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In addition to signing five of their seven draft picks, the team has also signed five undrafted free agents, per Mike Chappell.
Busy day for Colts. Have signed:
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) May 6, 2021
Draft picks - DE Kwity Paye (R1), DE Dayo Ogeyingbo (R2), S Shawn Davis (R5), WR Mike Strachan (R7), OL Will Fries (R7).
UDFAs: WR Tarik Black, LB Anthony Butler, RB Deon Jackson, LB Isaiah Kaufusi, WR Tyler Vaughns.
Wavied: CB Will Sunderland.
The undrafted free agents include wide receiver Tarik Black, linebacker Anthony Butler, running back Deon Jackson, linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi, and wide receiver Tyler Vaughns.
Black, a 6’3”, 217-pound wide receiver, had ten total receptions for 240 yards and 1 touchdown during the 2020 season. At the very least, Black provides another big-bodied wideout who can come in and compete with other receivers that share a similar physical stature.
Butler, a 6’1” linebacker who played just one season at Liberty after transferring from Charlotte, tallied 67 total tackles, two interceptions, and a sack during the 2020 season. Given the amount of depth the Colts have at linebacker currently, it’ll likely be difficult for Butler to earn a significant role unless he can add another element that would be beneficial for the team.
In 2020, Jackson garnered 682 rushing yards on 161 attempts and found the end zone five times. He also caught ten passes for 85 yards in that same season as well. The 6’0”, 220-pound back will, like the rest of the team’s UDFAs, have to come in and earn a spot on the roster. As it currently stands, though, the Colts have one of the league’s most dominant running back trios in Jonathan Taylor, Marlon Mack, and Nyheim Hines — all of whom will have significant roles and playing time this season.
At 6’2”, Kaufusi, similar to Butler, provides solid depth for the team heading into the rest of the offseason. In 2020, Kaufusi had 83 total tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception, Despite having solid production last season, and with the linebacker room fairly crowded already, Kaufusi, like Butler, will likely have to provide another elite element in order to compete for a roster spot.
At 6’2”, 190 pounds, the former USC Trojan and teammate of Michael Pittman Jr. caught 33 passes for 406 yards and three touchdowns. Vaughns also averaged 12.3 YPC, too. Similar to the Colts’ running back and linebacker rooms, their wide receiver room is just as packed. In total, Vaughns found the end zone 20 times while at USC and nearly had a 1,000-yard season (74 catches, 912 yards, and 6 touchdowns) in 2019. Still, regardless of his solid level of production over the last two seasons, Vaughns will also have to compete with a very crowded wideout room.