Indianapolis Colts select Mississippi State defensive-end Gerri Green with the 199th pick

With the 199th pick of the NFL Draft the Colts select Gerri Green, defensive end out of Mississippi State. Yet another pick that seems a bit like a reach but we all know to give Ballard the benefit of the doubt. Green was a backup to Montez Sweat and Jeffery Simmons in college, so he might have learnt a thing or two from them.

Green is the first pick the Colts made to get help in the trenches in the entire Draft, which is a little bit worrying, specially considering Green is raw and does not have starting experience. It also does not help that Green played much better as an outside linebacker on a 3-4 scheme than as a defensive end on a 4-3. Green also needs to further develop his body, as he lacks functional and lower-body strength. His pass-rushing technique is also pretty much non-existent, so it will be interesting to see what the Colts’ plan is here.

Green’s measurables are off the charts though, he is an impressive athlete with good size and length. With the proper coaching and conditioning he could grow into a solid situational pass-rusher. Green was also a team captain while at Mississippi State

An interesting fact is that the Colts worked Green out as a linebacker, not as a defensive end. If the Colts do plan to use him as a linebacker, then this pick makes even less sense, specially after selecting E.J Speed with the previous pick.

If anything, the Colts finally invested a draft pick on the defensive line. Green might be a season or two away from being a reliable pass-rusher but the potential is there for the Colts to work with.