Colts sign second round pick T.J. Green

The Indianapolis Colts today signed their second round pick, safety T.J. Green. With the signing of Green, the Colts now have seven of their eight draft picks under contract.

Green was selected in the second round (57th overall) out of Clemson, where he played in 26 games (starting 16) and recorded 162 tackles, a sack, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and an interception. He started 15 games in 2015 and finished third on Clemson's team with 130 tackles (adding five tackles for loss, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and a sack). Many thought that Green should return to Clemson for his senior season rather than heading to the NFL, but obviously the defensive back opted to go pro.

While some NFL teams were looking at Green as a cornerback, the Colts see him first and foremost as a safety. This was a pick that head coach Chuck Pagano was particularly excited about, and it will be interesting to watch how Green develops in the Colts' system (they've done a good job with several defensive backs in recent years, such as Vontae Davis, Mike Adams, and Darius Butler). He's not expected to start right away but rather sit behind Mike Adams and Clayton Geathers, but hopefully he will develop into a starting-caliber safety.

Green joins Ryan Kelly, Hassan Ridgeway, Antonio Morrison, Joe Haeg, Trevor Bates, and Austin Blythe as the Colts draft picks to have signed. The only player not to be under contract yet is third round offensive tackle Le'Raven Clark. We mentioned earlier today a report that said that third round picks are often the hardest to get under contract in the new rookie wage scale, but there's still no cause for concern, as the Colts will have Clark under contract soon enough.