Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - DRAFT ANALYSIS: Diving Deep Into Indianapolis Colts' Day 3 Picks (w/ Ian Cummings)

Starting point is 00:00:00 Did the Indianapolis Colts get the steal of the draft in offensive lineman Jalen Farmer? Let's get to it. You are Locked on Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to Locked on Colts. I'm Zach Hicks, and today I'm joined by Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network. My favorite draft analyst out there, you guys should definitely check him out. every single year we have Ian on at least once or twice pre-draft and certainly once after the draft to talk about hidden gems, late round picks, and then after the draft, we use him to break down

Starting point is 00:00:46 a lot of the day three and undrafted free agents because Ian here is one of the best wealth of knowledge out there when it comes to the NFL draft. He's already breaking down 2027 film if you guys need to know how devoted he is to his craft. So today we're going to go through all the Colts undrafted free agents that stand out to us, talk about all the day three. three picks as well. But we're going to kick it off with a couple guys where I think the Colts were pretty close to taking this guy on day two of the NFL draft. If they would have got another day two pick or if AJ Halsey wasn't there,

Starting point is 00:01:17 I think they would have taken him there in round three. And that's Jaylen Farmer, the guard from Kentucky. I've watched so much film on Farmer the last couple of days, Ian. So I feel like I can finally like talk about him in a ton of depth. But the Colts were pumped to get this guy. I know he graded out really well for you in the pre-draft process. So to get him in early round four, this feels a bit like a steal for the Colts. Yeah, for sure.

Starting point is 00:01:41 I think you look at the raw tools. They're extremely compelling. This is a guy who's around 6-5, 312, over 34-inch arms. And the NFL Combine ran a 4-93, 1.75 10-yard split, which we know the marker that people look for with offensive linemen, right? I think it's 1.77. If you're below that, that's a really good explosive in this mark. And he's got that, had a 9-foot broad jump as well. And I think on the film, that type of explosion definitely shows.

Starting point is 00:02:05 up where he can get off the line with a ton of quickness. And then when you are, you know, almost 320, over 34 inch arms with that level of explosive energy coming from your lower body, that's an insane amount of power output that you can generate at the point of attack. And, you know, I think you mentioned it before, before the pod, like combo blocks, you know, when he's coming into the, you know, into the B gap, right? Like he can sledge guys off the line with a ton of power output and force output. And then at the same time, too, you know, I do think that that there is that level of core and grip strength in pass protection to a degree. I do think he's pretty raw. I think he's physical.

Starting point is 00:02:36 He's super physically talented as well. I do think both hand and foot replacement can improve in pass protection. And then at the same time, too, I do think there are times when, you know, he can lose, he's not the best at hand recalibration against stunts and things like that as well. You know, I think he can get tunnel vision a little bit. That said, I do think the angle IQ and the run game, knowing his landmarks, knowing, you know, when to get to a spot and when to drive through. I think those things both well for him.

Starting point is 00:03:01 Another thing as well, though, I think the flexibility I gave him around average. grade for hip flexibility, right? So I think he does have a little bit of midsection stiffness that can affect his range on recovery as well. But if you're talking about a linear power producer who's got the tone setting temperament and the elite physical tools, this is a guy that I would want in the building as a long-term developmental project. I know that both guards are potentially, I believe having potential contracts, you know, we're not sure if they're going to get extended for, and you can, you can speak to that better than I can. But last time I checked the contract situation. It looked like there was some potential turnover in the near future.

Starting point is 00:03:36 So I think getting a guy like Jalen Farmer in-house who has that, again, the temperament, that physical talent, there are some things that we need to iron out, right? And there are some limited physical deficiencies that you need to counteract. I think the hip stiffness being the main one. But in a phone booth, he's got the tools to dominate. And I think with some time with that OL coaching staff, I think he can really become something special. Yeah, I absolutely agree there. To speak to your O-line contract stuff, Quentin Nelson is in the last year of his deal currently. I'd expect him to get extended, but you never know in the NFL, especially if the Colts go into a rebuild after this season.

