The Indianapolis Colts’ revamped tight end group should pull off a few surprises in the 2022 NFL season.
When two-time Pro Bowler Jack Doyle retired following the 2021 NFL campaign, former basketball player Mo Alie-Cox became the Colts’ No. 1 tight end.
Prior to the 2022 NFL Draft, second-year man Kylen Granson was clearly the No. 2 tight end ahead of several undrafted free agents on Indy’s roster.
Colts GM Chris Ballard left no stone unturned in the draft.
He selected two tight ends: the Virginia Cavaliers’ Jelani Woods 73rd overall and the Youngstown State Penguins’ Andrew Ogletree 192nd overall.
Indy is now set at tight end for 2022 and beyond after the tremendous draft haul and Alie-Cox’s three-year, $18 million contract extension in March.
This group will come out with all guns blazing in the fall.
Woods And Ogletree Bring Plenty To the Colts’ Table
Doyle had his moments wearing the Colts Horseshoe during his nine-year NFL career.
However, he never came close to accomplishing what Dallas Clark did.
Clark was the best tight end in Colts history – his acrobatic catches, pass-blocking abilities, and chemistry with Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning were off the charts.
The Indianapolis Colts select Jelani Woods (TE – Virginia) with the 73rd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft
MONSTER #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/NitQiZs9Nr
— Barstool Indy (@barstoolindy) April 30, 2022
Woods has the intangibles to become another great tight end for the Colts.
Many Colts fans shared a similar first impression of Woods – he’s huge.
Woods stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 259 pounds.
Woods’ size will help Indy’s run-blocking schemes and open up more holes for otherworldly running back Jonathan Taylor.
He’s also a disciplined run blocker – Woods didn’t have a solitary blocking penalty in his final season at Virginia.
Woods’ 34.5-inch arms will also help him gain an advantage over linebackers and safeties trying to deny him the football.
That arm length will also help Woods haul passes which are a considerable distance from his massive frame.
For his part, Ogletree is also huge – he’s 6-foot-5 and weighs 260 pounds.
That massive frame will also come in handy in run-blocking situations for Indy.
Nonetheless, Woods is a better blocker than Ogletree.
Despite Ogletree’s huge build, he plays with the athleticism of a smaller player.
The #Colts select tight end Andrew Ogletree out of Youngstown State with the 192nd overall pick. pic.twitter.com/l9H0JbNbq4
— Colts Blue Zone (@ColtsBluezone) April 30, 2022
On the flip side, some experts feel his pass-catching abilities at tight end need some work.
Ogletree’s shortcomings aren’t surprising considering he played tight end for just one season at Youngstown State.
Both Woods and Ogletree transitioned into the tight end position: the former was an ex-quarterback while the latter was a former wide receiver.
While they’re still a work in progress, they’re in good hands with Colts tight ends coach Klayton Adams.
How The Colts Tight End Corps Will Play Out In 2022
Alie-Cox is still Indy’s undisputed No. 1 tight end.
Expect Colts head coach Frank Reich to use Alie-Cox and Woods frequently in his two-tight-end set in the 2022 NFL campaign.
Alie-Cox and Woods give new Colts quarterback Matt Ryan more weapons in the passing game.
They can also help Taylor gain more yardage on the ground and become an MVP contender in 2022.
The third tight end spot is a toss-up between Ogletree and Granson.
As a parting shot, the Colts’ tight end corps became younger and deeper.
When the 2022 NFL season kicks off in the fall, they will exceed expectations and help Indy return to postseason prominence.
I don’t see where Granson gets much playing time with two TEs at 6’7″, one at 6’5″ and all three weighing in #20+ more than Granson. Only 106 yrds receiving on 11 catches in 17 games. Maybe a practice squad guy. I don’t see wasting the cap space. One thing for sure, he better be a good ST tackler if he wants to make this team.