Indianapolis Colts Draft Grades

The 2019 NFL Draft has come and gone, and we are now doomed to an incalculable amount of days until the return of football. That doesn’t mean the analysis is over, however.

After the draft wraps up, experts around the internet love to hand their report cards out to teams around the league, even if GMs can’t be bothered to look at them, or care about them in any way.

Arguments can be made as to whether or not this practice is a useful way to spend resources and time, or if it is a fruitless effort that can only make you look silly down the road (see: Darius Leonard’s post-draft grades from last year).

Regardless, they are out there and it’s our job to read them and allow the comments section to light ablaze with ridicule of the thoughts and opinions that the national media put out there.

Let’s not delay any longer, here are some of the grades that the Indianapolis Colts’ have received for their 2019 draft haul:

Peter Prisco — CBS Sports

Grade: B-

Best Pick: Parris Campbell

Worst Pick: Ben Banogu

Grader’s Analysis: Prisco applauds Ballard’s manipulation of draft picks, as he was able to obtain 10 of them. Specifically, he is a big fan of Campbell and posits that Rock Ya-Sin will be a solid starter for the horseshoe.

Andy Benoit — Sports Illustrated

Grade: B

Grader’s Analysis: Benoit likes that the Colts have been going defense heavy since GM Chris Ballard came aboard. He believes Parris Campbell and Rock Ya-Sin will contribute quickly.

Mel Kiper — ESPN

Grade: A

Grader’s Analysis: Kiper calls this his favorite draft class in the league.

Kristopher Knox — Bleacher Report

Grade: A-

Best pick: Rock Ya-Sin

Grader’s analysis: Knox asserts that adding Parris Campbell to the receiving room was a brilliant move, and that Ya-Sin has the potential to be a Day 1 starter.

Dane Brugler — The Athletic

Ranking: 16th

Best Pick: Parris Campbell

Worst Pick: Ben Banogu

Grader’s analysis: Brugler sees the upside with Banogu, but points out that the pick was a little high for his taste. He feels Campbell has the capacity to become an all-around receiver that can line up anywhere on the field.

Mark Maske — Washington Post

Grade: B+

Grader’s analysis: Maske doesn’t sugar coat it; Ballard has earned the benefit of the doubt after last year’s draft class. Maske feels that trading out of the first round and selecting Ya-Sin, Banogu and Campbell were shrewd moves by the GM.

Nate Davis — USA Today

Grade: B+

Grader’s analysis: Davis really enjoys the prowess that Ballard displayed by obtaining three 2nd round picks. He noted that the Khari Willis pick is a secretly impressive move by Ballard, especially when he can pair with Malik Hooker at safety.

Evan Silva — Rotoworld

Grade: A

Grader’s analysis: Silva was fawning over the expertise that Ballard’s mind possesses. He most notably singled out Okereke as a poor man’s K.J. Wright, proclaimed Banogu as the most athletic edge-rusher in the draft class and called Marvell Tell a freakshow with press-cornerback capabilities.

Pro Football Focus

Grade: Average

Grader’s analysis: PFF might be the only football site that isn’t impressed with the selection of Parris Campbell, as they fear his run after catch ability is replaceable compared to intermediate and deep route running (a short-sighted opinion). Ya-Sin is a solid selection, in their eyes, and Banogu didn’t rank highly due to him being a raw prospect, but their team recognizes that he has sky-high potential.

Conclusion

Average letter grade: B

Note: Brugler and PFF’s grades were assigned a C, as they were both middle of the pack assessments.