Indianapolis Colts: Complete 2015 NFL Draft Wrap-Up and Analysis

The goal of the NFL draft is to walk away from the three-day event as a better team, and that's exactly what the Indianapolis Colts were able to do.

Along with bringing in a future weapon in the first round, the Colts were able to address a lot of their depth concerns on the defensive side of the ball. Thanks to eight total draft picks, the Colts were able to come away with some future starters along with prospects who will add depth at much-needed positions.

The journey has only begun for these draft picks, who will now have to prove themselves during rookie camp, OTAs and training camp in order to make the final 53-man roster. Players like Miami receiver Phillip Dorsett and UCF safety Clayton Geathers shouldn't have a problem making the cut, but late-round guys will have to prove themselves.

We'll see a lot more of these Colts rookies in the coming months, but for now, let's wrap up the 2015 NFL draft by breaking down the impact of this year's draft class.

The Selections

If anything, the Colts certainly had a full draft class.

Fans were shocked to see the team take Dorsett in the first round with players like Malcom Brown and Landon Collins still on the board. However, the Colts front office and coaching staff seems to love the Miami receiver, and if you watch him on film, it's easy to see why.

After focusing on offense in the first round, the Colts went with defensive prospects on their next four selections, including two defensive linemen from Stanford. Meanwhile, they also added some depth to their secondary with D'Joun Smith and Geathers.

Many analysts expected the Colts to take a running back early, but they waited until the sixth round before pulling the trigger on Josh Robinson, a player who looks like a stronger and quicker Trent Richardson. After that, they rounded out the draft with a couple of more depth players, taking Georgia linebacker Amarlo Herrera and an unknown offensive tackle in Denzell Goode.

There are a lot of pieces there, and some of them should make an impact right away. However, there were a couple of selections that stood out over the three-day event.

Best Pick: Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami (Fla.)

I might not be in the majority on this, but I don't think fans are giving the Dorsett pick in the first round enough love. Sure, the Colts needed some defensive help, but they took the best player on their board in a receiver I had higher than a few others who went in the first round, including Nelson Agholor.

When watching Dorsett on film, he naturally draws comparisons to T.Y. Hilton, but he might actually be even faster. Along with running the 40-yard dash in 4.27 seconds at his pro day, Dorsett also posted solid numbers in the three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle, running the drills in 6.7 and 4.11 seconds, respectively.

The other difference between Dorsett and Hilton? Their hand sizes. Dorsett's hands come in at 9 3/8'', while Hilton's are just 8 1/2''. At times, Hilton has had trouble catching the ball, but according to Pro Football Focus (h/t Kevin Bowen from Colts.com), Dorsett had just one drop last season.

Dorsett, Hilton and Donte Moncrief could all be future stars for the Colts, so their offense looks like it's in great shape for the next few seasons.

Worst Pick: D'Joun Smith, CB, FAU

Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports

The reason I have the Colts' first third-round selection as their worst pick isn't because of the player himself, but because of who was left on the board. Cornerback wasn't an immediate need for the Colts, and names like Tevin Coleman, Eli Harold, Jordan Hicks and other big guys at defensive back could have been drafted and been considered smart moves.

Still, there's a lot to like about Smith. He looks like a solid slot corner at 5'10'' and 187 pounds, and he provides the Colts with depth behind Vontae Davis, Greg Toler and Darius Butler. Still, the Colts could have added a depth corner in later rounds and focused on positions with more glaring weaknesses with this selection.

Overall, the Colts had a solid draft, but I would have liked to see a potential starter taken this early. Smith will be a valuable player if someone ahead of him goes down, but for now, this was my least favorite pick the Colts made.

What the Experts Are Saying

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Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN

Prior to the draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. kept mocking offensive linemen to the Colts. Many fans wanted to see defense in the first round, but neither the draft expert nor the fanbase saw a receiver coming.

Kiper didn't seem thrilled with the selection, according to ESPN Insider, saying:

"

The Colts seem convinced that Andrew Luck is impervious to punishment. And while the O-line made strides last year, it's still a problem area (and not just in pass protection). Phillip Dorsett is one of my favorite players in the entire draft, and I still didn't love this pick. The defense is aging, and the offensive line is a problem. They've given Luck the weapons, I'd just like them to keep him upright.

