INDIANAPOLIS – It took until the draft, but Matt Ryan finally got some help this offseason.
The Colts drafted 4 offensive players in 2022—three pass catchers and a guy who they think can be the left tackle of the future.
Here’s a capsule look at the Colts four picks on offense in 2022:
Round 2, Pick 53: Cincinnati Wide Receiver Alec Pierce (6-3, 211)
-2021 Stats: 14 games played (13 starts). Had 52 receptions for 884 yards and 8 touchdowns.
-Career Stats: 45 games played (30 starts). Had 106 receptions, for 1,851 yards (17.5 average) and 13 touchdowns.
-Interesting Fact: Pierce’s dad played football at Northwestern and his mother played volleyball. Both of his brothers were/are college basketball players.
-Pierce’s Quote to Note: “Jordy Nelson was probably one of my favorite receivers growing up. So, I’d say Jordy Nelson. I like A.J. Green’s game a lot too. I think that’s a guy I emulate well because not only could A.J. Green run by guys, but you could throw it up and he can go up and jump over guys. I think that’s probably my best comparison is A.J. Green.”
-Chris Ballard’s Thoughts: “He’s got really good size, has really good vertical speed. He’s got work to do, like any rookie receiver that comes into the league. But we think he’s got a chance to really ascend. Just put on the Notre Dame game. I mean he played about as well as you could play against a top-five college football team. So, excited to get him.”
-Outlook: The Colts were blown away by Pierce in his 144-yard afternoon in beating top-10 Notre Dame on the road. They then loved how Pierce operated at a private workout in April. You toss that in with the combination of his size/speed/jumping ability and the Colts are eager to get this tough-minded wideout into Reggie Wayne’s receiver room. No Colts rookie will be asked to do more right away than Pierce. The Colts think he can do that. They are big fans of the runaway speed (4.41 40-yard dash). Pierce excels at finding the ball in the air, high pointing it and then securing those 50/50 opportunities. Pierce, a graduate in mechanical engineering, hails from an extremely athletic family (both his brothers are Division 1 basketball players).
Round 3, Pick 73: Virginia Tight End Jelani Woods (6-7, 253)
-2021 Stats: 11 games played (10 starts). Had 44 receptions for 598 yards and 8 touchdowns.
-Career Stats: 45 games played (38 starts). Had 75 receptions, for 959 yards (17.5 average) and 12 touchdowns.
-Interesting Fact: Woods began his collegiate career as a quarterback at Oklahoma State.
-Woods’ Quote to Note: “I’m more of a physical guy. Definitely would say a guy that attacks everything he does. So, run blocking is very aggressive and pass protection and stuff like that, I’m definitely the same player also with that. Run blocking, I’m definitely very aggressive. I love contact, so I’m kind of into that. Running routes, I’m very physical at the point of attack, making breaks and I like to bang a lot. I would say, I’m a versatile player that likes to do both pretty much, blocking and running routes.”
-Ballard’s Quote to Note: “Jelani is unique. I’m not going to lie to you, I sweated it out because I think he’s got really big upside both as a receiving tight end and as a blocker. We think he’s going to be able to block. He did it at Oklahoma State, but he’s a unique athlete and he’s a guy that’s always open. It’s kind of like Mo (Alie-Cox). When you’re 6-7, the quarterback can put the ball up and he’s athletic enough to be able to make a play on it. This kid can run. This kid can really run so we’re excited to get him.”
-Outlook: You might not find a tight end that has the size/athletic profile of Woods. The former quarterback transitioned to tight end at Oklahoma State, prior to transferring to Virginia for his final college season. It was Woods playing tight end on the Okie State scout team (replicating then Oklahoma tight end Mark Andrews) causing fits for the OSU defense. When the staff saw what Woods could do, they moved him to tight end. The Colts are getting another Mo Alie-Cox frame and believe Woods brings a little bit more ‘running’ athleticism. With Kylen Granson more of the detached tight end option, the Colts see versatility in Woods, and the 6-7 TE will have a chance to impact some things from Day 1.
Round 3, Pick 77: Central Michigan Offensive Tackle Bernhard Raimann (6-6, 303)
-2021 Stats: 12 games (12 starts at left tackle).
-Career Stats: 44 career games played (29 starts). 18 starts at left tackle, 11 at tight end.
-Interesting Fact: Raimann was born in Austria and started playing football at the age of 14, moving to the states at the age of 17.
-Raimann’s Quote to Note: “I take a lot of pride in my athleticism. I keep working on it, no matter how much weight I gain or whatever. I try to be as athletic as I can so then that way, I can be out on the field playing loose, playing aggressive and really can enforce my playing style on the defense. For me, it’s a really important part of my game and I just plan on improving it more and more and keep working.”
-Ballard’s Quote to Note: “We do think he has (left tackle) talent, but what we’ll do is we’ll get the best five on the field. If he is one of the best five, he’ll be on the field whether it’s at tackle, guard – whatever the coaches think are the best five, we’ll get them on the field. But we think he has starter talent on the O-line.”
-Outlook: Despite Raimann not going until Round 3, the Colts still see left tackle ability at this level from Raimann. We will see about guard early in his career, if Matt Pryor is the left tackle, but there are some questions about Raimann holding up strength wise in the interior. Raimann has some Joe Reitz in his background. Obviously, Raimann’s football background wasn’t extensive growing up in Europe. He started at Central Michigan as a tight end before putting on 60 pounds and transitioning to tackle. Raimann turns 25 years old in September, which is very old for a rookie. He should have a chance to compete with Pryor at left tackle. Right now, the Colts probably have 3 guys for 2 starting spots up front (Pryor: LT or RG, Raimann: LT and maybe RG, Danny Pinter: RG).
Round 6, Pick 192: Youngstown State tight end Drew Ogletree (6-7, 250)
-2021 Stats: 10 games started. Caught 28 balls for 282 yards and 0 touchdowns.
-Career Stats: 44 games (22 career starts). Caught 91 balls for 1,147 yards and 10 touchdowns.
-Interesting Fact: Was an All-State high school basketball and football player in Ohio
-Ogletree’s Quote to Note: “They can mold me into whatever they want because I’ve only played tight end for only one year and I have a receiver background. I think I put some pretty good stuff out on film of me playing tight end. I feel like I’m a ball of clay, they can mold me however they want, however they see fit.”
-Outlook: Ogletree is going to have a fight to make the Colts 53-man roster. That’s just life when you have 3 tight ends ahead of you in Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson and Jelani Woods. Like Woods, Ogletree made a position switch in college. In going from a wideout at Findlay to a tight end at Youngstown State, Ogletree admits he is much more comfortable as a receiver right now than as a blocker. This is another developmental piece with an impressive frame. The Colts are very eager to continue the development of Ogletree, but can that occur on the 53-man roster? Even the tight end happy Colts don’t always keep 4 tight ends on their 53-man roster. So Ogletree, who turns 24 this summer, will have to make a strong impression on special teams.
