The Indianapolis Colts have four former seventh-round picks who have risen to the occasion and find themselves in starting roles.
by Drake Wally
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard loves to find diamonds in the rough through the NFL draft. He’s done this, at times, by selecting Day 3 picks that nobody figured would turn out to do anything in the NFL.
However, there are currently four players on the roster, who have all been drafted in the seventh round, in prominent roles and contributing to a playoff-contending Colts team that is unexpectedly 7-5 in 2023.
With this on tap, let’s dive into each of these four players and what they’ve contributed to the Colts.
LB Zaire Franklin
Coming out of the University of Syracuse, Zaire Franklin was likely viewed as nothing more than a special teamer or linebacking depth piece when the Colts took him with the No.235 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
For his first three seasons, he would mostly be on special teams and started four games, but didn’t get to see many meaningful defensive snaps. But, due to his special teams prowess, Franklin would eventually see himself as the special teams captain.
His efficiency would impress the Colts coaching staff over the next few years, giving him 11 starts in 2021, along with 40 tackles and his only career interception.
What would follow would be a season that nobody figured Franklin would tally. In the midst of former Colts linebacker Shaq Leonard’s brutal 2022 season, Franklin had to fill in while Leonard recovered from lower back issues.
This would surface a truly efficient player, as Franklin would beat Leonard’s team record for tackles in a season by accumulating 167. Unfortunately, the Colts were bad enough that Franklin wasn’t able to get close to Pro Bowl honors.
Now, in 2023, as a former seventh-round pick, Franklin is on his way to shattering the previously mentioned 167 tackle record. The defensive Captain holds 130 tackles in 11 games (11.8 per game), good enough for second in the NFL.
Look for Franklin to potentially grab his first career Pro Bowl nod after the season concludes.
G Will Fries
Former Penn State Nittany Lion, Will Fries, was drafted in 2021 and was essentially a third-string right guard behind starter Mark Glowinski and backup Danny Pinter. With how dominant the line was with Glowinski in the fold, nobody thought much of Fries.
Fast track to the next year and he was the mainstay at the position. Through the year, the Colts threw paint at the wall to scramble for a solution at the position after Pinter and Matt Pryor (among others) fell flat in a disastrous year for the protection. But, when Fries was given a chance, he displayed true greatness in run blocking, but need for improvement in pass protection.
All of this exposure for Fries has helped him silence many critics who said Indianapolis needed a veteran at right guard. Per Pro Football Focus, below are Fries’ notable blocking grades with 12 games played and 802 offensive snaps (2nd most on Colts’ offensive line to Quenton Nelson) through 2023:
- Overall: 66.0
- Pass: 65.6
- Run: 66.6
Fries has been consistent and steady across the board. For a position that nobody in the Colts organization knew what to do with last year, Fries has filled in nicely and will look to improve and hold this starting role, further exceeding his seventh-round expectations.
S Rodney Thomas II
The Colts selected Rodney Thomas II out of Yale in 2022 but had him behind more notable defender Julian Blackmon.
But, with the combination of strong safety Nick Cross struggling, and Blackmon getting injured, both Rodney McLeod and Thomas would take over as safeties. Thomas came out of nowhere, leading the 2022 Colts with four interceptions and starting 10 games.
Now, in 2023, Thomas has played a bit up and down but maintains the starting free safety position after Blackmon moved to strong safety, which has suited him well. Thomas will look to build on his two interceptions, 29 tackles, and four pass defenses as Indianapolis pushes for a playoff spot.
CB Jaylon Jones
There weren’t a lot of highlights from the college tape of Texas A&M’s Jaylon Jones, but there was far more underneath just the film.
Drafted No.221 by the Colts, Jones’ tape didn’t reflect his incredible defensive efficiency unless looked at closer. Jones would essentially remove opponent pass-catchers with smothering and physical coverage at the point of the snap.
Initially, he was thought to be behind the Colts’ fifth-round cornerback, Darius Rush from South Carolina. But, the Colts would shockingly release Rush before the first game of the season.
Many thought this was insanity, but looking back, it’s likely they felt just fine with Jones. With fellow rookie corner JuJu Brents having issues staying on the field with injury this year, Jones has been a staple in the secondary and is playing more like a starter with every passing game.
Below are the notable PFF grades and stats for the former Aggie in 2023, showcasing a player who is coming into his own as an NFL corner as a rookie:
- Coverage grade: 59.1 (505 total defensive snaps; 302 coverage snaps)
- Tackling efficiency grade: 71.4
- Six games started (12 played); 29 tackles (23 solo), three pass defenses
After starting the year rough, the Colts’ young secondary is beginning to shape up for a playoff push, and at the right time in the schedule. With five games left, Jones will need to continue his ascension if the Colts want to finish strong enough for a wild card slot.
Originally posted on Horseshoe Huddle on FanNation