Starting point is 00:04:08 He could slot in there. Also, Matt Gonzalez, he's going into year three of his rookie contracts. So he's got this year and one more year left, but he was a tackle in college. Who knows if they want to push him back out the tackle or what they kind of view the long-term position is for him. So certainly some space for a guy like Jalen Farmer, if he develops well. But yeah, I agree with everything you said there. I think the strengths in particular, I mean, I guess we want to, add one more thing just him as a puller around the outside very very fun player there has the temperament

Starting point is 00:04:36 for it has the speed and the explosion um just a really good run blocker and as tony sparrano junior said it in the colts uh pre-draft video just bring him here and i can like now get it done with him i will like get him in the building here and i can make it work so that is what he's going to do with jalen farmer like he's done with jalen travis with mack and solvice in the last couple years making i do believe too I do believe he's still pretty young, right? Still just 21 years old. He'll be 22 this summer. But again, you're getting him at the very beginning of his developmental arc.

Starting point is 00:05:05 So that's an exciting proposition. Yeah, very exciting player. So I'm excited to see what he can do with Tony Sparano Jr. Let's get to the next guy here. Bryce Becher, who the Colts took in round four, lineback out of Oregon, two sport athlete, played multiple positions at Oregon before settling in at linebacker. He is so intriguing to me because I don't know how I feel about him.

Starting point is 00:05:24 I've watched 20 games of his, I think. I still don't know how I feel about him because there are some really awesome things he does on film, but also some limitations I think are going to hold him back at the next level. Like the shorter arms, he doesn't generate a ton of power. Like he has some limited range as well, and you see that in the run game.

Starting point is 00:05:44 But he's got good eyes and past coverage. The man coverage reps were good as well. In college, I think when you can give him a free lane or get him a running start in the run game, he can make some plays in the backfield, punches the ball out sometimes. Like, there are some really fun things. about his game. It's just this is where he's like a player for me where it's like the projection

Starting point is 00:06:02 versus what he is is tough because can you project him to be this level of player in the NFL? Maybe not, but he still does some things really cool on his college film. Oh yeah, for sure. And I would say, you know, the idea of Bryce Betcher is probably a little bit better than Betcher right now, right? Like this is a guy who I do think he has good range. I do think he has good explosiveness. I do think that, you know, you look at, you know, the physicality as well. that was something that popped up at the senior bowl. Like he was clearly the most willing to be physical at the senior ball. He was just popping pads every time.

Starting point is 00:06:35 And you watch the film as well. Like he is unhinged. He is not at all hesitant coming downhill. The problem is that can work against him sometimes when he works too far into an offensive line's reach climbing to the second level. And then he just gets himself washed out of place. Right. So, you know,

Starting point is 00:06:50 I think the willing dictation with physicality is there at the contact point where he can play beyond his size, kind of similar to how I think C.J. Allen does for him. his size, right? But I think Betcher is not quite one. I think he's a touch smaller, and then I don't think he's as targeted and precise with his application. And you need to be precise if you're going to counteract the shorter arms, like you said. But again, I think he honestly brings a lot to the table as a coverage defender. I think he's, you know, reasonably fluid. I think he's twitched up, but he's got good lateral explosive range as well, you know, and I do think he's a guy who the

Starting point is 00:07:23 depth discipline is there in zone. He's got some man versatility, like you said, and the ball skills, is the playmaking ability, which probably comes from that baseball background where he knows how to attract football. He knows how to kind of acclute passing lanes. And then he's got some measured pass rush and utility as well. I think he had a 19% pass rush win rate or pressure rate on blitting reps this past year. And that kind of shows with his angle IQ, his efficiency, his urgency, is urgency coming downhill. And again, that range to make plays and close gaps too. So again, it's, you know, the hallmarks of what defines a really good linebacker.

Starting point is 00:07:51 I think he's a great processor. I think he's got the pre-snap IQ to attack with confidence. I think he's got the post-snap IQ to sift through the most. moving parts, right, and flow to the ball. I think he's got the range, the physicality, the coverage ability. It's just a matter of sometimes at the conversion point, you have to convert, right? You know, at blocks you need to control when you're tackling, you need to wrap up and drive through and get guys down.

