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According to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, the Indianapolis Colts will select Tulsa OT/OG Tyler Smith and South Alabama wide receiver Jalen Tolbert in their alternating three round 2022 NFL Mock Draft:
42. Indianapolis Colts (via WSH)
Kiper’s pick: Tyler Smith, OT/G, Tulsa
For the Colts’ first pick, I see them going best offensive lineman on the board. They have a hole at right guard and left tackle. Smith could fill either of those voids. He was almost too aggressive at times last season (12 penalties), but he is physical at the point of attack.
73. Indianapolis Colts (via WSH)
McShay’s pick: Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
The Colts have to get themselves a receiver before Friday night is over, even though 13 are already off the board. Matt Ryan, meet Tolbert, who is a smooth route runner with good speed.
Regarding Smith, the 6’5”, 324 pound offensive lineman (with 34” arms) is an explosive athlete with good mobility/lateral quickness, impressive strength and bend, but who is still a bit raw as a technician and will need to further refine his hand placement. Oftentimes, he is a nasty blocker in the trenches, who will play through the whistle with a real mean streak.
He earned All-AAC honors in 2021.
Here’s what they’re saying on Smith:
Finished studying Tulsa OT Tyler Smith. Best way to describe him— permanently pissed off.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 19, 2022
Trenches bully
— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) March 4, 2022
Tyler Smith & Rasheed Walker https://t.co/2UzgpyRoXl
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) March 2, 2022
Tyler Smith telling me where his attacking, aggressive nature comes from. pic.twitter.com/6QwIxhkqKw
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) March 3, 2022
Tyler Smith has plenty of technique flaws but he’s so damn heavy/violent at the top of the rush
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 24, 2022
Does NOT give up a soft corner on high side rushes - that’s for damn sure! Excited for you to dive in soon @BrandonThornNFL pic.twitter.com/nkWNN9pNuE
Tulsa OL Tyler Smith: No. 32. A bit of a work in progress with his hand placement, but his strength-agility-motor combo makes him so much fun to watch. He's the kind of guy I want on my team.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 10, 2022
If you haven't checked out Tulsa OT Tyler Smith's tape yet, you're missing out
— Mike Renner (@PFF_Mike) February 15, 2022
He's the group of 5 version of Icky Ekwonu pic.twitter.com/osLSWAmbGn
#5 Tyler Smith, Tulsa (5/11)
— MRCROCKPOT TPL (@mrcrockpot) April 9, 2022
Draft Range: Day 2
Elite foot quickness & big-time upside, has a violent play style which shines the most in the run game, his footwork is still a big raw and he can struggle to sustain leverage on block, terrific athlete with explosiveness pic.twitter.com/3Ma5vPco97
The Colts would obviously select Smith to hopefully become their left tackle of the future, as he may not be quite a ‘Day 1’ starter from the get-go. However, the team does have re-signed swing-tackle Matt Pryor to serve as a bridge in the mean time—or extra insurance.
He would fit in real nicely with the Colts in their zone blocking scheme, providing another mauler next to 4x NFL All-Pro Quenton Nelson along the starting left side of the o-line—helping to pave rushing lanes for Jonathan Taylor. In pass protection, while still developing, he shows the athleticism and lateral quickness to be a premier blindside bookend in time.
Meanwhile, Jalen Tolbert is a 6’1”, 194 pound wideout (with 32 1/4” arms) who caught 82 receptions for 1,474 receiving yards (18.0 ypr. avg.) and 8 touchdown receptions during 12 starts in 2021—earning Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-Sun Belt honors (the latter for a consecutive season).
Tolbert posted a 4.49 forty time and 36 inch vertical jump at the recent NFL Combine.
Tolbert is regarded as a high character prospect who is a smooth route runner, looks fluid changing speeds, and is pretty fast with good hands. He has the ability to play through contact, track the football downfield, and also can provide a reliable deep threat with the ability to stack defensive backs and get over the top of them.
Here’s the lowdown on Tolbert:
South Alabama WR Jalen Tolbert is an outstanding vertical threat. He's sudden, tracks the ball naturally and has the ability to adjust & finish. Big fan!
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 14, 2022
#SouthAlabama WR Jalen Tolbert entered the week as the top WR here in Mobile. He didn’t disappoint in the first practice.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 2, 2022
Tolbert vs. DK Kendrick pic.twitter.com/ixabEyG1IU
Jalen Tolbert - WR - South Bama
— Jake Morley (@JacobMorley) April 18, 2022
The ability to play through contact shows up a lot. Not because he can't separate - he can. DBs are just challenging him and losing.
Love how he doesn't throw his hands up and call for a flag, play on. pic.twitter.com/VMBCT5bLFy
Jalen Tolbert - WR - South Bama
— Jake Morley (@JacobMorley) April 18, 2022
OK release here; impressive ability to fight through contact and still get vertical.
And the finish.. yeah. pic.twitter.com/2vNPaWGTjP
Jalen Tolbert - WR - South Bama
— Jake Morley (@JacobMorley) April 18, 2022
Contact balance within his route stem is off the charts.
And then the speed to dust an SEC defense.
Tennessee.. you knew there was one guy to stop on this offense.... pic.twitter.com/mEaWhcvaP8
Gentle Reminder…
— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) April 18, 2022
Jalen Tolbert is a Baller.pic.twitter.com/YmC69e2VCH
Jalen Tolbert did some fun things. pic.twitter.com/g6LMQ46pB6
— BigBillyFF (@BigBillyFF) April 19, 2022
A couple of silky smooth Jalen Tolbert routes from the Senior Bowl. pic.twitter.com/NSRBCi5yPj
— Zareh Kantzabedian (@ZKantzFF) April 14, 2022
My favorite Day 2 WR for the Packers (because I don’t think Pickens or Watson will be there at 53).
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) April 12, 2022
Jalen Tolbert is so good. pic.twitter.com/Kg5i7WlT94
Jalen Tolbert at the top of the screen with a strong display of ball tracking for the big play TD
— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) April 18, 2022
pic.twitter.com/Ya6Y4LVZ1t
Tolbert may not be George Pickens or Christian Watson that Colts fans are clamoring for, but at this point of the draft, he would be a solid selection—as he was highly productive for the Jaguars and battle-tested against SEC competition (as he had 7 receptions for 143 receiving yards and a touchdown reception against Tennessee in November of 2021).
He could provide a nice starting WR2 on the other side of Michael Pittman Jr., with the ability to work against all three levels of an opposing secondary—and still become the reliable deep threat that the Colts desperately need in their receiving corps. He would also help veteran quarterback Matt Ryan’s new Colts’ cause by providing another big play weapon to work with in the passing game.
Colts fans may blow a gasket here, believing that wide receiver or tight end should come before an offensive tackle. That being said, both of these prospects have a lot of qualities that could pique the interest of the Colts—and it makes some sense why Kiper and McShay went with the pair in their latest projections for Indianapolis (although yes, count me in the Pickens’ camp as well, who went #57 to the Buffalo Bills here).
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