The Most Intriguing Rookie Storylines at Indianapolis Colts OTAs

As the Indianapolis Colts head past the player-acquisition phase of the offseason and into the training phase, there are several things on which the team must focus.

First and foremost will be acclimating new players into the locker room and into the team's various schemes. Newly signed free agents—of which the Colts have depended on very much in recent years—will take some time to adjust, but the real unknown is the rookies.

Rookie NFL players are the mystery grab bag of the league. How they will adjust to playing faster, stronger, smarter competition each week is unknown. How they will handle increased responsibility and attention is unknown. As much as we'd like to say we improve in scouting tendencies every year, the reality is that rookies are baffling.

So as the Colts go through their organized team activities (OTAs) and head in to training camp later this summer, here are the top things that we'll be looking for from the team's rookies.

Will Phillip Dorsett Be the No. 3 WR Right Away?

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With the Colts spending a first-round pick on wide receiver Phillip Dorsett in the 2015 NFL draft, much of the media criticism revolved around the team's failure to land an "impact rookie" this spring.

The thinking was that Indianapolis needed an instant difference-maker among their rookies in order to take the next step to becoming a true Super Bowl contender, a position that would likely include either beating or at least being able to hang with the New England Patriots.

While the true value of the draft comes in the long-term production, many will be looking to see whether or not Dorsett gives the Colts any sort of edge in his rookie year. While he's not a defender, he can make the Colts' matchups against teams like the Patriots more favorable.

In fact, offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton told Steve Andress of Colts.com that he feels like having a third receiver that can dominate opponents' third cornerbacks was the difference in the Colts "taking the next step and getting over the hump."

But Dorsett will have competition for that third receiver spot. Donte Moncrief is entering his second season with the team, and he was impressive in limited snaps last season. While Dorsett makes a bit more sense from a schematic standpoint, Moncrief can enter the game as a third receiver and push T.Y. Hilton into the slot. Even if Dorsett ends up taking that third spot, the Andre Johnson-Moncrief-Hilton lineup is one we'll see at some point.

However, if Dorsett is truly the first-round talent the Colts hope, he should be the effective No. 3 receiver fairly early in the season, and we should start seeing those hints this offseason.

Can Clayton Geathers Play Right Away?

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When entering the 2015 offseason, the Colts had numerous issues with the defense. However, most of it revolved around a lack of standout players, rather than glaring weaknesses in the starting lineup.

The one difference was at safety, where the Colts had zero starting-caliber players on the roster heading into the offseason. The team did re-sign Mike Adams for one starting spot, but the other spot was up for grabs. Even after signing Dwight Lowery, who was a starter last season in Atlanta but has been a career journeyman, the hole remained.

Enter Clayton Geathers, who the Colts drafted out of Central Florida in the fourth round.

The problem is that Geathers is seen more as a developmental prospect by most. Even those who like him most, like James Vermeal of Draft Indy, see a significant learning curve for Geathers:

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There will be some development required with Clayton Geathers, but he has the physical tools and instincts to become a very talented safety... When you watch Geathers play, it is easy to see the potential he could reach, possibly bringing another core piece to the defense.

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Lowery could be a stopgap while Geathers develops, but the Colts and their fans will certainly hope that the rookie can play as soon as possible. Expect Indianapolis' coaches to be watching Geathers closely throughout the offseason to measure how pro-ready he really is.

Which Undrafted Free Agents Will Make the Team?

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Each season a select number of undrafted free agents make the final roster, while another few are often signed to the Colts practice squad. Some of these players end up being special teams contributors, bouncing on and off the roster. Others become key members of the active rotations, or even starters.

Last season, for example, Dewey McDonald was a special teamer for Indianapolis, Zach Kerr became a significant part of the defensive line rotation and Jonotthan Harrison even started 10 games.

The question going into the offseason for Indianapolis is most likely not whether a UDFA will make the roster, but which one(s)?

I have my favorites, of course.

If I had to pick one front-runner, it would be former Western Michigan cornerback Donald Celiscar. Not only is he one of my favorite prospects in the group, but he's entering a cornerback unit with no clear favorite in the race for the fifth cornerback spot. Other favorites include RB Tyler Varga and S Robert Smith.

Where Does Henry Anderson Fit in the Rotation?

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The best value the Colts got in this year's draft, if you believe people like Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus, was Stanford defensive lineman Henry Anderson in the third round.

Anderson, compared to Leonard Williams by a number of analysts, was a steal for Indianapolis at the end of the third round because of his wealth of production in 2014. According to Michael Mountford of Pro Football Focus, Anderson was one of the best defensive linemen in the nation last year, finishing with the highest pass-rushing productivity and third-highest run stop percentage against Power Five opponents.

If one of the Colts' five drafted defenders can make an instant impact this season, it's Anderson, with his quick burst off the line and efficient hand usage.

But how much of an impact will that be? That's the question we're hoping to find answers for during OTAs and training camp. Can Anderson be a difference-making rotational player—or even a starter—or will he fail to stand out of the crowd?

The answer may have a profound effect on the Colts' 2015 season.

Is Josh Robinson a Future No. 1 Running Back?

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The answer as to whether Josh Robinson can be a future No. 1 back won't be solved this offseason at all, but it's the question that should be on everybody's mind as he enters the league.

The bowling-ball back broke all kinds of tackles in 2014, ranking second in Pro Football Focus' Elusive Rating last year. For the Colts to get him in the sixth round of the draft could be a heck of a steal if he can show the same kind of tackle-breaking ability.

Questioning Robinson's full-time potential lies around his durability and production out of the backfield as a receiver, so we may not get a concrete answer anytime soon.

But if Robinson can show that his style of running will work in the NFL as it did in college, his potential as a future starting back will be clearly evident.