Kylen Granson and the Colts' Last 5 Draft Picks in Rounds 4-5

A look back at the last five players that the Indianapolis Colts have selected in the fourth and fifth rounds of the NFL Draft, including tight end Kylen Granson.

The Indianapolis Colts are gearing up for one of the most impactful drafts in recent memory as they look to crown a new face of the franchise with a top-five pick in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

However, rosters are built and fortified in the middle rounds. 

Leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft, which begins this Thursday, we will look at each of the Colts' most recent five selections per round, today with Rounds 4 and 5.

ROUND 5

DT Eric Johnson | 2022 | Pick No. 159

© Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

• Colts Career Stats: 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
• Pro Bowl: 0
• All-Pro: 0
• Colts Tenure: 2022-Present

The Colts spent a mid-round pick on a developmental interior defensive lineman in Johnson, who they feel can play at three-technique as well as the nose. He showed flashes of power and explosiveness during training camp but has yet to flash on the field.

S Shawn Davis | 2021 | Pick No. 165

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

• Colts Career Stats: N/A
• Pro Bowl: 0
• All-Pro: 0
• Colts Tenure: 2021

Davis was the most "meh" pick of the Colts' 2021 draft class and he lived up to that billing after failing to make the roster. He spent much of training camp on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and then when he got on the practice field, didn't show much of the traits that the Colts liked about him, pre-draft. He signed with the Green Bay Packers following his departure from the Colts but now remains a free agent after his release.

OL Danny Pinter | 2020 | Pick No. 149

© Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

• Colts Career Stats: Started 7-of-46 games, with 621 offensive snaps
• Pro Bowl: 0
• All-Pro: 0
• Colts Tenure: 2020-Present

Pinter is a classic example of drafting and developing players. He arrived at Ball State as a tight end before converting to right tackle as a senior, where he earned All-Conference honors. He kicked inside to center/guard when he was drafted by the Colts, proving worthy of his role when given playing time in his first two seasons. Finally, he became a starter for the Colts at right guard in 2022, but it did not go well, posting a team-low offensive line grade of 44.7 according to Pro Football Focus. He was routinely overpowered and replaced in the lineup by Will Fries. 

LB E.J. Speed | 2019 | Pick No. 164

Mandatory Credit: Max Gersh/IndyStar-USA TODAY Sports

• Colts Career Stats: Started 6-of-61 games, 110 tackles (8 for loss), 3 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups, 1 blocked kick, 2 special teams touchdowns
• Pro Bowl: 0
• All-Pro: 0
• Colts Tenure: 2019-Present

People outside of NFL facilities knew next to zero information about Speed when he was picked four years ago, but he's stuck around for the Colts as a key special teamer and got in the mix as the SAM/OTTO linebacker in 2021 and 2022. His talents earned him a second contract with the Colts this offseason. Speed has shown off his playmaking ability, blocking kicks that resulted in touchdowns and setting new career highs across the board last season. He's expected to take on a bigger role in 2023 with the free-agent departure of Bobby Okereke and the uncertain injury status of Shaquille Leonard.

CB Marvell Tell III | 2019 | Pick No. 144

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

• Colts Career Stats: Started 1-of-13 games, 26 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 5 pass breakups
• Pro Bowl: 0
• All-Pro: 0
• Colts Tenure: 2019-22

Tell's development has been on a bit of a roller coaster. He had a solid rookie season but then opted out as a COVID-19 designation in 2020. Tell didn't have the best training camp in 2021, ultimately spending the season on the practice squad. He bounced back last summer but didn't make the final roster. He's now with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Out of the Colts' last five fifth-round picks, three are still with the team, and four of the five made the roster as rookies.