Starting point is 00:08:12 And I don't trust that part of his game as much as I do, the underlying factor. So again, I think he can be a solid starter at his peak, but he's got to learn to start counteracting that arm length a little bit better. So I think that's the main element of his game that needs more consistency. But he was definitely a guy that I circled as an early. early day three guy who I looked at, okay, I think he's got the baseline athletic qualities that I want. I think he's got the temperament that I want. And I do think he's very well versed in coverage and as a pass rush or as a blitzing threat. There's just some things you need to counteract. But I think at

Starting point is 00:08:40 the very least, you're getting a quality special team or a good rotational player. And if he can work if you can work around that arm length, I think it's the biggest deficiency, then he can be a quality starter alongside Allen. Yeah, I completely agree. I think he has the ability to play will in the NFL. It's just there are some strides needs to make, but I do see it all there. I do think on paper, it's all there for him. So although I didn't love the pick when it was first made, because I kept thinking about some of those gaffs in the run game, like you were kind of mentioning there. Yeah. I do get it. I get it and I see the vision and I'm excited to see what it is. Another player where I can see the vision, though, is George Gums Jr. from Florida. Now, he's a guy where I have not

Starting point is 00:09:19 watched him super in depth yet. So I'm saving like my full takes for that. But I watch Kentucky's game versus Florida. And I saw him take on Jalen Farmer out on the edge on a couple poles in that game. And just on those couple clips, you could see the bend, the power that he has for a guy who's a little bit smaller frame. You could see the explosiveness. You could see the willingness to take on in the run game. So, I mean, just from my brief exposure there, I was kind of sold on just him being like, okay, yeah, fifth round pick on this guy. Sure.

Starting point is 00:09:51 Like, because it was really impressive stuff I saw just in that game alone. But what did you see from George Gums Jr. in this pre-draft process? Yeah, well, he was one of my favorite day three edge guys, if I'm being honest. I think this class fell off a little bit in the day three range at Edge. And he was a player that I circled probably twice. Like, I want to get this guy on day three if he's still there. Like he's an older prospect. He's got, and he's a former tight end, actually, which is a fun fact.

Starting point is 00:10:15 He played tight end, I believe is northern Illinois. And then he shifted to edge, I think, three years ago. So this past season was just his third year full. time at the edge position. And I believe he had like a 12% pressure rate in 2024, his first year of Florida. Obviously the true pressure rating on true dropbacks was a lot lower. But a guy who again has the motor, has the physical tools. I believe he ran a 4-6, 6, 6, 6, 4.6, 40 yard dashing a 41-inch vertical at the NFL combine.

Starting point is 00:10:38 And even though he's got a lighter frame being around 6, 4, 3, 8, 2, 45, he's got near 34 inch arms. So the length is there. You can keep building that frame out. And to your point, I think that the thing that I look for, right, because he did get one of my lowest hand usage grades as a pass rusher. I don't think he's very well developed there. I think it's mainly just motor and tools at this stage. But at the same time, for a guy who's got this kind of length,

Starting point is 00:11:01 I do think he has a very good bend and flexibility. And I think that aids in his leverage acquisition, where his base is always beneath him, he's almost never upright. And to your point, like taking on pollers, he can get his base beneath him and limit displacement. But then he's got the power profile to cave in the pocket if he's got that explosiveness beneath him. So all of the tools are there, man.

Starting point is 00:11:20 There's so much, there's so much upside. And I think the max projection is so fun. Obviously, there's a little bit of a dichotomy with him being an older prospect who's very new to his full-time careers and edge rusher, right? So you're worried that by the time he reaches his prime, there won't be many prime years left. But I think right now, day three, gambling on this level of tools, because again, the explosiveness is elite, the first step and the long track acceleration when he can open up his strides. The bend for his size is extremely compelling. the ability, the run defense where he can truly stack and set the edge, right, and establish half-man relationships with reliability.

