INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts wanted to add offensive playmakers in the 2020 NFL Draft over the last few days, and they didn't stop with that approach after adding a couple of them on Friday night.
On Saturday, after trading back in the sixth round and acquiring a couple of picks from the New England Patriots, the Colts submitted the name of Washington State wide receiver Dezmon Patmon with the 212th-overall pick in the draft.
At 6-4, 225, Patmon's another big-bodied receiver like the Colts got in Michael Pittman Jr. earlier in the second round.
Patmon can move that big frame quite well, though, putting up a big performance at the Scouting Combine here in Indianapolis in February. His 40-yard dash time, vertical (36") and broad jumps (132") and bench press (15) were all above average for the position. When you factor in those scores with his size, the numbers look even more impressive.
The Indianapolis media got a chance to catch up with Patmon and learn a bit more about him and his journey after he was selected on Saturday. You can check out that entire session above, but here are a few key takeaways:
» Patmon patiently waited to hear from a team like the Colts, and then finally got the call from the 317 area code: "I was talking to my agents and they said anywhere fifth through seventh," Patmon said of when he thought he'd be picked. "So, I mean, they really said anywhere fourth through seventh but I kind of got near my phone. All today I've been near my phone and that's basically it."
Patmon knew he was probably going to be picked sometime on Day 3, and the Colts told him they might be his destination.
"I talked to them (Colts) a little bit at Indy, but it wasn't really a bunch after that and then obviously today and yesterday they were hitting my line talking about (how) they were interested in me. Then they said – it got to the sixth round and they had stated how they were thinking about taking me in the sixth," Patmon said of his draft-day communication with the Colts. "They had three back-to-back picks. I got my phone ready and I was ready when they called. It was kind of a surprise at the end but I was ready for any team, really."
» Patmon and Pittman — Partners in Crime?: The Colts drafted Pittman Jr. earlier in the draft on Friday, and then followed it up with a similar-styled Pac-12 player in Patmon late Saturday. Walking into the Colts' facility won't be the first time they meet, though.
"It's funny, we were actually working out at the same place within the past month before everything kind of got shut down," Patmon said. "We were both working with this guy Les Spellman, Joe Burrow and all those guys. But I feel like we bring similar skillsets being big athletic guys who can go up and high point the ball and just playmakers really. So, I mean we're pretty similar."
Patmon is ecstatic to get the opportunity to start his rookie journey alongside a guy like Pittman Jr.
"Yeah, I think that's pretty cool. ... Two receivers, young guys coming straight out the Pac-12," Patmon said. "So I think that will be pretty cool to kind of build up and establish each other, get each other better. Obviously, we have a great quarterback to do it with. So I'm excited for it."
» Patmon has size and athleticism, but is working on getting quicker, stronger: "I'm just a bigger guy, so maybe getting in and out of breaks faster and just quicker feet," Patmon said of what he'd like to improve on in the short term. "There's always stuff to work on but probably just polishing up my routes."
A lot of guys like Patmon have size and strength, but they haven't learned how to totally unlock its potential and use it to their advantage yet.
"My coach would always say, 'Play big.' Towards the end of my career I progressively got better and kind of realized my true size and strength," Patmon said. "So I think that's apparent in my tape. Just being able to outmuscle and out-physical guys. As simple as it is, just playing bigger really. So, I definitely think I've got better at that over the years. But there's still room for development. So, I'm ready to develop at the next level."
It's always good to draft a guy with potential late in the draft, but if they take awhile to develop then they can still make an impact in other areas. Luckily for Patmon, he's also got experience on special teams, which can be critical for carving out a role with the Colts.
"Yeah, I played three," Patmon said of his experience playing on special teams. "I played punt return, kick return and kickoffs. So I played (them) in college."
