INDIANAPOLIS – A trade, and then the selection of a defensive back.
Sound familiar?
The Colts pattern they followed in the second round of 2015 was practiced once again in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
With the 57th overall pick in 2016, the Colts took Clemson defensive back T.J. Green. In trading back nine spots, the Colts acquired Green Bay's fourth-round and seventh-round picks.
Getting To Know T.J. Green-Why Green?
At 6-3 and 205 pounds, the Colts are getting a very intriguing frame to add to their secondary. Green played safety in college, yet his speed (4.34 40-yard dash) has some believing he could line up at cornerback in the NFL. A converted wide receiver, Green started just one season at Clemson and left with a year of eligibility. Green's Combine numbers were eye popping, with his 40-yard dash the second fastest of any defensive back, blowing the other safeties out of the water. Green finished 2015 with 130 tackles (102 solo). He had 13 solo stops in Clemson's Orange Bowl win over Oklahoma (where Green said he also played some slot corner, opposite second-round pick Sterling Shepard).-Roster Fit
Immediately, Green likely won't factor into the defensive starting 11. However, don't rule out his impact for 2016. Nowadays, in the NFL, defenses are craving more speed on the field so Green could factor into sub packages on passing downs. The Colts starting safeties in 2016 are expected to be Mike Adams and Clayton Geathers. Adams is 35 years old though, so Green's role could increase exponentially very soon. Green believes his speed is advantageous for defenses wanting to have a single-high safety playing sideline-to-sideline.-Colts Did Their Homework
Chuck Pagano, a former defensive backs coach, attended the Clemson Pro Day and the Colts then hosted Green on one of their top-30 visits to Indianapolis. Green said on his visit to Indy, the Colts staff mapped out how they would like to utilize him in Ted Monachino's defense. Green figures to be a special teams guy initially with plenty of speed.
