2015 Draft Sleepers Who'd Fit Perfectly with the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson has had his fair share of early-round draft success.
Whether it was Andrew Luck, Dwayne Allen, T.Y. Hilton, Jack Mewhort or Donte Moncrief, the Colts have been able to find contributors in the early rounds of the draft. It's the back half of the draft that has been a goose egg for the Colts.
Aside from outside linebacker Jonathan Newsome, who broke out down the stretch in 2014, and rotational nose tackle Josh Chapman, the Colts aren't currently getting any contributions out of their late-round picks from the last three years. None of the Colts' sixth- or seventh-round picks have panned out.
The Colts must begin to take better advantage of these late-round picks, finding contributors to fill out the roster instead of having to sign a bulk of free agents each offseason. So today, we look at five potential sleepers that fit well with the Colts and could be had in the middle-to-late rounds.
DT Derrick Lott, Chattanooga
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It's hard to garner much attention at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, but defensive lineman Derrick Lott has managed to do so of late, thanks in large part to a stellar combine performance.
At 6'4", 314 pounds, Lott has the size to succeed at a number of positions on the Colts' 3-4 defensive line, but he also has the quickness to match.
One of the best interior defensive line testers at the combine, Lott's measured in the 75th percentile or higher for defensive tackles in the 40-yard dash (4.99 seconds, 76th percentile), the 20-yard shuttle (4.44, 83rd) and the three-cone drill (7.30, 88th), according to MockDraftable.com. With above-average height, weight and arm length to boot, Lott has everything you could want physically from a defensive lineman.
The results are there on tape as well, as Lott has solid technique and instincts matched with fantastic hand usage. He's explosive with a decent repertoire of pass-rushing moves and should be able to compete in a number of roles.
It's not all good, of course. Lott was a bit of a late bloomer and didn't really burst onto the scene until he transferred to the smaller UTC. Despite his measurables, it's hard to imagine him having much more time to develop since he's turning 25 this June. Still, he could be an immediate contributor and future starter on the Colts line, whether it be at nose tackle or either defensive end spot.
Scout's Take
"Derrick Lott beats the chip block, then throws the OG off to make the play. pic.twitter.com/tXWhcit8AK
— Terry Lambert (@LambertScouting) March 2, 2015"
RB David Johnson, Northern Iowa
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In an ideal scenario, the Colts would use a second- or third-round pick to snatch up one of the many backs that could be potential long-term starters in this draft. However, if the team wishes to use early picks on the defensive side of the ball, Northern Iowa's David Johnson should be available later while still providing 90 percent of the value.
Another combine darling, Johnson was among the positional leaders in just about every test that he participated in. Take a look at his spider graph from MockDraftable.com, which is as well-rounded as it gets. This is how he ranked among running backs this year:
- 40-yard dash: 4.5 seconds (fourth)
- Bench press: 25 (fourth)
- Vertical jump: 41.5 (second)
- Broad jump: 10'7" (second)
- Three-cone drill: 6.82 seconds (second)
Like Lott, Johnson's skills show up on film as well. He moves fluidly for a back his size (6'1", 224 pounds) and catches the ball out of the backfield very well. He broke 15 school records in 2014 and became the first player in school history with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
He certainly has room to improve, but he has all the physical tools to do so. He's not a bruiser and won't be one of the class' early workhorse backs, but he'd be a perfect fit in a pass-heavy offense like Indianapolis'.
Scout's Take
"Vet NFC scout told me Northern Iowa's David Johnson, USC's Buck Allen & South Carolina's Mike Davis as the "hidden gems" in '15 RB class
— Bucky Brooks (@BuckyBrooks) April 17, 2015"
OLB Davis Tull, Chattanooga
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Yes, another UTC draft prospect. This is a list of sleepers after all.
This one is another standout tester, as the 6'2", 246-pound defensive end from Chattanooga was limited at the combine with a pulled hamstring but still managed to impress.
Tull only participated in the vertical and broad jumps at the combine, but finished first and second among linebackers in the two events. Still limited by his hamstring, Tull ran the 40-yard dash at his pro day and finished in 4.57 seconds, which would have been fifth among linebackers at the combine.
To put it all in perspective, Tull doesn't just compare favorably to guys like Vic Beasley and Bud Dupree, he has them beat. Tull is the top SPARQ edge player in this draft, per Zach Whitman of Three Sigma Athlete.
Like Lott, Tull's domination of lesser competition in 2014 is a bit of a concern, but that's why they are potential sleepers and mid-to-late-round prospects instead of the ones garnering national attention.
Tull is stronger than his weight would suggest and uses his hands well, giving him the skill set to convert to strong-side outside linebacker in the Colts' 3-4. But he's not just an edge-setter, with the flexibility and quickness to rush the passer relentlessly as well. He's not a top-notch edge-rushing prospect, but for a SOLB, he'd offer quite a bit.
Because of the lesser competition and a torn shoulder labrum, Tull could free fall on draft day, but he has plenty of potential to risk a mid-round pick on.
Scout's Take
"Davis Tull (UTC) really explodes off of the line here. Routinely gets ahead with his burst. pic.twitter.com/DSWhoyiah3
— Terry Lambert (@LambertScouting) February 27, 2015"
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RB Zach Zenner, South Dakota State
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Look, another prospect who tested well and dominated small-school competition. If you're sensing a theme here, I promise it's purely coincidental.
While I touted Johnson earlier in this piece, Zach Zenner of South Dakota State should be found even later in the draft. At 5'11", 223 pounds, he's another well-built back with great athletic traits. He gets pushed into the fullback label too often because of his strength, but he has plenty of speed and quickness to be a full-time tailback.
Zenner finished his combine testing as a top-five running back by SPARQ's physical profiling, per Whitman.
While Zenner isn't one of the draft's most flashy runners, he doesn't waste his motion and isn't afraid of contact. He can be a bowling ball between the tackles, but his vision is above average and his cuts are smooth. He's not nearly as shifty in the open field as some of the other pass-catching backs in this draft, but he has very reliable hands and is a decent blocker in the backfield.
He probably won't ever be an All-Pro workhorse back, but he could fill out a committee with the potential of taking large amounts of snaps if need be.
Scout's Take
"Zach Zenner isn't a Fullback. Fullbacks don't rush for 2,000 yards in a season three times.
— Jordan Plocher (@StarvingScout) April 1, 2015"
CB JaCorey Shepherd, Kansas
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Here is where we break from our current mold a bit.
At 5'11", 199 pounds with 30.6" arms, JaCorey Shepherd doesn't have the size or length that one would generally pinpoint for a press cornerback on the outside.
However, Shepherd's instincts and nose for the ball make him worth investing in, even if it's as a long-term slot cornerback. Shepherd only had five interceptions in the last two years combined, but he had 32 passes defensed, as he times his bursts to the ball extremely well.
The Colts need depth cornerbacks to groom for the future, and Shepherd could fill that role. His technique can be sloppy, both in his feet and his hips, but he doesn't find the ball in the air by accident. Pro Football Focus' Gordon McGuinness called him "potentially the best playmaker in this draft," citing his 53.0 allowed passer rating in 2014, the 10th-highest mark in the class.
You can teach technique, but you can't teach the instincts and ball skills he has. In the right role, he could pay great dividends.
Scout's Take
"This is another amazing play on the ball by JaCorey Shepherd. https://t.co/LbexrUs5Uj
— Joe Draftberry (@JoeGoodberry) April 2, 2015"
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