NFL
By: Bill Carroll
I have been speaking to The Draft Nerds and Stampede Blue‘s Jay Robins
2. Laiatu Latu, Edge Rusher.
Latu was the first Defender off the board in the 2024 Draft, and had a very impressive rookie season. The Polynesian Pass Rusher only had 4 sacks, but his 14% Pass Rush Win percentage was 29th out of 122 qualifying Edges, higher than pass rushers TJ Watt and Maxx Crosby.
With an incredibly polished pass rush arsenal of moves and counters, a high football IQ, a 99th % tracking data athleticism (PFF) as a prospect, relentless work ethic, and one of the most productive pass rush profiles as a prospect we’ve seen in decades, there is incredible optimism that Latu takes a step forward as a franchise pass rusher.
Latu was a rotational player in 2024, starting only 1 game, but new DC Lou Anarumo brings fresh eyes to evaluate the Colts Edge room. Those eyes might see in Latu shades of Trey Hendrickson, his top edge rusher with the Bengals, who NFL Networks’ Daniel Jeremiah compared Latu to as a prospect in the pre-draft process with their remarkably similar builds, athletic profiles, and skill sets coming into the NFL. Lou got 57 sacks out of Hendrickson in 4 seasons in Cincinnati, so he could see lightning strike twice with Latu.
The biggest obstacle for a Latu breakout? The Edge Rush depth. 2021 1st Round pick Kwity Paye is on his 5th year option, and while he hasn’t emerged as a franchise pass rusher with his elite athletic profile, Paye has been one of the best run-stopping DEs of the last few seasons. The Colts 2023 leading Edge Rusher Samson Ebukam is back after missing all of 2024 with a torn Achilles. What his level of play will be one year removed from a devastating injury is to be determined, but he likely will take up some valuable snaps. Long-time rotational Edge Rusher Tyquan Lewis has shown strong spurts, in particular in 2023 as a situational pass rusher as well, but could see a bigger snap share in taking over the departed Dayo Odeyingbo’s role as a rotational 3 Technique Defensive Tackle as well.
Should Latu carve out a larger role in 2025, a breakout is likely on the horizon. With him being the only Edge rusher under contract after this season, he could make an even bigger leap in 2026 as well.
3. Tanor Bortolini, Center
Another 2024 rookie, Bortolini was a 4th round pick out of Wisconsin who stepped up as a spot starter at Center and held his own very well. In 5 starts, Bortolini allowed just 7 Pressures and 0 sacks, while also using his elite-tier agility and impressive speed to be a strong puller in the run game to spring several big runs.
The Colts were so impressed with Tanor, that they decided to let 9 year vet and Pro Bowl Center Ryan Kelly enter Free Agency. The starting Center job in now Tanor’s and if he continues his positive strides from 2024 in this full time role, he could be a breakout player for the Colts well respected line.
Alec Pierce had a career year in 2024, and could take another step forward in 2025. The deep ball specialist out of University of Cincinnati, Pierce finally got to play with QBs that could maximize his skill-set. Having Anthony Richardson and a 39 year-old Joe Flacco throwing to him, both QBs were much more willing and able to deliver the deep ball than his previous QBs Matt Ryan, Nick Foles, Sam Ehlinger, & Gardner Minshew.
The result? Pierce led the entire NFL in yards per catch with 22.3, giving him a team leading 824 yards and 7 TDs in just 37 catches and 69 targets! Pierce is one of the most athletically gifted WRs in the NFL, boasting a blazing fast speed vertically, quick straight acceleration off of his releases, and a very large frame to outmuscle opposing defensive backs for contested catches. This pairs very well with Richardson’s best ball to throw, and can create some magical big plays the likes of which Colts fans haven’t seen consistently since the days of TY Hilton’s prime.
If Richardson stays healthy and continues to make strides, it bodes very well for Pierce. Alec is on the last year of his rookie deal, and has every motivation to earn himself a big payday in an exploding Wide Receiver market.
5. Adetomiwa Adebawore, Defensive Tackle
For our final breakout, let’s go for a deeper sleeper: 3rd year Defensive Tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore. The former Northwestern Wildcat coming into the NFL was known as a tweener, a player who didn’t have a set position. He was used in a variety of ways with the Wildcats, moving across the line. He was especially miscast as the teams Nose Tackle or 1 Technique, not setting him up to utilize his freakish athleticism to penetrate fronts but instead to eat up space.
And by freakish athleticism, I mean Adebawore is the only player in Combine testing history to weigh over 280lbs and run a 40 yard dash under 4.5 seconds. He also displayed insane agility and explosiveness at the combine, all at a 6’1 & 282 lb frame with near 34 inch arms, giving him a natural leverage advantage over linemen.
In his first 2 seasons as a Colt, Adebawore had a small rotational role behind star DT DeForest Buckner & backup Taven Bryan. He has had only 269 total snaps in his pro Career, 146 as a pass rusher. But despite that low usage, he has had 9 Pressures and 2.5 sacks as a DT, while improving as a run stopper over time.
With Dayo Odeyingbo a Bear, the role as a hybrid Defensive End and Defensive Tackle that he occupied is freed up. Taven Bryan and Raekwon Davis at DT are also gone, and new defensive Tackle Neville Gallimore had less pro success than both prior to joining the Colts. Adebawore has an opportunity if he continues to show promise and development, to earn a much bigger role in the rotation and use his rare athletic gifts to have a breakout in 2025.
