2014 Colts Draft Pick: Ulrick John - OL - Georgia State

Ulrick John - OL - Georgia State

Height: 6' 5"
Weight: 288 lbs.

Strengths

John is a versatile offensive lineman who played all over the line at Georgia State. He performed well in drills at his pro day and runs very well for an offensive lineman. John has the ideal temperament for an offensive lineman and plays through the whistle. He "tough" and has no problem playing through injuries. He's a smart player who is a blue collar kind of worker.

Weaknesses

John is not a big player. He's actually much weaker than one would like in an NFL offensive tackle. He does not possess the strong base or even upper body drive you'd expect to see in a drafted offensive lineman. John does not get good leverage when taking on blockers and has trouble sinking his hips, which makes him especially susceptible to speed rushers. He's only an average finisher in the run game, likely due to his strength concerns. John also has some nagging injury concerns.

Conclusion

I was very surprised by this selection. John is clearly a developmental prospect that is most likely heading to the practice squad. He did perform well against West Virginia's Will Clarke when they faced off so that is promising. John needs time to develop and could become an effective swing tackle after going through an NFL weight regimen. He will likely never be a starter but will provide versatile depth. He is able and willing to learn so that 'coachablility' makes him an ideal developmental prospect. My guess is Grigson wanted to develop John but didn't want to risk not being able to sign him after the draft and that's why John was the Colts pick in Round 7 versus some other options that would have been more immediate contributors..