Post-draft thoughts

The Colts draft is full of questions. Can Bjoern Werner play 3-4 OLB? Can Hugh Thornton convert back to guard? Can Khaled Holmes handle inside blitzes? Will Montari Holmes be dedicated enough to the game to contribute? Can John Boyett stay healthy? Is Kerwynn Williams big enough to play in the NFL? And is Justice Cunnigham ... actually, Cunningham’s pretty much a sure thing. Let’s take a look: 

1. Bjoern Werner OLB Florida State 

Wow. When draft-speculating season began, Werner was seen as a Top 5 pick. It was his college production that made teams want him so badly. As a frosh, he recorded 3.5 sacks, then 7 as a soph and a remarkable 13 as a junior before declaring for the draft. And he passed the eyeball test, showing great natural athleticism, discipline and technique far beyond his years. But then it kind of fell apart for him. At the combine, he ran poorly (4.81 and 4.83) and didn’t really impress in any other drills. But the game is not played in drills. Players like Emmitt Smith and Anquan Boldin had terrible forties, and it hardly held them back. Maybe Werner will get caught from behind on a long interception or fumble return, but I don’t see too many other holes in his game. 2013 expectation: Werner will probably beat out Erik Walden, Lawrence Sidbury and the Outlaw Jerry Hughes for the right to start opposite Robert Mathis. Though a natural 4-3 end, Werner has great athleticism, and should have no problem adapting to the Colts’ system. I think he could develop into a double-digit sacker relatively quickly, but they will come through his relentlessness, not explosion. 

3. Hugh Thornton G Illinois 

The tenacious wrestler with the troubled childhood doesn’t have the length to stay outside, and will play guard in the pros (that’s not too much of a challenge because he has started at guard in college). Quick and strong, he gets into position very quickly and fights to the whistle every play. A move inside would mask his biggest liability (lateral movement) and get the best out of his natural mauler tendency. 2013 expectation: While I think Donald Thomas is a shoo-in for the left guard spot, Thornton will fight Mike McGlynn, Joe Reitz, Jeff Linkenbach and maybe Ben Ijalana for the right-side job and could well win. 

4. Khaled Holmes C USC 

There’s a lot to like about Holmes as a natural offensive lineman. He’s quick and strong and has enviably long arms. But he has three major question marks that make him a project: 1) he has a great deal of difficulty recognizing interior blitzes, committing too quickly to a double-team and letting the blitzer go by untouched, 2) he has a long history of lingering injuries, and 3) he’s been inconsistent snapping the ball. Until he gets by those hurdles, don’t expect him to see much playing time on offense. His 13 bench-press reps at the Combine didn’t impress anyone, either; but that’s not always a great indicator of playing strength. 2013 expectation: I think Holmes will be a virtual redshirt as a rookie, learning and playing as a swing reserve before challenging for a bigger role in 2014. 

5. Montori Hughes NT Tennessee-Martin 

Hughes is an even bigger question mark than Holmes is. There is no doubting his gifts; he is simply a huge man with phenomenal strength and quick reflexes. But the problem lies between his ears. Years of poor decision-making and questionable commitment and work ethic have made Hughes, a first-round talent, a fifth-round gamble. First academics derailed him, then two drug arrests. Then, after transferring from Tennessee to Tennessee-Martin, he played well, but did not dominate the way he should have, relying more on brute strength and explosion without improving his technique. He’d go from one stellar play to jumping offside the next or being flattened by a man half his size and staying on the ground until the whistle. 2013 expectation: The Colts traded a 2014 fourth-round pick to get Hughes, so they must really like him. Although there is a great quantity of nose tackle options on the roster, all of them have major question marks. But like Holmes, Hughes will have to show he’s progressed enough to be reliable before he gets any snaps on defense. 

6. John Boyett S Oregon 

Here’s an easy-to-like pick. Injuries aside, Boyett showed early in his college career he is a pro-quality safety, delivering big hits and demonstrating solid coverage ability, particularly in zone. A former quarterback, he’s hard to fool. More important for the turnover-starved Colts, he has very soft hands for the position. 2013 expectation: Safety is a deep position on the Colts right now, and Boyett will struggle for playing time as a rookie on defense (although not on special teams). He could get a bigger role in 2014, especially if the Colts let incumbent free safety Antoine Bethea (set to become an unrestricted free agent) walk. 

7a. Kerwynn Williams HB Utah State 

And here’s the back I said they’d never draft. And that’s no dis on Williams, who is a talent, just not a fit. He’ll run between the tackles, but is hardly a fall-forward, drag-defenders kind of guy and — horrors! — he’s a major liability as a pass-blocker. But the Colts didn’t pick the kid’s name out of a hat. He’s a truly elusive runner, especially as a kick returner, and an excellent receiver, often splitting wide in college. 2013 expectation: I think the Colts will give Williams every chance to win the return specialist job. If he does, or shows enough promise that he could, he could also get some reps on offense, perhaps as a slot receiver and/or gadget-play guy. 

7b. Justice Cunningham TE South Carolina 

Another easy-to-like pick; Cunningham is a real load as a blocker, often used by the Gamecocks as a third tackle. Although he has soft hands and is a reliable receiver, his limited athleticism prevents him from getting off the line quickly or being effective against safeties (or even linebackers) on all but the shortest routes. Remember when the Colts drafted Brody Eldridge? They wanted a heavy-blocking tight end who could occasionally catch an emergency pass. It didn’t work out, but Cunningham seems like the guy they wanted then. 2013 expectation: Cunningham will compete against Weslye Saunders for the Colts’ blocking tight end job, and could well win.