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INDIANAPOLIS — Our "Exploring Options" series ends today by taking a look at a whopping 40 players who could be a good fit for the Indianapolis Colts on Day 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft, which includes Rounds 4, 5, 6 and 7.
By Day 3 of the draft, it's a free-for-all with less definition than the first two days of the draft. Analysts have a good estimate of when players will be picked in the first couple of rounds, but by Rounds 4-7, it's anyone's guess. Since we had previously brought you 15 to 20 players per round leading up to now, we give you a large variety — 20 offensive and 20 defensive players — today.
These aren't the only good options that may be available to the Colts — unexpected players slide every year — but these players are those that I've weighed the likelihood of being available along with what position groups Indianapolis may need most, and how these players specifically fit what the Colts normally look for. There are also players that teams will sometimes bend their positional standards to accommodate if they feel that player is special.
*The following players are listed alphabetically.
Rodney Anderson | Running Back | Oklahoma
Anderson is a well-balanced three-down back with a nose for chunk plays. However, injuries are a huge red flag. His 2015, 2016 and 2018 seasons were all ended prematurely due to injury. Without those concerns, Day 3 wouldn't be a consideration for Anderson.
Alex Bars | Offensive Lineman | Notre Dame
Former teammate and current Colts guard Quenton Nelson would likely be a big fan of this move. Bars is coming off his own season-ending knee injury, but the veteran has plenty of experience starting at both guard spots and right tackle.
Jordan Brailford | Edge Defender | Oklahoma State
This speedy edge rusher out of Stillwater had quality testing scores at the Combine which could indicate further growth as an explosive edge player in the NFL.
Miles Boykin | Wide Receiver | Notre Dame
I tend to cut Notre Dame receivers and tight ends a little slack for production because of the offense they operate in, but Boykin actually improved his numbers each season over the last three years and looked good doing it. The 6-3, 220-pounder blew up the Combine with his testing scores.
Jordan Brown | Cornerback | South Dakota State
This well-built small-schooler is somewhat new to the cornerback position after arriving to school as a wide receiver and then making the transition to corner. He's a potentially explosive player with ball skills.
John Cominsky | Defensive Lineman | Charleston-West Virginia
Another small schooler with a bright future potentially ahead of them, Cominsky has been generating some buzz as of late. At 6-5, 286, he's got the athleticism to go with the size.
Michael Dogbe | Defensive Lineman | Temple
Dogbe is someone who's caught eyes with his workouts, but his tape shows a solid player as well. At 6-3, 284, Dogbe has plenty of strength, and is very quick and agile. He could be a handful for interior linemen to deal with.
Mike Edwards | Safety | Kentucky
He's a bit undersized at 5-10, 205, but Edwards can wear a lot of hats for a defense, both in run support and in the passing game. Edwards has the smarts and instincts to make him a successful player.
Nick Fitzgerald | Quarterback | Mississippi State
If you're against drafting a quarterback, understand that if Colts backup Jacoby Brissett remains on the roster throughout 2019, he becomes a free agent in 2020. While it's not critical at the moment, there is a need there within the next 365 days. Fitzgerald has good size and speed, but is more of a threat as a mobile quarterback than an actual passing quarterback. He's potentially someone to develop as a passer on the practice squad but could prove to be a threat eventually.
Carl Granderson | Edge Defender | Wyoming
We're keeping up the trend of edge rushers here with another small-school guy with a nice frame and speed but who needs some NFL coaching to help him become the sum of his parts.
Emanuel Hall | Wide Receiver | Missouri
Aside from T.Y. Hilton, the Colts have lacked receivers who take the top off of defenses, but Hall would alleviate that issue. The speedster can fly past cornerbacks, but also turn short receptions into big gains.
Saquan Hampton | Safety | Rutgers
Hampton has great size, speed and athleticism. He's got the ability both in coverage and run support to see the field on defense at some point. If his shoulder issues are behind him then he could be a steal.