Draft Targets:
1. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The dream target for the Colts in Round 1. Warren is the top TE in the draft and fits the Colts need at the position very well. Warren brings a great athletic profile, strong size and power as big catch radius, strong hands, and can move people in the run game as an in line blocker. With the Colts run heavy Offensive scheme, in line blocking ability is critical for Tight Ends, as they need someone who can be a threat in the run game and in the pass game to not tip their hand pre-snap.
With a very unproductive TE room over the last few seasons and 2 Free Agent Tight Ends (Kylen Granson & Mo Alie Cox) gone [Cox has resigned], the Colts need is clear. Expect them to take a TE early on in the draft.
2. Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
If Warren doesn’t fall to the Colts (as Brock Bowers didn’t last year) then the Colts plan could shift to taking Mason Taylor in Round 2. Taylor is the 2nd fastest TE tested this year at 4.65 (Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland declined to run) and brings smooth routes, a strong football IQ, the lowest 2024 drop rate in the class, and the size to be a solid blocking TE at 251 lbs.
Taylor is also related to two Hall of Fame defenders, father Jason Taylor at Edge and uncle Zach Thomas at Linebacker. Both of them have mentored Mason over the course of his life, and have kept him involved in football for decades now. His advanced football IQ can be partially attributed to such strong familial mentors.
3. Nick Emmanwori, S/WILL LB, South Carolina
When talking about freak athletes that the Colts value historically with Ballard, several times you will hear the phrase “perfect 10 RAS” thrown around. Relative Athletic Score is a metric coined by Kent Lee Platte, an analyst who has compiled a size adjusted positional athletic testing database that rates NFL athletes entering the league on a 0-10 scale based on their testing pre-draft. An 8 is considered elite tier athletes among all players at their position.
Ballard has taken 2 perfect 10 RAS prospects, who were rated 1st all time amongst their position in athletic testing, and has shown a strong fondness for 9+ RAS players in the draft. Those perfect 10s? QB Anthony Richardson and TE Jelani Woods.
Nick Emmanwori is the only perfect 10 RAS player in this draft class, and his versatility to play 2 positions the Colts could look to address makes him a strong candidate to be a Colt in round 1 (either at 14 or via trade back).
As a box safety/weak-side LB hybrid, Emmanwori is a Tight End eraser in the pass game with strong coverage instincts in mid zones and a 6’3 225 lb frame that boasts an insane 4.38 speed. He can match-up very well against most targets and has relentless pursuit. As long as his backpedal is limited to under 5-10 yards, he will be a strong player for Lou Anarumo to throw in a variety of positions to match-up against various players.
4. Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
If the Colts want to address Linebacker in Round 2, Schwesinger is a strong fit with his blend of range, high IQ coverage instincts, reliable tackling, and ability to play MIKE or WILL LB.
The biggest knock on Schwesinger is only 1 year of starting experience in 2024 and a perceived undersized build at 225 lbs as reported by UCLA. At the combine he weighed at 242 lbs, had a 39.5 inch vertical, and declined further testing after he showed he could pack on good weight and still be a very explosive athlete. He would be a fun addition to the Colts middle of the defense on Day 2 of the draft.
5. Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
The Colts also need another offensive lineman to provide competition with 2024 rookie Matt Goncalves (who showed flashes) for RG in 2025 and potentially for the right tackle spot in 2026 if veteran and perennial top 10 RT Braden Smith leaves. There are questions as well behind Tanor Bortolini for Center depth with just Wesley French (who was out for all of 2024 due to injury) behind him.
What if the Colts found a Player who could play any of those positions?
Enter Grey Zabel, a small school but versatile lineman who played everywhere along the offensive line in college and impressed greatly at the Senior Bowl practices against the best defensive line prospects in the class. At Mobile, Zabel was perhaps the best lineman throughout practices, quieting level of competition concerns.
He played primarily Tackle in college, but could be best inside in the pros for most teams with below average Tackle arm length. But the Colts boast two of the shortest arm length starting Tackles in the NFL, so are less likely to lower him on their board because of it and could let him take a crack at Right Tackle in 2026. His elite level athleticism and versatility makes him a good bet to be on the Colts Radar if they trade back in Round 1 or if he falls to them at pick 45 in round 2.
The Immaculately Perfect Colts DraftRound 1, Pick 14 | Tyler Warren, TE, Penn StateRound 2, Pick 45 | Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota StateRound 3, Pick 80 | Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLARound 4, Pick 117 | CJ West, DT, IndianaRound 5, Pick 151 | Damien Martinez, RB, MiamiRound 6, Pick 189 | Caleb Ransaw, S, TulaneRound 7, Pick 232 | Ethan Downs, EDGE, Oklahoma
The Colts 2025 actual draft:
Round 1, Pick 14 | Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Round 2, Pick 45 | J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State
Round 3, Pick 80 | Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota
Round 4, Pick 117 | Jalen Travist, OT, Iowa State
Round 5, Pick 151 | D.J. Giddens, RB, Kansas State
Round 6, Pick 189 | Riley Leonard QB, Notre Dame
Round 6, Pick 190 | Tim Smith DT, Alabama
Round 7, Pick 232 | Hunter Wohler S, Wisconsin
In our conclusion to this series on the 2025 NFL Draft, free agency and OTAs I will ask about his assessment of what Chris Ballard and the scouts have wrought.
