Reviewing the Chris Ballard era: The 2019 draft class

With the 2017 and 2018 classes already reviewed, the next stop in the Chris Ballard draft review series is 2019. After a shaky first class and then a strong 2018 group that helped build Ballard's reputation, the 2019 draft sits somewhere in the middle.

It was not a complete disaster, but it was definitely underwhelming.

The Colts had three second-round picks and needed to come away with multiple long-term building blocks. Instead, they got one underwhelming cornerback, one complete bust, and one receiver who finally had a useful season late in his rookie contract. The best value in the class came later, with Bobby Okereke and E.J. Speed becoming the two strongest picks from the group.

That is usually not what you want from a draft class with that much premium capital.

Round 2, Pick 34: Rock Ya-Sin, CB

Ya-Sin was a very underwhelming early second-round pick.

He had traits that made sense at the time. He was physical, competitive, and had the build of a corner who could hold up on the outside for many years. The problem was that his play never really matched the draft slot. He was often too grabby, too handsy, and took far too many penalties. That made him difficult to trust as a starter.

There were moments where he looked solid, but he never became the consistent outside corner the Colts needed him to be. For a pick at No. 34 overall, the expectation is a quality starter, ideally someone who becomes part of the long-term core. Ya-Sin did not reach that level, and the fact that he did not even make it to the end of his rookie contract with the team makes the pick look even worse.

He was not a total disaster, but he was absolutely a miss based on where he was selected.

Grade: D+

Round 2, Pick 49: Ben Banogu, LB

Banogu was a complete bust.

There is not much else to say here. He played four seasons with the Colts, never started, never became part of the defensive rotation in any meaningful way, and finished with just 2.5 sacks in 50 games. That is horrendous production for a second-round edge/linebacker.

The Colts drafted him with the hope that his athletic traits would translate into pass rush production, but it never happened. RAS!!! He was not just disappointing; he was basically invisible.

When a second-round pick gives you no meaningful snaps, no starting value, and no real production, the grade is obvious.

Grade: F

Round 2, Pick 59: Parris Campbell, WR

Campbell is a tricky one because there was at least some payoff at the end.

For most of his rookie contract, injuries and inconsistency prevented him from becoming the player the Colts hoped they were drafting. He had speed, versatility, and the ability to work from the slot, but he just could not stay on the field long enough to build momentum early in his career.

Then, in his fourth season, he finally put together a quality year. Campbell became a useful slot receiver and had his best season with the Colts before signing a nice contract with the Giants. That final season is important for the grade because it at least gave Indianapolis something. He was not a total failure, and there have been far worse players to suit up for the team.

Still, for a second-round pick, the overall return was not strong enough. One good season after three mostly frustrating years is not what you're hoping for.

Grade: C

Round 3, Pick 89: Bobby Okereke, LB

Okereke was one of the best picks in the class.

He spent four seasons with the Colts and gave them two very quality years before signing a big contract with the Giants. He was productive, dependable, and had a consistent impact from year to year. He was not always perfect, but he became a legitimate starting linebacker and gave the Colts real value from a third-round pick. This is the type of pick that helps save a class.

Okereke was not a superstar in Indianapolis, but he was a good player who developed into a starter and then earned a strong second contract elsewhere. That is a successful outcome for a third-rounder.

Grade: B+

Round 4, Pick 109: Khari Willis, S

Willis had a short career, but he was a useful player when he was on the field.

He only played three seasons, which limits how high the grade can go. At the same time, he was not bad as a starter during his final two years with the team, and his 2020 season was especially impactful. He brought physicality, intelligence, and stability to the secondary.

For a fourth-round pick, getting a couple of decent starting seasons is not bad value.

The short career keeps him out of the B range, but this was still a worthwhile pick. The Colts got good snaps and a nice impact from him.

Grade: C+

Round 5, Pick 144: Marvell Tell III, S

Tell did not give the Colts much.

He played one season, contributed mostly on special teams, and then was basically out of the league. For a fifth-round pick, expectations are lower, so it's hard to crush the selection too much. Still, one year and then nothing is not a good return.

There was some athletic upside there, and he was an interesting developmental defensive back, but it never turned into anything meaningful for Indianapolis.

Grade: D

Round 5, Pick 164: E.J. Speed, LB

Speed was the best value pick of the draft.

For a fifth-round pick from Tarleton State, the Colts got six seasons, strong special teams play, and eventually two and a half years of starting linebacker production. That is excellent value from that draft slot.

Speed developed into a good linebacker for the Colts, and his final two seasons were especially strong. He became a tackling machine, brought athleticism to the defense, and often covered for mistakes around him (cough cought Zaire Franklin cough cough). Earlier in his career, he was also a very good special teams player, which helped him stick while he developed defensively.

For a fifth-round pick, you really cannot ask for much more. He was not just a roster filler... he became a legitimate contributor and eventually a starter.

Grade: A

Round 6, Pick 199: Gerri Green, DE

Green did not make it past final cuts.

That makes this one simple. Sixth-round picks miss all the time, but when a player never even makes the active roster, it is hard to call it anything other than a failed pick.

Grade: F

Round 7, Pick 240: Jackson Barton, OT

Barton never made it to the active roster with the Colts.

Again, expectations are low in the seventh round, but the pick still produced nothing for Indianapolis. There is not much to evaluate beyond that.

Grade: F

Round 7, Pick 246: Javon Patterson, C

Patterson tore his ACL and never played for the Colts.

This one is unfortunate more than anything else. Injuries happen, and late-round picks are never guaranteed to make it. Still, the outcome was no value for the team, so the grade has to reflect that.

Grade: F

Overall Grade: C

The 2019 draft class was not a disaster, but it was an underwhelming follow-up to the 2018 class.

The biggest issue is the premium capital. The Colts had three second-round picks and came away with Rock Ya-Sin, Ben Banogu and Parris Campbell. Ya-Sin was underwhelming and did not finish his rookie contract in Indianapolis. Banogu was a complete bust. Campbell finally gave the Colts one useful season, but the overall return was limited. That is not good enough from three picks in the top 60.

Okereke and Speed are the players who save the class. Okereke became a good starting linebacker and earned a big deal elsewhere. Speed was a strong fifth-round hit who developed into a starter and quality contributor for 6 years. Willis also gave the Colts some decent play before his short career ended, and Campbell at least had one productive season.

The bottom of the class gave the Colts almost nothing, and the lack of long-term core players keeps the grade down.

This class had useful pieces, but not enough impact. It produced some solid linebackers, a brief starting safety, and one good receiver season, but it missed too often at the top to be considered anything more than average.