Starting point is 00:11:55 And then he can take on pollers as well with reliability. He's got the hot motor. He's got the physicality. All of those things are in very high order, in my opinion. So one of the guys that I circled, because I think you get a dependable run defense profile pretty early on. Yes, I do think the prime range is probably going to be a little bit shorter with him. But I do think right away, good run defense floor.

Starting point is 00:12:15 And then the pass rushing tools are really compelling with the explosiveness, the bend the link. in the motor. That's all there. So a guy that I circled and seeing him go to the Colts, I was like, I love that fit because I think, you know, he's a guy who could provide a catalyization for an edge room that is a little less deep after this offseason. And I think you can develop his tools as he progresses. Yeah, I'm really excited to dive into his film much deeper the rest of this off season. Coming up, though, we're going to talk about the other three picks that Colts made on day three of this draft, including a local guy in Caden Curry. But first, the NHL playoffs are here where every shift matters.

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Starting point is 00:13:58 network make sure you guys are checking them out at IC underscore draft at PFFN so make sure checking that out I had to squint a little bit to see there on your screen there but let's talk about Caden Curry here Ian because where George Gumbs does not have the production whatsoever at the college level like you're really projecting with him Caden Curry does have the production in last year, right? He spent his whole college career at Ohio State, like really fighting for playing time, took over for Jalen Toa Molo, after Toa Molo was drafted by the Colts last year. And the production was good. But the thing that I can't overlook is he's got like a zero percentile arm length. Yeah. And I know so many people are like, oh, you nerds always look at like, what about the production?

Starting point is 00:14:42 It's like, that does matter for the NFL. So this is why he was a sixth round pick. But I mean, look, if you're going to bet on anyone late, I guess, get a guy who was productive at a big school. I know there are some flaws with Curry, but like we're taking shots at the dark here. Like a productive guy at Ohio State, I understand it. For sure. And I think getting him in that room with Tui Mobile as well, you know, there's some familiarity there. You think it'll be a good culture fit for sure. I think this pick and George Gumbs are almost inversions of one another, right? George Gumbs, you have, like you said, none of the, none of the production, but all of the tools.

Starting point is 00:15:17 Caden Curry to me, you know, anytime we have this arm. length discussion. It was a big discussion point with Ruben Vain Jr. at this class, right? The stance that I always have and Cassius Howell as well, to a different degree because he's obviously a different archetype. But whenever we have this discussion around arm length, the question that I always ask is can they counteract it, right? Can they counteract it with some element of their game? And I think Caden Curry, you know, I would say he counteracts it. I'm trying to, because it's interesting, right, because he did produce the collegiate left. Hustle and energy is the big thing. That's the main way.

Starting point is 00:15:49 Is that the most translatable at the end of a level? No, I think ultimately you probably max out as a rotational guy. Because with Ruben Bain Jr., like you can say, oh, well, he's got the hustle and the energy, but he's also got the explosiveness and the body mass and the rotational torque, right, the leverage play. Caden Curry to me, like he's built decent for having that arm length. He's around 6.3, 257. So good mass for his high profile at least. But I didn't give him a great explosiveness grade.

Starting point is 00:16:15 I think he does have like a level of foot quickness. and agility that helps him and is probably magnified by his motor and his urgency, you know, that relentless hustle, like you said. But I also, I just don't love the explosion. I think he's a little bit stiff in the hips too. I don't see much of a bend component there either. I think it's mainly just he wants it more than you, right? It's kind of similar to the Jack Sawyer evaluation the year before.

Starting point is 00:16:39 I think Sawyer had a better frame. I think Curry might be a little bit more nuanced with his alignment versatility. And that's the thing with Curry is like earlier in his career, he was taking reps at four eyes sometimes and just being a power producer because he is so quick off the line. He is well leveraged. And even though the arm length isn't there, he can get inside your chest and just blow you back because he's winning the contact battle off the snap with that urgency, right? But I ultimately think he'll probably max out as a rotational guy. I will say he's very dutiful in run defense too.

