A new rookie class always holds some level of excitement. Conventional wisdom says at least several of these players won’t work out and some could even be cut before the season kicks off. Others will rise to the occasion and impress beyond expectations. The overall hope is that the Indianapolis Colts got things right. It will take some time to find out with the regular season kickoff being a long way away, but things are starting to ramp up. Which rookie are you most interested in watching this summer?
With no first round pick, the bulk of the excitement rests with C.J. Allen. Hopes are high for the man out of Georgia as he is tapped to be a leader on this defense. A position group that saw solid success and consistency was thrown into absolute upheaval last year with more question marks than we have witnessed in a long time. Bringing Allen, along with A.J. Haulcy, should go a long way to solidifying the defense as a whole.
Interest will be heavy with the top picks, but others might be focused on conferences. The Colts chose to pass on Indiana University guys, but they drafted heavily from the SEC and Big Ten. Bryce Boettcher out of Oregon piques interest because of his dual threat of football and baseball. Get ready to hear that brought up every day if he makes the roster and finds playing time. What about Caden Curry? The Ohio State product and Center Grove standout will garner fans’ attention for his local ties. Let’s not forget about Deion Burks. Occasionally, there is a late-round pick that carries high levels of intrigue and potential. Burks is that guy this year. Will he only rise to the level of a seventh-round selection, or will his draft position be the story of the NFL for years to come?
As always, there are plenty of choices; too many to dive into for this article. Rooting interest starts out more ferociously for the top picks. If those fifth, sixth, and seventh rounders start turning it on and look like steals of the draft, however, there will be plenty of eyes turning their direction too. The draft is a crapshoot. The only hope is that more players hit than not. Who are you most excited to see hit the ground running?
