D'Joun Smith to Indianapolis Colts: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

The Indianapolis Colts were hoping for a number of defensive prospects to fall to late in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft after taking a wide receiver in the first. However, with a number of guys flying off the board early, the team decided to trade back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while swapping fourth-round picks.

After trading back to the first selection of the third round, the Colts decided to address their lack of depth at cornerback, taking Florida Atlantic prospect D'Joun Smith.

The pick was a bit of a surprise with players such as Paul Dawson and Eli Harold still on the board, but I can see why they made the selection. Greg Toler, Vontae Davis and Darius Butler are all solid corners, but the Colts have no one outside of those three guys who can effectively come in and play significant snaps.

Stephen Holder from The Indianapolis Star recognized the need for cornerback depth, but he also pointed out the team's need for some help on the defensive line:

Looking at the film on Smith, there are definitely traits to like from the young man. He may only be 5'10'' and 187 pounds, but he's a terrific athlete with the ability to make plays on defense or on special teams, potentially as a returner. 

Quick feet and smooth hips allow Smith to turn and keep up with his assignments in the passing game. Perhaps his biggest asset as a cornerback are his ball skills, allowing him to create some big turnovers when thrown at. 

That being said, there are some concerns with Smith's top-end speed and ability to cover the deeper routes. Playing at Florida Atlantic, Smith didn't play against some of the strongest competition, either, and that's one of the reasons he wasn't taken until the third round.

Overall, Smith is a smart and athletic defensive back who plays bigger than his size. He needs to work on avoiding being beaten vertically, but he has the skills to be an exciting prospect in the near future.

One of the more interesting parts about Smith's game is that he did spend some time at safety while at FAU. According to George Bremer from The Herald Bulletin, Smith sounded ready and willing to play wherever the Colts need him to:

That's good news for the Colts, who need versatility in their secondary. If Toler or Davis go down, Butler will be forced to play on the outside, and that means someone else will have to move into the nickel cornerback role. Smith appears to be a player who can hold his own in the slot thanks to his quick feet and ball-hawking mentality.

At the same time, Smith can likely learn the free safety position behind Mike Adams. Adams is the clear starter, but if something happens, the Colts will now at least have someone with range, instincts and ball skills to back him up.

Toler is set to be a free agent after the 2015 season, making cornerback an even bigger need when looking down the road. Smith certainly wasn't the flashiest selection to start the third round, but he fills a big need for 2015 and beyond to give the Colts some much-needed depth in their secondary.