Starting point is 00:17:08 Again, I think the leverage acquisition helps him. I think he has good play strength for his size as well. And he's got really good gap, you know, leverage IQ, gap discipline. as well, right, where he can play, he can set the edge, he can take on pullers a little bit. And he can also, again, kind of puncture from Five Tech is that strong side DE if you need him to. Again, not a guy that I would want on the field full time because, again, I think even though the pass rush production is there, to me, the hand usage arsenal was a little bit underdeveloped too. You know, I think it's mainly just, you know, working, working the angles, right, and using that motor to get past guys.

Starting point is 00:17:44 I don't see a ton of translatable tools in a in a in a pre in a premier role. I think a rotational role is probably where he fits best. And again, hey, day three, like get a motor monster for your rotation. I think that's that's always a good option. And especially when he's been productive at the collegiate level, I think it votes well. But for me, he'll max out at a certain point. I see him capping out as a rotational guy. But I think it's a good locker room ad.

Starting point is 00:18:06 And I think that motor is something that can percolate to teammates as well. Yeah. No, I completely agree with all that there. I think he just screams like a like a, like a Travis Gibson, how could it, Muhammad type of player where it's like bottom of the roster. Maybe they can break through later in their career like Al-Qaeda and Mohammed did last year. But I think that's kind of the role you're looking for, which is a capable role.

Starting point is 00:18:25 It's a role you need in the NFL. Yeah. So let's lump these last two guys in together just for time purposes. And also for the fact that I think both of these guys were guys that you would have taken much higher than where they went. Seth McGowan, the running back from Kentucky and Dionne Burks, the wide receiver from Oklahoma. Burks was a guy on the consensus board who was like a top 100 pick. McGowan, I think, was typically going earlier than seventh round as well.

Starting point is 00:18:48 And I know in particular, you had McGowan much higher. So what are your thoughts on these two players? And look, Colt's going for offensive skill position players late that seemed to be pretty good value with where they got them. Yeah, for sure. I think McGowan is a guy. He was actually a top 10 running back for me in this class. Obviously, this RB class, it's not saying as much, but he was still my RB9. I liked a lot of what he brought to the table.

Starting point is 00:19:09 Obviously, there was the arrest and dismissal from Oklahoma really early in his career. I think he went to New Mexico State and then transferred over to Kentucky. But he's been very vocal and I got a chance to speak with him briefly at the Senior Bowl about, you know, just kind of the maturation process and what that's been like. And he has never shied away from like, hey, that was a wake-up call. And ever since then, I've learned from it and I've tried to do better. And, you know, it really shows with his performance at Kentucky. You know, I think his tape is slept on, I think around six foot, over 220.

Starting point is 00:19:39 And he moves extremely well for his size. And again, you kind of see that, the combine verified it with the first. 40 plus vertical. But at the Senior Bowl, too, I think one thing that really stood out was his foot quickness, right? His ability to use that setup space efficiently to press defenders out of gaps and then explode uphill as a north, south runner. He's got pretty good physicality, finishing runs as well. He's got some receiving versatility. And even though I think the technique and the vision as a pass blocker is pretty inconsistent right now, I do think he is the want to. Oh my gosh, cameo. There we go. But I do like Seth McGowan a lot. I think he was, for me, he would have been a fringe

Starting point is 00:20:13 day two, day three. So to get him where they did, I love the pick. And I think if you need anyone to spell Jonathan Taylor on occasion, to me, McGowan has the explosiveness, the quickness, the fluidity on his cuts and the vision to get it done. He's got some receiving versatility as well, too. So love that pick. Dionne Burks was another one man. And again, there are a few receivers in this class where you watch the film and the QB play clearly hinders them a little bit. I think Dionne Burks is one of those where John Matier has the tools for days. But there are a lot of times with that Oklahoma offense goes off schedule. The ball isn't always getting to you when you want it to.

