Colts Draft: Three Sleeper Picks to Maintain an Eye On
With the NFL Draft approaching, the Indianapolis Colts will try to find some gems in the rough.
The Indianapolis Colts have a lot of selections to make in the rapidly approaching NFL Draft. Many people talk about the early rounds and sure-fire stars that scouts bet their careers on. However, like with every draft cycle, certain names become buried beneath the hyped-up talents and may be overlooked early on.
The Colts will approach the draft with the intention of selecting at least one player who no one else is looking at, preferably later in the seven-round process. The 2024 draft is critical for the Colts and the franchise’s long-term success, therefore acquiring as much talent as possible is essential. Here are three under-the-radar talents who may land big for the Colts.
Safety | Tykee Smith (Georgia)
Tykee Smith began his college career at West Virginia then transferred to Georgia in 2021, where he is now in his third year. While he had injury setbacks in his first year as a Bulldog, he rebounded in 2022 and performed even better in 2023. Smith recorded 70 tackles (8.5 for loss), 2.0 sacks, and four interceptions. Aside from the sacks, Smith set career highs in every other measures.
According to Pro Football Focus, he had an 84.0 overall defensive grade, a 73.3 run defense, and an 83.1 pass-rush rating. He accomplished all of this while playing 630 defensive snaps, 260 of which were run and 32 of which were pass-rushing. These statistics describe an athletic and versatile safety who has also played cornerback.
According to the Indy Draft Guide, Smith is a third-round prospect who might fit well at free safety with recently signed Julian Blackmon. Smith’s fit is also labeled as “high,” implying that he could be a good value with a high potential payoff.
Center/Guard | Tanor Bortolini (Wisconsin)
In 2023, the Colts’ offensive line had multiple injuries. Key players like left tackle Bernhard Raimann, right tackle Braden Smith, and center Ryan Kelly all missed a few games due to various injuries. With then-rookie tackle Blake Freeland failing to handle outside line duties in the absence of starters, it became clear that Indianapolis may need solid depth to protect Anthony Richardson. Look no further than Tanor Bortolini of Wisconsin.
According to Relative Athletic Score, Bortolini has an unofficial 9.78, placing him in the top tier of athletic offensive linemen in this year’s draft. Bortolini also had a strong year in 2023, earning 80.3 pass-blocking and 61.1 run-blocking ratings on 868 total snaps, according to PFF.
Tanor Bortolini is a OG prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.78 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 33 out of 1445 OG from 1987 to 2024.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of picking a player like Bortolini is his versatility, as he has played plenty of guard during his football career. Currently, the Colts have plenty of depth at center behind Kelly, but if Bortolini makes an impact, he might challenge current starter Will Fries for the right guard spot.
Running Back | Isaac Guerendo (Louisville)
Isaac Guerendo, a Louisville running back, is as athletic as they come in the 2017 draft. According to RAS, he is the sixth most athletic running back among 1,771 since 1987.
Isaac Guerendo is a running back prospect in the 2024 draft class. He got a 9.97 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. Between 1987 and 2024, this placed sixth out of 1771 RB.
Former Colts running back Zack Moss has signed with the AFC rival Cincinnati Bengals, so his skills in the backfield may be needed again. While the Colts want to see what Evan Hull has to offer as a receiving specialist, the third-string job might be open or compete with Trey Sermon. Sermon had a few strong moments in 2023, but he didn’t make enough of an impression to earn that spot on the depth chart.
Guerendo, who has testing figures close to Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, is a unit on the field capable of making explosive plays. He is 6’0″ and weighs 221 pounds, but he runs a phenomenal 4.33-second 40-yard dash and appears fluid in every speed drill. Guerendo’s experience at Wisconsin and Louisville makes him a viable returner option. Guerendo returned 31 kicks for 714 total return yards over five NCAA seasons (23.0 average). In his collegiate running back career, he had 231 carries for 1,392 rushing yards (6.0 average) and 18 all-purpose touchdowns (1 receiving).
Guerendo, as an addition to the Colts’ backfield, would surely press Sermon about his place in the scheme. If he reaches his full potential, he may replace Moss and give Taylor a true weapon behind him. While Guerendo’s pass-catching ability should be improved, everything else is in place. According to the Indy Draft Guide, Guerendo is a fifth-round prospect. If Indianapolis can land him there or later, they may have found a draft steal.
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