Colts NFL Draft Grades for Every Pick

The Indianapolis Colts were left without a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after they agreed to send the No. 13 overall selection to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in mid-March.

That trade filled a massive need for Indianapolis, but it did leave the franchise without a pick until the second round. How did the Colts fare after being forced to sit through 33 picks before joining in on the draft festivities? Let's just say that GM Chris Ballard did his homework.

WR Michael Pittman, No. 34 overall:

The Colts set the wheels in motion for a string of wide receivers to be taken early on in the second round, and we absolutely love the selection of Pittman at No. 34. The 6-4, 223-pound wideout has excellent hands and is physical both at the point of reception and after the catch. Pittman should slot in as Indy's No. 2 receiver behind TY Hilton from the get-go.

Grade: A-

RB Jonathan Taylor, No. 41 overall:

Indianapolis traded from No. 44 to jump ahead of Jacksonville to draft Taylor. There were other positions of need for the Colts more apparent than running back, but passing on the Wisconsin star just wasn't an option. He should have no problem jumping the oft-injured Marlon Mack on the depth chart. Thinking of the havoc Taylor could wreak behind Indy's star-studded offensive line should have Colts Nation juiced for his rookie campaign.

Grade: B+

S Julian Blackmon, No. 85 overall:

Blackmon has all the tools to become an impact safety in the NFL. The fact that he can play both positions (FS/SS) leaves us to think that he will be the replacement for Malik Hooker, who's found himself embroiled in trade rumors. So long as the Utah product makes a smooth recovery from a torn ACL suffered last season, he'll be a productive player for the Colts from the jump.

Grade: B

QB Jacob Eason, No. 122 overall:

The Colts waited until the fourth round to address the position that, in terms of the future, is significantly cloudy. Eason falling the pick No. 122 was somewhat of a surprise, and Indianapolis deserves credit for pulling the trigger on him. The Washington product is far from a can't-miss NFL talent, but the selection offers up some clarity on the QB position beyond Philip Rivers' one-year stint with the team.

Grade: B-

OL Danny Pinter, No. 149 overall:

With world-beaters like Quenton Nelson and Ryan Kelly leading the way, offensive line wasn't a pressing need for the Colts entering the Draft. However, depth up front never hurts, and Ballard added just that in the fifth round. Indy reportedly tried trading up to land Pinter, but he fortunately fell to them at No. 149. The Ball State product can play anywhere up front, and he'll be a perfect rotational player on one of the NFL's best offensive lines.

DT Rob Windsor, No. 193 overall:

Would it really be a Colts draft if they didn't nab a defensive lineman in the later rounds? Windsor will need to develop some before becoming a reliable contributor at the pro level, and Indianapolis loves nurturing these sorts of players. The former Nittany Lion produced 14 sacks and 121 combined tackles in 52 games for Penn State.

Grade: C+

CB Isaiah Rodgers, No. 211 overall:

In the closing rounds of the Draft, most teams seek out potential more than they do proven commodities. Something tells us that Rodgers' blazing 4.28 40-yard dash played a huge factor in the Colts drafting him. At 5-10, the UMass product is undersized for the NFL, but he'll give the team needed depth in the secondary. Look no further than the 14 turnovers he forced in college. On top of that, the former Minutemen star is an exceptional return man. Never overlook the importance of special teams, folks.

Grade: C+

WR Dezmon Patmon, No. 212 overall:

Talk about underrated players. Given the excess of talent at wide receiver in the 2020 class, it didn't really come as much of a surprise that Patmon fell to the sixth round. The 6-4, 225-pound physical freak boasted a tremendous catch rate (70%) at Washington State, and is a menace at tracking the pigskin downfield. You can never have too many big body targets for Rivers.

Grade: B-

LB Jordan Glasgow, No. 213 overall:

The second of Indianapolis' back-to-back selections of the sixth round, Glasgow might have trouble seeing the field on a linebacking corps that features Darius Leonard and Anthony Walker. However, he could take on a valuable role on special teams, where he thrived at Michigan. The Colts could've done a lot worse with their final pick of the Draft.

Grade: C