Chase Hansen | Linebacker | Utah
Hansen has experience both at safety and linebacker and could feasibly play a hybrid role in the NFL. His high-level effort puts him around the ball most of the time.
Justin Hollins | Edge Defender | Oregon
Hollins has an athletic build and has experience both at defensive end and linebacker. He has good sideline-to-sideline speed and the athleticism to be able to fit in either role wherever his NFL team wants him.
Elijah Holyfield | Running Back | Georgia
His running style can be summed up by watching one of his dad's right hooks. I don't usually like to mention players' famous parents if it's not necessary, but you have to mention Evander Holyfield on this one. How he boxes is how Elijah runs the ball. Holyfield has the feel of a three-down back, although we saw limited action as a pass catcher. If teams are comfortable how he showed his chops at receiving during the pre-draft process, he'll be fine. He tested poorly in speed drills, but you're not drafting him to be a burner. His run style reminds me a bit of Frank Gore or Mark Ingram.
Travis Homer | Running Back | Miami
Homer is an all-effort player who just might be the best pass protector in the draft. He plays bigger than his 5-10, 201 stature and has enough speed to take carries downfield for big gains.
Jalen Hurd | Wide Receiver | Baylor
A former enormous running back who was ahead of Alvin Kamara on the depth chart, Hurd transferred from Tennessee and reinvented himself as a receiver at Baylor. At 6-5, 226 with adequate speed, he's an intriguing prospect.
Michael Jackson | Cornerback | Miami
Jackson has the size, length, speed and athleticism to eventually develop into a playmaking corner, but it'll require time if it's going to happen. He doesn't possess the natural instincts in coverage to be a shutdown player right now, but we could revisit his progress a couple seasons down the road and be pleased.
Isaiah Johnson | Cornerback | Houston
Johnson is similar to Jackson in the physical and athletic traits department, but Johnson has only been playing corner for two seasons. He's shown positive signs of being a good cover man, but his youth to the position may have a team put him lower on the depth chart so he can develop.
Jaquan Johnson | Safety | Miami
There are a lot of similarities between Johnson and Kentucky's Edwards from an athletic profile standpoint. Both have stout builds and are quality in coverage, but Johnson is much more consistent against the run. Johnson is a dynamic, movable piece who should pay off for his new team.
DaMarkus Lodge | Wide Receiver | Ole Miss
Ole Miss had a diverse group of pass catchers between D.K. Metcalf, A.J. Brown and Dawson Knox, but Lodge was the outside receiver who stretched the field and made nice-looking catches. At 6-2, 202, he has a lanky, speedy frame but he ran a little slower than expected with a 4.55 40. Still, the film shows a player that can get downfield regardless.
David Long Jr. | Linebacker | West Virginia
Long is a slightly undersized linebacker who plays much bigger than his size. He'll fly in and lay a thump on the ball carrier. He does, however, need to be more disciplined in how he approaches the ball carrier. He moves well out in space and in zone coverage, but he lacks coverage instincts.
Alizé Mack | Tight End | Notre Dame
Notre Dame has churned out yet another tight end. Mack is a high-quality prospect who blocks in the run and pass games very well. He has strong, reliable hands and runs good routes. He appears to be capable of doing more than we saw at Notre Dame, however.
Alexander Mattison | Running Back | Boise State
Judging by some of the running backs the Colts have reportedly observed for free agent visits and pre-draft workouts, they'd like a thumper who runs behind his shoulder pads. Mattison fits that role, but he's not just a north-south runner. He does have a little wiggle to him, and he's a very capable pass-catcher.
Shareef Miller | Edge Defender | Penn State
I'll have to use the term "not yet a sum of his parts" again when it comes to Miller. He has size, speed and athleticism, but it doesn't seem like he knows what to do with it yet. He would be a quality scenario for the Colts while they groom him behind some of their older veterans who will be approaching free agency in the next couple of years.