Starting point is 00:20:46 And I think Dionne Burke, so there's a lot of quiet production, quiet separation on his film where he's explosive, he's twitched up, he's fluid. And I think he had only had like a 2.6% drop rate this past year on his target. So a guy who's relatively sure-handed for his size, again, I think having shorter arms, the projection against press at the NFL level is going to be the big question mark. But I do think he's a player who can play a little bit outside, a little bit inside. He's got a pretty full route tree right now. and I think you can scheme him touches in the short range too with that explosive rack element as well.

Starting point is 00:21:14 So a guy who I think the production undersold what he brought to the table. And I think, again, getting him in round seven where they did, that was one pick where I was like, he's still on the board. Like, what are we doing here? So I love that pick a lot. I think he factors in the rotation right away and is a movement Z who can probably produce and at least be utilized in a number of different ways. Yeah, one thing I wanted to add before we get to our final segment just on McAllen actually is, you know, he's not a guy who, again, I focused on yet. I'm going to get a whole video on him, but I've watched a lot of him because Jalen Farmer, right?

Starting point is 00:21:42 I'm watching all Jaylin Farmer stuff. And the way he moves reminds me a lot of Jordan Wilkins, when the Colts had Wilkins and Wilkins coming out of Ole Miss. He's a bit more explosive and powerful than Wilkins ever was. But like you mentioned, like those smooth feet for a bigger back, you know, where it's like, okay, like you can see a little bit of the lateral agility for a guy over 220. So it was like immediately it clicked. I was like, okay, I could see a little bit of Wilkins.

Starting point is 00:22:06 and obviously Chris Ballard drafted George Wilkins back in the day. So it makes a lot of sense there. But coming up, we're going to talk about some undrafted free agents, some notable ones, maybe some under the radar ones as well, and see if any of them have a chance to make this final Colts roster. But first, this episode is sponsored by Better Health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it's an important reminder that whatever you're carrying right now,

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Starting point is 00:23:15 You don't have to be on this journey alone. Find support and have someone with you in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com slash locked on today. Already locked on Colts everydayers. We are back with Ian Cummings from Pro Football Network. We have already dove into all of the Colts day three selections and excruciating detail that I know you guys love listening here. But now we're going to dive into undrafted free. Now, the Colts have quite a few notable undrafted free agents.

Starting point is 00:23:46 I think, you know, when you're really thinking of, like, guys who are consistently in, like, the top 300 of big boards and stuff, I think the two that really stand out are Cam Ball, the defensive tackle from Arkansas and Nolan Rucci, the offensive tackle from Penn State. I had draftable grades on both of those guys. Ian, I'm assuming you had draftable grades on both, or at least on Rucci, I'm assuming as well, right? Yeah, Rushi, the size being six foot eight, I think over 314.

Starting point is 00:24:11 and I think decent proportional link too. And then even though he didn't run the fastest time, I mean, I think for a short area mobility, I liked his foot speed. I liked his pit fluidity for his size too. I do think there's some things that he can clean up. Obviously, being that tall, I think leverage play can be a little inconsistent,

Starting point is 00:24:26 drifting upright farther into reps. And then that outside hand can be not the strongest. And I think that shows with the pressure rate almost 10% this past year. So again, has some things to clean up. But in the run game, I do like his ability to at least swivel his hips and, you know, kind of drive through blocks. and things like that for a taller guy. So I think it was around a fringe draftable grade for me,

Starting point is 00:24:45 but he was definitely there. And Cameron Ball was another one who was more kind of a mid to late day three. So he was more safely draftable in my grade on my scale, being six four, three 15, 33 inch arms, a little bit raw with the hand usage and pass rushing phase. He's really, to me, kind of an obstructor D.T. You know, he's not really, you know, there's not a ton of refinement with the placement or the pass rush plan.

Starting point is 00:25:07 But he is a guy who's at least very explosive and he's got the mass, and he's got the length and he's going to get off the snap and at least include gaps for you. He can play contain. And then in run defense too, even though the gap leverage the discipline, there are times where he'll void his gap, trying to shoot up field, right,

Starting point is 00:25:22 to make plays and leave those gaps unattended. But I do think the size profile projects well. I do think the explosiveness projects well. You're just looking for more refinement. But he's an experienced player who was also very well regarded for his work in the community at Arkansas too. So a good locker room at who adds to the depth. And you hope that, you know, him or Rucci, they start to make plays in camp.

