The Indianapolis Colts addressed a few major holes during the 2020 NFL Draft.
They traded their first-round pick in exchange for superstar defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
However, they were able to make some strong selections during rounds two through six.
Unfortunately, not all of these players are expected to make a huge impact on the team in 2020.
Some of them are going to be starters on Day 1 while others are developmental pieces for the future.
#1: WR Michael Pittman Jr.
The Colts selected USC wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. with the No. 34 pick in the draft.
Indy chose Pittman over other players because they believe he’ll be the most explosive player to their offense.
He spent four seasons at USC, but didn’t breakout until his junior season.
Pittman hauled in 41 receptions, 758 receiving yards, and six touchdowns during the 2018 season.
He followed that up with 101 receptions, 1,275 yards, and 11 touchdowns during his senior year at USC.
The bid bodied receiver is exactly what the Colts need paired next to T.Y. Hilton right now.
Indy believes that if he can make the right adjustments he could be a No. 1 receiver for the team in the future.
He’ll start the season as the No. 2 option alongside Hilton, and will be heavily involved in the offense right away.
In jump ball situations, #Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. is so disrespectful towards defensive backs. pic.twitter.com/Z425wW4K7I
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) April 27, 2020
#2: RB Jonathan Taylor
It’s actually quite shocking that Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor fell to Indy with the No. 41 selection.
The Colts were debating on taking Taylor with their first selection but decided to take Pittman.
Luckily, they were able to land both players in the end.
Taylor enjoyed three incredible seasons at Wisconsin starting with a 1,977 yard rushing season his freshmen year.
He followed that up with 2,194 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns during the 2018 season.
Then for an encore, he rushed for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns during his final year in college.
The Colts will feature a two running back set of Taylor and Marlon Mack in 2020.
Mack is on the final year on his contract, so Taylor could be the workhorse back soon.
Taylor is a special talent, but his stats are likely going to be hindered while splitting up carries with Mack.
He should make a strong impact, but he might do more damage if he was the lone back on the team.
Jonathan Taylor running behind the #Colts offensive line is going to be so unfair. pic.twitter.com/nwF7O1WWQh
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) April 26, 2020
#3: FS Julian Blackmon
Adding to the offense was a big concern heading into the draft, but so was the lack of depth at the safety position.
Luckily, the Colts were able to grab Utah safety Julian Blackmon with the No. 85 pick in the third round.
He’s put together three reliable seasons as a starter in college.
Blackmon recorded 60 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and four interceptions during his senior year at Utah.
He might not start right away in Indy, but he’s a fantastic player to have on your roster.
Blackmon is able to play both the strong safety and free safety spot well.
There’s a good chance he begins the season as a rotational player, but does have plenty of talent.
It might not take Blackmon too long before he develops into a starting safety in the NFL.
Regardless, Colts fans should see him on the field quite often in 2020.
Here’s an idea on how good Julian Blackmon’s ball skills are. #Colts have another ballhawk in the secondary. pic.twitter.com/OeHfZg9Odo
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) April 30, 2020
#4: OL Danny Pinter
The offensive line isn’t something the Colts need to worry about in 2020, but should be a long-term focus of the team.
They decided to bring in Ball State offensive guard/tackle Danny Pinter in the fifth round.
He was a tight end during his first two seasons in college, but was moved to tackle in 2018.
Pinter finished his college career as the team Most Outstanding Player after starting 12 games for Ball State in 2019.
He is a bit of a developmental project, but has plenty of upside and potential.
The Colts don’t need him in 2020, but will likely use him at some point.
Indy has a strong front five, but having quality depth is always a key at offensive line.
Injuries happen and the Colts don’t have too many reliable backups on the o-line.
There’s a chance that Pinter gets into some action as a rotational player in 2020.
He isn’t expected to be a huge part of the team, but could see time on the field during the 2020 season.
The first play I see when I start watching Danny Pinter (RT, #75) is a pancake on Julian Okwara. This ought to be fun. pic.twitter.com/O5jEZ4abPP
— Jake Arthur (@JakeArthurNFL) May 3, 2020
#5: CB Isaiah Rodgers
The Colts added some depth at defensive back this offseason, but are still searching for long-term solutions.
They may have one in sixth-round pick Isaiah Rodgers out of Massachusetts.
Rodgers made a significant impact during all four years in college.