"

As I said earlier, Dorsett was the best pick the Colts made. They'll find a way to get the Miami prospect some touches as a rookie, but in the long run, I see him making a significant impact on offense and in the return game.

Bryan Fischer, NFL.com

Bryan Fischer from NFL.com graded all 32 teams after the first three rounds of the draft and came away impressed with how the Colts drafted. Despite only giving them a B- on Day 1, Fischer gave the Colts an A on Friday and a B+ overall through the first three rounds.

Here's what Fischer had to say about the Colts' first three rounds:

"

The Colts added another speedy wideout to what was already one of the deepest receiving corps in the league. While Andrew Luck will no doubt be happy, the team could have addressed another position such as offensive line or upgraded its defense. There are some questions about Dorsett's ability, but this team will have offensive weapons for days. Smith fills a need on defense and was a favorite of many scouts. Anderson is a filthy steal late in the third round and should be a super disruptive player on the defensive line.

"

I understand that not everyone was thrilled with the Dorsett pick, but Fischer did acknowledge the value that the Colts got on Friday. I agree that they made some great selections, and Anderson could be the defensive end of the future after spending his rookie season as a rotational player behind Kendall Langford.

Dan Kadar, SB Nation (Mocking the Draft)

While most draft analysts were pretty positive about the Colts' draft class, Mocking the Draft's Dan Kadar wasn't nearly as optimistic.

Kadar gave the entire Colts draft class an overall grade of a D+, and here's what he had to say about their selections:

"

I don't understand how the Colts can come out of this draft without drafting a right tackle who can push Gosder Cherilus for the starting job. Dorsett is a fine player and he went in the range should have in the first round. But how many targets is he going to get in that offense? Smith is right behind Anderson as the Colts' top pick. He's a do-it-all cornerback. Parry is a hard-nosed player who will be a decent backup on the line. Robinson, a bowling ball of a running back, could vulture some carries. Herrera was a smart pick in the sixth round. He's a natural fit in a 3-4 and is, at worst, a solid backup.

"

I understand Kadar's concern that the team didn't find a starting-caliber right tackle, but there's enough depth on the rest of the offensive line to not be as worried about the unit this coming season. Defense was by far a bigger concern, and they were able to address multiple needs on that side of the ball.

What's Left to Address?

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

More than a few needs were addressed in the draft for the Colts, but there are still a few holes that will need to be filled at some point—whether that's this offseason or next.

A pro-ready backup offensive tackle would have been nice to put some pressure on Cherilus, but Goode is going to need some time before he's ready to play at the next level. There may be an undrafted free agent who could at least be an instant backup, but we'll have to wait and see.

Robinson was a solid selection, but the Colts still need a future starter to take over once Frank Gore retires. I don't expect the Colts to add another legitimate option in the backfield before the regular season, but expect them to look for someone early in the 2016 draft.

Outside of that, there are just some more depth concerns on defense, specifically at safety. Geathers will likely be starting at strong safety, but there are no legitimate backups behind him and Mike Adams unless you consider Colt Anderson to be a serviceable backup.

Other than that, there aren't a ton of glaring needs for the Colts, who have some very high expectations for the coming season.

Final Grade

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

Prior to the draft, the Colts were legitimate AFC contenders, but the thing that has always held them back has been injuries. Now, the Colts have some more key players, and they may just have enough depth to help them challenge teams like the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos for a trip to the Super Bowl.

It's a little silly to hand out grades immediately after the draft because we have no idea who these prospects are going to be down the road. Perhaps the best way to grade a class immediately after a draft is its long-term potential, not just looking at their projected impact in 2015.

For this year's Colts class, there's a lot to like. Dorsett should be an immediate impact player on offense, even if he doesn't get a lot of touches as a rookie. Meanwhile, the two Stanford defensive linemen will be able to come in and be rotational players with the chance to start after they add some weight and get adjusted to Greg Manusky's 3-4 defense.

Those three prospects have the brightest futures in Indianapolis, but the rest of the draft was more focused on adding depth for a team that deals with injuries on a consistent basis. There were other prospects still on the board when the Colts picked that fans were yelling for, but overall, this class looks like a good one.

Grade: B+