Starting point is 00:25:44 I think Rucci especially, looking at what the Colts have liked and tackles recently, right, like Jalen Travis, right, a big guy who can move a little bit, right? I think Travis was a better athlete than Rucci. But I still think Rucci has that level of, you know, nimble agility and finesse for a bigger guy. And I think that can help him out for sure. Yeah, for sure. It's very much the Colts type of tackle. Rucci falls right in line with, I mean, Berenhard Riemann's way more athletic,

Starting point is 00:26:07 but also a bigger dude, 6'6, 6'7. type guy, a little over 300. You even look at Luke Tanuda at the bottom of the roster, Blake Freeland at the bottom of the roster, like very similar types. They're all like 6 foot 7, 6 foot 8 with leveraging issues, but have the reach, have the ability to get guys. I actually liked on Rucci's film too.

Starting point is 00:26:25 I think that when he gets to the second level against linebackers, he has this like ability to connect with those blocks much better than I would expect out of guys of his size, you know, like just connect and latch hold of those players. I was actually really shocked watching him on. film because when you see like the six foot eight tackles try to climb on film sometimes it's like okay let's see what you can do out there you're going to get crushed by a linebacker who's hitting you in the stomach and they're going to get around you but i thought you did pretty good out there uh and like you said about ball man he's so explosive off the snap and he's just it's a one-track

Starting point is 00:26:57 speed off the ball right it's explode and just fly forward and i thought that those traits were enough to be drafted by understand him slipping with some of the injuries he's had uh in recent years, but like you mentioned, off-field guy, that, that, you know, good stuff off the field, team captain at Arkansas. I think he was at Arkansas's whole college career, too, which. Yep, he was. It's rare to find guys like that. I know the Colts value players who in this day and age do kind of stay at one school.

Starting point is 00:27:23 So, very much seems like a Colts guy there. One guy I want to get a little bit your thoughts on. I know he was not highly rated, so I don't know how much of him you've seen. But Austin Brown, the defensive back from Wisconsin, the Colts gave him nearly 300,000 guaranteed in free agency. And with football, you can always follow the money. That's always the biggest thing for me is it followed the money and that's how much a team values you.

Starting point is 00:27:46 So they view Austin Brown pretty high, I think, in this free agent class. So what were some of your thoughts on him? I did notice that from just looking at my like brief research on him, he played a lot of free safety last year. But in 2024, I actually played a lot in the nickel for Wisconsin. So I was kind of curious, like I wonder if this guy could be like competition for backup nickel now with Kenny Moore potentially. being out with the Colts. So I am curious on the projection with him or what you've seen of him on film.

Starting point is 00:28:13 Yeah, you know, I think honestly, there are a few things. I think the main thing, like you said, is role versatility, right? He's got experience as well. He was starting games. I think he started four games in 2023, eight games in 2024. And there was a full-time starter this past year, 2025, full-time special teamer in 2022. So I think right away, the special team's value underlies his appeal for the Colts. And the athleticism is really intriguing. too. At his pro day, it was six foot, almost 200 pounds, 32 inch arms, so really good proportional length as well. Four five speed, a 43 inch vertical and a 109 broad. So crazy explosion numbers, but then also a 705 three cone, which is pretty good for that size two. The advanced metrics,

Starting point is 00:28:53 particularly from this past year, are not great. You're looking at a 16.7% mistackle percentage, allowed, I think, a 126.2 QB rating and coverage. And then had just a force and completion percentage of 5.9%. So like not a ton of playmaking at the catchpoint. And that was something that was a commonality through his career, I think, which is like two phase conversion, both in run defense and as a as a catch point converter, not the most consistent. But again, I think that versatility that experience that athletic profile, all of those things bode well for like you said at the very least a depth guy who can maybe compete for that backup nickel spot. I think he has good quickness in addition to the explosion as well. So those things will bode well. But at the very

