The Indianapolis Colts are rumored to be interested in selecting a tight end during the upcoming NFL Draft.
The Colts recently had a virtual pre-draft meeting with Oregon tight end Jake Breeland.
He had virtual meetings with both the Colts and New York Jets this offseason.
Breeland has put up some impressive numbers while at Oregon and the Colts are in desperate need of help at the tight end position.
Should the Colts consider selecting Breeland during the upcoming draft?
Adding to this, #Oregon TE Jake Breeland recently held pre-draft meetings over FaceTime with the #Colts & #Jets. https://t.co/LCoMtiNjUu
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) April 17, 2020
Who is Jake Breeland?
Breeland is a 6’5” 252-pound tight end that has spent each of the last four seasons at Oregon.
He didn’t make a huge impact his rookie season as he finished with six receptions for 123 receiving yards through 11 games.
Breeland’s career started to kick off his sophomore campaign when he recorded 18 receptions, 320 yards, and five touchdowns.
He followed that season up with 24 receptions, 337 yards, and two touchdowns during his junior year.
Sadly, Breeland’s senior year was cut short after he suffered an ACL tear.
He finished with 26 receptions, 405 yards, and six touchdowns through six games before having season-ending knee surgery.
He finished fourth all-time among Oregon’s receiving leaders at tight end with 1,225 career receiving yards.
Breeland was the main target for quarterback Justin Herbert before going down, but maybe they will land on the same NFL team.
Is Breeland a Fit for Indy?
Indy is most likely looking to upgrade at the tight end position after Eric Ebron departed and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason.
The Colts still have Jack Doyle under contract, but don’t have much depth behind him.
The next best option for Indy on their current roster is Mo Alie-Cox, but he doesn’t have a ton of experience.
The Colts are expected to feature a two-tight end set quite often with quarterback Philip Rivers in town.
Rivers has shown tremendous success in the past with talents like Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry.
Indy is looking for a big-bodied option they can target in the red zone.
Breeland has solid hands, excellent ball skills, and an ability to stretch the field vertically.
However, he is coming off a serious knee issue, so who knows how he’s going to play after that.
Breeland does make sense for Indy, but the ACL tear is a bit concerning.
Did a Film Session earlier today with Oregon TE Jacob Breeland (@JakeBreeland10). Probably the most underrated TE in this class. Former WR who is also a pretty solid blocker.
Met with all but 3 NFL teams at the combine.
Met with #Rams, #Titans, #Packers, and others at Pro Day pic.twitter.com/B3Me0paSva
— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) March 13, 2020
What Round Should Indy Consider Taking Breeland?
This draft class is fairly weak at the tight end spot, but Breeland is expected to be around for a bit.
The Colts have higher priority needs before they look into drafting a tight end.
Breeland is projected to be a late-round pick, but has a dependable all-around skill-set.
He did not participate in the NFL Combine because he’s still rehabbing his knee.
However, his statistics at Oregon speak for himself, so it doesn’t sound like the injury will cost him too much in terms of draft stock.
Breeland has the potential to be a solid TE2 for a professional organization.
The Colts could target Breeland around the fourth or fifth round and he should still be available on draft day.
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