INDIANAPOLIS -- The cupboard was pretty empty last year when it came to the draft for the Indianapolis Colts. They only had five picks, including no first-round pick.
The Colts didn’t receive high grades for their draft class at first, but they ended up proving many people wrong when three of their five picks were either starters or rotation players.
With the Colts having nine picks in this year's draft, which is less than three weeks away, let's take a look at how the 2014 draft class performed last season.
OL Jack Mewhort, second round
Mewhort has a spot on the offensive line locked down for years to come. He started all 14 games he appeared in last season. Mewhort can plan all five positions. His primary starting spot last season was left guard, but he started at right tackle in Week 17 against Tennessee and he even played center in the preseason finale last year.
WR Donte Moncrief, third round
Moncrief proved critics wrong about his hands when he caught 32 of his 49 targets last season. He finished with 444 yards and three touchdowns. Moncrief will be no worse than the No. 3 receiver for the Colts next season behind T.Y. Hilton and Andre Johnson. Moncrief had two games of at least 100 yards receiving, including a career-high 134 yards on just three catches against Washington in Week 13.
LB Jonathan Newsome, fifth round
Newsome’s transition from a defensive end in college to rush linebacker was relatively smooth. Robert Mathis’ season-ending Achilles injury moved Newsome into the rotation behind starter Bjoern Werner. Newsome responded by leading the Colts in sacks with 6.5 while only playing 466 snaps. Fellow Linebacker Erik Walden, who was second on the team in sacks with 6.0, played 657 snaps this season. Newsome’s snaps should increase in 2015, especially if Mathis isn’t fully healthy by the start of the regular season. If last season was any indication, it’ll be hard to keep Newsome off the field whether Mathis is healthy or not.
LB Andrew Jackson, sixth round
The Colts liked Jackson’s promise on the field, as he also played on special teams and even lined up at fullback for seven snaps last season. But Jackson’s off-the-field problems are why he’s no longer with the franchise. The Colts released Jackson earlier this offseason after he was arrested for his second DUI in less than a year. The release of Jackson and current legal issues of Josh McNary put the Colts in a difficult position at inside linebacker.
OL Ulrick John, seventh round
John spent the season on injured reserve after suffering a broken ankle during training camp.