Starting point is 00:29:34 least again you know having a guy who can serve a role in special teams having the explosion having the length and the physicality those things will vote well for him but i think what you're really getting is it's kind of a roll of the dice and i think that the heightened money number shows that whether he maxes out as as a core special teamer or does compete for a safety or a nickel role or a hybrid role like at the very least you know that he can provide that special teams value and then if you if you do need him to play defense in a pinch he can play at multiple spots and do a solid job so I think that's mainly the projection. Definitely needs to improve the conversion in both phases, for sure, if he wants to stay on the field.

Starting point is 00:30:11 But if he can do that, the athletic profile is there to potentially be a steel. Yeah, definitely a swing. And also at Ballard's alma mater there at Wisconsin, doesn't hurt when it comes to Colts being playing from Wisconsin. He has a big love of that university there. Any other undrafted free agents stand out to you just looking at the list? I know I sent you over the list earlier. Just to clarify for people listening, West Weeks, the linebacker of the Colts side, from LSU, not the one dating Lane Kiffin's daughter.

Starting point is 00:30:38 I know that that's the other weeks. That's going to be in like the next draft class or in the next draft class or two. Whit Weeks. Yeah, Whitweeks his name, but West Weeks from LSU is one of them. A couple other kind of smaller names, but any other guys stand out to you, Ian? There was one. I think Samir Higgins is really interesting. I remember writing his name down as kind of a deep sleeper when I was watching Duke.

Starting point is 00:30:59 I mean, the guy was 511, 188, so really short arms, just 29-inch. one eighth arms. But he's got four or five speed. He's got a six eight eight three cone, which is really, really good. And again, I think looking back to the tape, you did see that agility, that fluidity, that ability to redirect and kind of work across face against, you know, tight coverage. And then also the ability to, I would say, run a relatively full route tree as well. So again, not a guy who's, again, because the production wasn't really there. I think the catch point skills aren't great. And again, the catch radius is shorter. But the quickness, the ability to separate independently, especially in camp, you know, a lot of one-on-one situations.

Starting point is 00:31:37 Samir Higgins is potentially a guy who could excel in that situation. That's the main one. But I think it's an interesting class, particularly with Austin Brown, with Nolan Rucci and Campbell. I think there's a chance that one of those guys makes the 53-man roster. Yeah, I would love to see Cam Ball get in there because if he doesn't, I mean, is Derek Nottie. He probably won the backup nose tackle job, and I'm not really too privy on that one there.

Starting point is 00:31:59 So Cam Ball, I'm really rooting for there. Yeah, no, that'll be interesting. Well, I'm curious to see Hagan's versus Coleman Owen camp because Coleman Owen last year was the darling of training camp. But, you know, a small slot receiver out of Ohio that was hyperproductive and stuck on the practice squad last year. So Colts have a lot of these shifty smaller guys like those two, Josh Downs, obviously at the top of the depth chart. Anthony Gould as well as on the depth chart. So they have a thing for those type of players. But Ian, thank you for joining us today on Lockdown Colts.

Starting point is 00:32:29 If you guys do not follow Ian Cummings on wherever you get your. your social media is make sure you are doing that. One of the best in the business. And I'm excited to get him on here before he shuts down for the rest of the offseason and reemerges in the fall as college football starts up again. But thank you all for tuning in until this edition of Lockdown Colts. We're back yet again tomorrow. So make sure you subscribe and follow Lockdown Colts wherever you get your latest episodes.

Starting point is 00:32:52 And if you don't already, make sure you're following at Lockdown Colts at Jake Arthur NFL at Zach Hicks 2 and obviously at IC underscore draft all on socials. If you never miss an episode, the everyday air club is built for you as well. So get us ad-free plus members-only Discord access and much more. Head of locked on colts.supercast.com to join the club. Thank you all for tuning in and we'll catch you guys back here tomorrow afternoon.

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