He finished his college career with 187 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 11 interceptions.
He won’t be high on the depth chart to start the season, but could work his way up into a rotational role.
Unfortunately, injuries happen and there needs to be reliable backups for when someone goes down.
The Colts do have a few veteran defensive backs, but most are on one-year deals.
Indy needs to find younger talent that can be useful for more than one season.
Rodgers is the type of player that could develop into a helpful option for the Colts.
He might not see a lot of action right away, but he’ll hopefully get on the field at some point.
First team with three straight picks since 2015. 😅
(Also please meet @rodgers_isaiah)
📺: NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/LZF3NJ47Ro
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 25, 2020
#6: WR Dezmon Patmon
The Colts have been unable to find reliable wide receivers through the draft over the last few seasons.
Maybe the 2020 draft will be the year that Indy finally lands some star receivers.
Indy used one of their many sixth-round picks on Washington State wide receiver Dezmon Patmon.
He didn’t make much of an impact during his first two seasons in college, but finally clicked in his junior year.
He hauled in 61 receptions for 816 receiving yards, and five touchdowns in 2018.
Patmon followed that up with 58 receptions, 762 yards, and eight touchdowns during his senior season.
Those aren’t exactly superstar numbers, but fairly decent for someone still around in the sixth round.
Patmon is going to battle in camp for position on the depth chart in 2020.
It doesn’t appear that the No. 3 or No. 4 receiver spot are set yet, so there is room for competition.
How much playing time Patmon sees in 2020 will be based off how he plays in camp and who goes down with injuries.
@WSUCougarFB WR Dezmon Patmon goes up and comes down with a great TD grab. pic.twitter.com/WYYO7PL59g
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 15, 2020
#7: LB Jordan Glasgow
The Colts used their final pick of their draft in the sixth round on Michigan linebacker Jordan Glasgow.
Usually sixth-round picks don’t make an impact right away, but Glasgow might be an exception.
He finished his senior season with 89 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, and five sacks through 13 games.
Sadly, he lacks experience which could end up hurting him in terms of playing time in Indy.
The Colts have some depth at linebacker, so Glasgow will need to prove himself during the preseason.
Assuming he plays well, Glasgow could find himself as a rotational player on the Colts in 2020.
It all depends on what he’s able to do on the field during camp and if he can impress the organization.
The Colts land the highest graded tackler in the 2020 NFL Draft class
Jordan Glasgow Michigan LB pic.twitter.com/a3f1zkVssb
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 25, 2020
#8: DT Robert Windsor
The Colts continue to add younger defensive ends/tackles each year in the draft, but none of them seem to pan out.
Indy is taking another chance here with sixth-round pick defensive tackle Robert Windsor out of Penn State.
He recorded 40 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks during his senior season.
The Colts have plenty of options at defensive tackle, so Windsor will have to battle for playing time.
He could actually move up quickly through the depth chart if he plays well in camp.
However, his role on the Colts in 2020 is not expected to be significant.
Windsor might be able to see playing time based on injuries and how he plays in the preseason.
Otherwise, he’ll be a nice developmental piece for the future.
Relentless Robert Windsor #Colts pic.twitter.com/Oo8pd6Q86k
— Faraz (@BrownMamba13) April 26, 2020
#9: QB Jacob Eason
As expected, the Colts added their quarterback of the future during the 2020 draft.
Indy selected Washington quarterback Jacob Eason during the fourth round.
It appears the sky’s the limit for Eason, so the Colts might have a steal here.
Eason threw for 3,132 passing yards, with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions during the 2019 season.
The Colts believe that Eason can develop nicely under 16-year veteran Philip Rivers.
However, Colts fans aren’t likely going to see Eason take the field in the regular season until 2021.
Rivers signed a one-year deal this offseason and Jacoby Brissett is under contract for the 2020 season as well.
It seems that a lot would have to go wrong for Eason to take the field in 2020.
The Colts would like Eason to sit for a year and develop, so he can eventually take over as the starter.
He’s one of the most talented players in the Colts draft class, but sadly is not expected to see action during the regular season this year.
NEXT: Report: Former Colts Punter Pat McAfee Is A Candidate For MNFSome of the throws #Colts QB Jacob Eason can make are jaw-dropping. pic.twitter.com/tNHApbqAUO
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) April 30, 2020
