INDIANPOLIS -- And the list of players from the Indianapolis Colts’ 2013 draft class is down to one.
The list shrunk again when the Colts waived center Khaled Holmes, their fourth-round pick that year, on Monday. Guard Hugh Thornton, who was picked in the third round, is the lone holdover from that group.
The release of Holmes isn’t surprising after the Colts used their first-round pick to select Alabama’s Ryan Kelly and selected Austin Blythe in the seventh round last week.
What should be noted about Holmes' release, though, is that just two years ago general manager Ryan Grigson referred to the former USC product as the “center of the future” at the conclusion of the 2014 draft.
“We’re the ones that have studied. We’re the ones that have watched all the film and not just 10 YouTube clips,” Grigson said at the time. “(Holmes had) 37 starts at USC. It’s (not) like it’s Whatsa Matta U. It’s a pretty good program.”
Holmes couldn’t stay healthy and he didn’t produce enough when he did play for Grigson’s comments to materialize.
It’s not like Holmes, who lost his starting job in 2014 after suffering a high ankle sprain in the preseason opener, was beaten out by players the Colts selected in the draft. Undrafted free agents A.Q. Shipley and Jonotthan Harrison played better than Holmes, who started a total of nine games in his three seasons. Harrison is still on the roster and will compete for a spot in training camp.
Holmes’ departure follows the release of 2013 first-round pick Bjoern Werner back in March.
