5 Late-Round Sleepers That Would Be Perfect for the Indianapolis Colts

Outside of a disappointing 2013 class, Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson has done a pretty good job of drafting. 

It's hard to argue with guys like Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton, Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener, Jonathan Newsome, Jack Mewhort and Donte Moncrief all playing huge roles on the 2014 Colts. It's one of the reasons why the Colts were first on ESPN writer Matt Williamson's rankings of talent under 25 years old. 

But while Grigson has had some nice hits, he's largely missed on late-round guys, especially in the sixth and seventh rounds. 

The Colts have had nine sixth- and seventh-round draft picks over the last three years, and only one (2014 sixth-rounder Andrew Jackson) saw the field for the Colts in 2014. The fifth-rounders have been better, especially if Jonathan Newsome pans out, but the vast majority of the Colts' late-round picks have simply been wasted. 

But with four picks in Rounds 5-7 in 2015 and a relatively deep draft class, Colts fans are hoping that this is the season Grigson finds himself a late-round steal. 

In that line of thinking, here are a few late-round sleepers that could be perfect for Indianapolis.

OLB Shaquille Riddick, West Virginia

Chris Jackson/Associated Press

One of the biggest unknowns in the draft, West Virginia's Shaquille Riddick didn't play a snap at the FBS level until his senior year in 2014.

Riddick spent his first three years at Gardner-Webb, a small Baptist school in North Carolina. He was successful there, earning FCS All-American honors in 2013, but you don't garner national attention at a school of 4,000 students. So Riddick transferred to West Virginia in 2014, where he finished with six sacks. 

While Riddick had his moments, including three sacks in the Mountaineers' upset of Baylor and two sacks in the Medal of Honor Bowl game, he was also inconsistent. His pass-rushing skills are predicated on a quick first step off the line and little else. He doesn't seem to possess the strength or technical proficiency to vary his moves, and he could likely be handled with ease by most NFL tackles. 

But the 6'5", 242-pound player could be a very interesting piece in the Colts defense, which is built around deception on the front seven. Riddick's versatility is key here, as he can drop back into coverage with surprising ease. If he could bulk up without losing his athleticism in the open field, Riddick would be exactly the kind of player that Chuck Pagano and Greg Manusky could turn into a situational weapon. 

Scout's Praise 

"

Riddick has a condor-like wingspan, but flashed in this game with first step quicks and closing burst to finish plays in the backfield.

"

Optimum Scouting's Eric Galko

WR Austin Hill, Arizona

USA TODAY Sports

If it wasn't for an ACL tear in the spring of 2013, we wouldn't even be talking about Hill as a potential late-round target. 

Hill was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award in 2012 as the NCAA's top wide receiver, and he could have opted for the draft last April. But after missing the entire 2013 season, Hill didn't want to take the risk of entering the draft and returned to Arizona for his senior season. 

While it took him a while to get going, Hill got more comfortable toward the end of the year and flashed some of the ability that had scouts raving back in 2012. Hill led all receivers in receiving yards at the East-West Shrine Game a few weeks ago, and he could be an interesting slot prospect for the Colts, who need a possession receiver going forward. 

Hill uses his 6'2", 210-pound frame well when going up for high balls, possessing strong hands that are extremely dependable. He's a smart receiver who utilizes his movements efficiently and runs crisp, smooth routes. There are questions about just how healthy his knee is, however, as he struggled to get separation in 2014. 

Scout's Praise

"

Austin Hill/WR/Arizona being applauded by coaches for his route running and pass catching. Good to see- late round steal?

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 13, 2015"

ILB Zach Vigil, Utah State

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

As my Bleacher Report colleague Curt Popejoy says, "when you want a sleeper inside linebacker, look for production."

If there's one thing Utah State linebacker Zach Vigil has, it's production. He was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year after amassing 154 tackles, 19.5 tackles for a loss and nine sacks in 2014. He's a tough player with a nose for the football, even if he's not the stoutest of linebackers at 6'2", 235 pounds. 

While Vigil isn't a Brandon Spikes-type of run defender, he's quick and versatile. Utah State ran him in all kinds of blitzes and coverage schemes where he looked extremely comfortable. In today's NFL—especially in Indianapolis, where blitzing inside linebackers is a core cog—versatility against the pass is a must. 

He has the intangibles to succeed, too. Vigil was a walk-on at Utah State and worked his way to being the best defender in the Mountain West. He'll need to work up from a special teams role in the NFL, and that's something that doesn't seem out of the question. 

Scout's Praise

"

Team leader. Reads pass keys quickly and gets into coverage with depth. Shows awareness in zone and matches up with crossers in his area. Has adequate man-cover skills. Decent hips to open and run. Wrap-up tackler who brings some bang on perimeter tackles. Worker bee who plays with confidence and hustle. 

"

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

CB Imoan Claiborne, Northwestern State

Small schools can produce big-time prospects that will be overlooked, and I think Imoan Claiborne out of Northwestern State is one of those guys. 

Though he's just 5'11", 187 pounds, Claiborne is a physical press-man corner who prides himself on being able to disrupt wide receivers' timing at the line of scrimmage. He's the type of physical competitor that Chuck Pagano loves at cornerback, someone who is confident in his ability to compete with anybody and has the talent to do so. 

Claiborne mirrors receivers well down the field, flipping his hips quickly and smoothly as receivers make their cuts. He also attacks the ball in the air, not allowing receivers to get clean catches very often. He turned heads at the Senior Bowl, including Jacksonville Jaguars head coach and former Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, per Patrick Woo of the Senior Bowl. His draft stock could rise as we move closer to April. 

Scout's Praise

"

Can significantly disrupt routes when he gets hands on his target. Quick feet and loose in the hips. Able to open and run or change direction easily. Can mirror and match talent off the line. Has range to help over the top when asked to play deep third. 

"

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

OL Greg Mancz, Toledo

The Colts need offensive line depth, especially depth that can move about on the line and give them versatility among the second- and third-string units. 

Greg Mancz fits exactly that kind of profile. He's played tackle, guard and center for Toledo over the last four seasons and has displayed an impressive IQ to go along with outstanding technique. He's not the strongest of linemen, weighing 300 pounds at 6'5", but his instincts and recognition on the interior are lights out. He's also fairly athletic, and can move in space well for an interior lineman. 

With the Colts' future so uncertain at center and right guard, Mancz is the type of player that could immediately give the Colts usable depth. He could stand to improve, certainly, especially with a few months in an NFL weight room, but he has the mental part of the game down, which could lessen the amount of rookie mistakes. 

Scout's Praise

"

You get versatility and experience. He has started every game since he arrived on campus and can play guard or tackle as well (he's now at center). I just love his ability to get to the second level, pull and block in space. ... He's a future Day 3 pick, a possible starter but extremely useful as a swingman who can step in at any position if someone goes down.

"

Mel Kiper, ESPN.com

All college stats provided courtesy of cfbstats.com unless otherwise stated.  

Kyle Rodriguez is Bleacher Report's lead featured columnist for the Indianapolis Colts. He is also the editor-in-chief of Colts Authority and Colts Academy and a PFWA Dick Connor Writing Award recipient. Follow him on Twitter for year-round Colts and NFL analysis.