Indianapolis Colts: Five Youngsters That Will Make the Leap in 2022

2. Julian Blackmon, Safety (Age: 23)

Speaking of health, Julian Blackmon has been victim to injuries dating all the way back to his time at Utah. In fact, the torn ACL that he suffered in his final season in college is the only reason that he fell as far as he did in the 2020 NFL Draft. But at No. 85 overall, the value was too good for the front office to pass up. As a rookie, Blackmon missed his first game as he was still recovering from the aforementioned ACL tear. However, he went on to appear in every game after that, serving as the top safety on the roster. Blackmon found himself in Defensive Rookie of the Year talks, that’s how well he was playing.

Blackmon looked to build off of this momentum entering his second season in the NFL, and he was well on his way to doing so. Although the raw counting stats don’t jump off the page, Blackmon played nearly every snap across the first six games. He was the heartbeat of the secondary. Unfortunately, Blackmon tore his Achilles in the following weeks practice, stopping his season in its tracks. Now, with the surprise retirement of Khari Willis, even more responsibility will fall at the feet of Blackmon. He is expected to make a full recovery and regain 100% health by the time week one arrives. Veterans Rodney McLeod and Armani Watts, along with rookie Nick Cross will be looking to Blackmon to lead the way. Much like the impact former Colts’ safety Bob Sanders had on the mid-2000s defense, Blackmon can bring something similar in 2022.

3. Kylen Granson, TE (Age: 24)

Unless you’re a Colts fan or a draft aficionado, Kylen Granson is a name that you’ve likely not heard before. The Colts nabbed Granson in the fourth-round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He is a move tight end that served as a pseudo-wide receiver during his time in the high-powered SMU offense. He averaged nearly 15 yards per reception in college, showing the big play ability that he possesses. During his rookie season in Indianapolis, Granson played sparingly. He only logged 21% of possible snaps, spending more time as a blocker than he did at SMU. Granson was targeted only 15 times, but not to fret, he appeared in every game that the Colts played. He is going to have the chance to bust through the ceiling and earn more reps in 2022.

Jack Doyle retired this off-season, and in doing so, he left behind nearly 50 targets in the offense. Mo Alie-Cox returns to likely assume the top spot on the depth chart, but unless rookie Jelani Woods develops quicker than expected, Granson should eat up the rest of the snaps. Granson’s speed is a true outlier at the position, and I look for head coach Frank Reich to utilize this trait. Matt Ryan is not shy to throw to his check down options, whether that be at running back or tight end. Alie-Cox will be a major factor in the red zone, but Granson should be the go-to guy between the 20-yard lines. He has a surprisingly refined route tree, and will be a great security blanket on crossers and out routes. With his speed that we highlighted earlier, he has the potential to do damage after the catch as well.