Henry Anderson to Indianapolis Colts: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

Heading into the 2015 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts needed to find some players in the front seven of the defense to help them stop the run this coming season.

It might have taken until the third round, but the Colts were able to find a prospect that can do exactly that in Stanford's Henry Anderson.

The Colts have loved bringing in Stanford players over the past couple of years, but Anderson is the first Cardinal that they've brought in on the defensive side of the ball. Anderson had a great 2014 run with Stanford, earning All-Pac-12 honors with 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

During his time at Stanford, Anderson had some experience in a 3-4 defense, and that will help him make the transition to Greg Manusky's defensive scheme. According to Zak Keefer from the Indianapolis Star, Anderson expects to be a defensive end in the Colts' 3-4 defense, but acknowledged that he needs to add some weight:

Anderson isn't wrong in thinking that he should add some size. He has a nice frame at 6'6'' and 294 pounds, but adding 15 or 20 more pounds could go a long way in making him a more productive 5-technique on the defensive line.

What makes Anderson a solid third-round prospect is the fact that he quickly gets off the snap and stays low when engaging with offensive linemen. His arm extension helps him quickly disengage with blockers, allowing him to make plays in the backfield.

Experience playing all over the defensive line has helped Anderson become a strong all-around player. He has a lot of awareness and can quickly diagnose plays. Anderson's effort is always there as well, he rarely gives up on plays until the whistle blows.

Mentally, Anderson has what it takes to play at the next level, but there are concerns with his physical traits. Anderson doesn't have the strongest lower body, and that can hurt him when going against stronger offensive linemen. Balance and footwork are also areas of concern, and those are areas he must work on before he's ready to become a starter.

For now, Anderson can sit behind Kendall Langford and gain experience off the bench as a 3-4 defensive end. The Colts desperately needed some defensive line depth, and Anderson should be able to fill at least one hole behind Langford.

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However, thanks to his experience with Stanford, there's a chance that Anderson could also come off the bench and play as a 3-technique when starters need a rest. He'll still need to add some weight before he's ready to do that, but Anderson's experience playing on the inside of the defensive line will give him some extra versatility at the next level.

There are some who feel that Anderson's future is bright in the NFL, but Sam Monson from Pro Football Focus actually believes that the Stanford prospect could end up having a better NFL career than Leonard Williams because he landed in a good spot with the Colts.

Overall, Anderson should be able to make an immediate impact as a rotational defensive lineman for the Colts. However, as he continues to work on his technique and add weight, Anderson could be ready to take over as the team's starting 3-4 defensive end in 2016.