Indianapolis Colts: Ryan Kelly, Hassan Ridgeway can make immediate impact

The AFC South is no longer a joke, so Andrew Luck‘s return might not be enough for the Indianapolis Colts to secure the division crown. Since they didn’t make any big moves in free agency, the Colts will count on their incoming draft class to provide that boost.

For the most part, the Indianapolis Colts made their focus in the draft upgrading their offensive line, which was abysmal. Matt Hasselbeck had issues moving the ball for the Colts offense, but they didn’t do Frank Gore or any of their quarterbacks any favors with poor blocking up front. Center was a huge problem spot, and the Colts only bright spots were Anthony Castonzo and Jack Mewhort.

Frank Gore is intent on crushing 1,000 yards this season, but for him to do that and for Luck to stay healthy for a full season, the Colts line must improve. Out of their three incoming rookie offensive linemen- Ryan Kelly, Le’Raven Clark, and Joe Haeg- only Kelly can be counted on to have a Year 1 impact.

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Clark is a total project who just doesn’t have the footwork or strength to see the field in his first season, and Haeg comes from North Dakota State. I don’t think it is inconceivable for Haeg to carve a starting role for himself, but it just isn’t a realistic projection. More importantly, it would be completely unfair to expect Haeg to succeed if he does see the field as a rookie, and expectations seem to be everything when it comes to evaluating rookies.

However, it is absolutely admissible to believe that Kelly can come in and play good football as a rookie center. Though the position has value, it’s clear that first-round interior offensive linemen are drafted high in the hopes that they can immediately excel. We’ve seen Zack Martin and Travis Frederick make good on these expectations, but we’ve also seen the likes of Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper fail in this regard.

Nov 2, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) looks to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Though Kelly is the best of the Colts rookies and the most likely to be a Pro Bowler in his first season, they have one other player from their 2016 class worth watching closely this year. It is a defensive player, but, no, it isn’t raw Clemson speedster T.J. Green.

Hassan Ridgeway wasn’t a hot prospect in the pre-draft process, which is a little bit surprising, because NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared him to Carolina Panthers DT Kawann Short, who is on the verge of being one of the highest-paid players in the league.

If that’s the type of player Ridgeway reminds one of the best NFL Draft analysts in the business, then maybe he can be a big factor in his first season. Many people, including CBS Sports’s Pete Prisco, are worried that conditioning will be a major issue for Ridgeway in the pros, but if he can be in great shape this season, he could be an X-Factor up front for the Colts.

Likely a 3-4 defensive end for the Colts, Ridgeway should be in a rotational role, getting snaps with the likes of Henry Anderson, Kendall Langford, and Arthur Jones. Among the Colts defensive linemen, Anderson looks like the best of the bunch, and he was a legitimate Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate before going down early.

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Anderson and Langford should be the Colts starting ends, but I expect Ridgeway to get opportunities to show off his ability to get into the backfield. As a backup, Ridgeway will get plenty of breathers, and this is definitely necessary for a rookie. The former Texas star can pin his ears back and focus on intensity in fewer snaps, and the Colts found good value in Ridgeway at pick No. 116, especially since the 307-pound DL has the strength and agility to be the team’s biggest tackle-for-loss threat on the defensive line.

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