2nd and third the Colts did very well! The only question will be if we could have improved the Raimann pick...I like that pick a lot so I think Ballard has to feel really good about this draft so far!

Obviously, we don't know the medical concerns teams had about Raimann but the thing that I love is his growth potential. He has all the athletic ability in the world but only a couple of years experience at playing OT. With good coaching and playing next to an all-world OG in the Big Q, his game could sky rocket.

[Ironshaft]

Originally Posted by JAFF

Willis “knows” how to play at the nfl level, he makes plays. I wouldnt write him off

With Gus Bradley, we will play three safeties A LOT. I am not sure that the "starter" tag is that big of a deal.

Blackmon, Willis, McLeod and now Cross will all be in the mix for playing time...a lot of playing time. Watts looks more like a special teamer to me.