Clayton Geathers to Indianapolis Colts: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

It might have taken them until the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft, but the Indianapolis Colts were finally able to address their safety concerns by selecting Clayton Geathers with the No. 109 overall pick.

A lot of fans were hoping that the Colts would pull the trigger on Landon Collins when he was available in the first round. However, the team focused on taking the best player on the board, bringing in Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett in the first round.

After adding a cornerback and defensive end in the third, the Colts finally took a safety with Geathers, the intriguing prospect out of Central Florida. Bleacher Report's Ian Wharton was a big fan of the selection because of a natural fit in Greg Manusky's scheme.

Geathers stands out on film with his 6'2'', 218-pound frame, and he plays knowing he's bigger than most receivers. During his time at Central Florida, he started all four years, playing the role of enforcer for the defense. He's an aggressive safety that loves to hit people but doesn't always wrap up or take the best angles.

Those are aspects of the position that the Colts coaching staff should work on with Geathers, but you still have to love his ability to avoid blockers and get downhill to make plays. In pass coverage, Geathers looks like he has the size and play speed to cover some of the better tight ends in the NFL. However, he doesn't see the field well when working as a single-high safety, allowing receivers to get open.

Awareness and technique are things that can be coached for the most part, but Geathers' physical traits cannot be. Before drafting Geathers, the Colts had no real options to start alongside Adams, but now it looks like the Central Florida prospect could fit nicely as the team's strong safety.

Still, the Colts haven't had a lot of luck at the strong safety position in a while. LaRon Landry played the position the past couple of seasons but was more of a liability than an asset when he was healthy and on the field. The last true impact player at the position was Bob Sanders, but the Colts are hoping that Geathers can become the next long-term starter.

A lot of teams passed on Geathers before the Colts took him, but he looks the part of what the Colts need at strong safety, and that's an enforcer that can move into the box and help stop the run. The Colts run defense has been a big area of weakness the past few seasons, but a productive strong safety should help them out.

Geathers believes he's exactly that kind of safety, believing that he can be a tone-setter for a defense, according to George Bremer from The Herald Bulletin.

Expectations will be high for Geathers despite being a fourth-round pick, simply because fans understand that there aren't currently any other options to start with Adams in the secondary. However, I think that Geathers can be a successful strong safety in the NFL, even if he doesn't make a major impact right away.