ROUND 4

TE Kylen Granson | 2021 | Pick No. 127

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

• Colts Career Stats: Started 4-of-30 games, 42 receptions (55 targets), 408 yards (9.7 avg.)
• Pro Bowl: 0
• All-Pro: 0
• Colts Tenure: 2021-Present

Granson was drafted to be a playmaker downfield and after the catch for the Colts. Although he's known as a bright player, tight ends do take a little while to make an impact. He played in each game as a rookie but Granson only had 15 targets. However, that'll happen when you're behind Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox on the depth chart. Entering 2022, Doyle retired and Alie-Cox remained the primary blocking tight end on the roster, which opened the door for Granson. He saw a swift uptick in usage with Matt Ryan at quarterback. It'll be a crowded tight end room for the Colts moving forward as Granson has Alie-Cox, Jelani Woods, and perhaps Andrew Ogletree to compete with.

QB Jacob Eason | 2020 | Pick No. 122

Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

• Colts Career Stats: 1 game, 2-of-5 passing (40.0%), 25 yards (5.0 YPA), 1 interception
• Pro Bowl: 0
• All-Pro: 0
• Colts Tenure: 2020-21

The Jacob Eason Experiment came and went. He was drafted in the fourth round in 2020 but had some early-round projections. He was one of the most polarizing players on the team's roster with many fans wanting him to get a shot and others wanting to pump the breaks. With then-starting quarterback Carson Wentz nursing a foot injury during the summer, Eason had some really nice moments during training camp but got off to a very shaky start. He ultimately lost out to 2021 rookie Sam Ehlinger for the backup job and was waived. Eason has since been with the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and Carolina Panthers.

S Khari Willis | 2019 | Pick No. 109

© Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

• Colts Career Stats: Started 33-of-39 games, 219 tackles (7 for loss), 3.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 4 interceptions, 11 pass breakups, 7 quarterback hits, 1 defensive touchdown
• Pro Bowl: 0
• All-Pro: 0
• Colts Tenure: 2019-22

Willis became the Colts' starting strong safety midway through his rookie season and never yielded his spot until his retirement last offseason. He became a highly important part of the Colts' defense and took a step forward as a performer and a leader in Year 2. He had some issues in coverage in 2021 but had never shown that previously.

RB Nyheim Hines | 2018 | Pick No. 104

Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

• Colts Career Stats: Started 16-of-72 games, 300 carries for 1,205 yards (4.0 avg.) and 10 TD, 235 receptions (300 targets) for 1,725 yards (7.3 avg.) and 7 TD, 73 punt returns for 862 yards (11.8 avg.) and 2 TD
• Pro Bowl: 0
• All-Pro: 0
• Colts Tenure: 2018-22

Hines become one of the most dangerous all-purpose weapons in the entire NFL during his time with the Colts. He showed quality receiving skills as a rookie, developed into an excellent punt returner in Year 2, and became a better runner in Years 3 and 4. Overall, he's improved his averages per touch in each of his four seasons. However, the Colts traded Hines to the Buffalo Bills last season, where he conducted one of the most memorable moments of the season, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns in the Bills' first home game following the Damar Hamlin situation.

DT Grover Stewart | 2017 | Pick No. 144

© Armond Feffer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

• Colts Career Stats: Started 64-of-96 games, 239 tackles (25 for loss), 8.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovered, 7 pass breakups, 27 quarterback hits
• Pro Bowl: 0
• All-Pro: 0
• Colts Tenure: 2017-Present

Colts general manager Chris Ballard has got to get some credit for taking a guy out of tiny Albany State in the fourth round who has since developed into one of the best, most well-paid nose tackles in the NFL. Stewart finally started to garner some recognition around last offseason and he followed it up with the best year of his career, setting new career bests across the stat sheet. Being paired next to All-Pro DeForest Buckner inside the Colts defense, Stewart should continue to bully interior offensive linemen.

Just two of the Colts' last five fourth-round picks remain with the team, although Hines left via trade and Willis retired. The group is actually quite a good collection for the fourth round, though, as four of the five became regular starters.

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PREVIOUS ENTRIES

• Colts' Last 5 Draft Picks in Rounds 6-7

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