Foster Moreau | Tight End | LSU
The Colts love tight ends, and there's not much to dislike about Moreau. He has good size at 6-4, 253 and ran a respectable 4.66 in the 40. He loves to block, which is likely to be his niche. He's not very diverse in the pass game outside of just moving the chains.
Stanley Morgan Jr. | Wide Receiver | Nebraska
Morgan doesn't get talked about enough, but it may be because he doesn't have any elite trait. You know what you're getting with him, which is a tough receiver with decent size, who runs good routes and has good hands.
Donald Parham | Tight End | Stetson
At 6-8, 243, Parham is essentially an enormous receiver rather than a tight end. You're drafting him to be a mismatch against any defender on the opponent's roster who isn't a pterodactyl. End zone lobs for days.
Trey Pipkins | Offensive Tackle | Sioux Falls
Pipkins has reportedly took a Top 30 visit with the Colts, so there appears to be interest there potentially as a late-round pick. He is thought to be a developmental prospect with workable physical and athletic traits.
Terrone Prescod | Offensive Lineman | NC State
He's more of a mauling run blocker than a nimble pass protector, but there's always room for someone like that. He's got starting experience at both right tackle and left guard, but he's likely to stick as an interior offensive lineman in the NFL.
Derick Roberson | Edge Defender | Sam Houston State
Roberson has a chance at redemption after beginning his career as a highly-touted prospect arriving at Texas. Things didn't pan out, and he went on to eventually dominate in the FCS. The arrow is up on Roberson.
Khalen Saunders | Defensive Tackle | Western Illinois
I'm nowhere near Saunders' size, but I can tell you as a fellow big guy that we shouldn't be able to do this. At 6-0, 324, Saunders has obvious natural athletic ability and causes havoc for opposing offensive lines.
Saivian Smith | Cornerback | Alabama
Another corner with great size and length. There's not a ton of consistent play to see because Smith has gone from LSU to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and then to Alabama each year. However, his size and athletic attributes make him an enticing option for those willing to be patient.
Jarrett Stidham | Quarterback | Auburn
Stidham is an interesting case because he's the type of player who has both the physical and mental traits that could make a team take him early Round 3, or he could go mid-to-late Day 3 due to inconsistent play. It's tough to know. Regardless, he's been on the radar for a couple years as a mobile quarterback who can keep plays alive and sling the ball downfield.
Jordan Ta'amu | Quarterback | Ole Miss
He's not the most accurate guy in the world, but he's often throwing off balance or on the move. Watching him play reminds you of the backyard style of play that guys like Russell Wilson and Pat Mahomes play with. Ta'amu doesn't have that ceiling, but he offers more playmaking ability than your regular old stone-footed pocket passer.
Drue Tranquill | Linebacker | Notre Dame
The former safety is young for the linebacker position after converting before the 2017 season, so he's still learning and developing there. He is tough as nails and has speed on top of it. He needs to be more disciplined when engaging with the ball carrier, but his best ball is ahead of him if he stays healthy.
Tre Watson | Linebacker | Maryland
The Illinois-to-Maryland transfer had a big impact on the Terrapins' football program, earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2018. He's an alpha linebacker who is a tackling machine and moves around the field well.
Mike Weber | Running Back | Ohio State
Weber could fit into any team's backfield as a steady, reliable player capable of doing anything a running back would need to do. He's a tough runner who guts out extra yards through contact, and he also catches the ball well.
Trayveon Williams | Running Back | Texas A&M
Williams is a short, stocky downhill runner who has the drive and elusiveness to create extra yards. He has three-down back potential, as he catches the ball well and gives good effort in pass pro.
Evan Worthington | Safety | Colorado
Worthington is a versatile, well-rounded safety with size, adequate athleticism and who can cover opponents man-to-man from the slot. While it's not his strong suit, he is a willing competitor against the run.
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