Watching offensive linemen at the NFL combine might not be the most enjoyable thing to do on a Sunday afternoon but this is still an opportunity for the Indianapolis Colts to find some draft prospects to help bolster their unit.
There were 51 offensive linemen that were invited to the combine but for the Colts’ purposes, there can be a focus more on the interior lineman over the tackles.
Braden Smith and Bernhard Raimann are set to be the bookend tackles for Indy in 2023. While Chris Ballard needs to find a swing tackle for depth purposes, a veteran likely will fill that role, and there are some versatile draft prospects that can play on the inside and outside of the line.
If there is one aspect of the testing of offensive linemen to pay attention to is their short shuttle. There is proof of players turning into at least quality starters in the NFL if they perform well at that drill.
Since 2010, just 28 Offensive Linemen recorded a 4.47 short shuttle or better at the NFL Combine
24 were drafted
Those 24 went on to start 84% of their NFL games. It's a cheat code.
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Let's 'Moneyball' the NFL Combinehttps://t.co/18vOIzmWlV pic.twitter.com/BPmFhPzjhe
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) February 27, 2023
As I mentioned, don’t expect to see tackles on this list of players unless they offer versatility to kick inside, and players that are expected to go early in the first round won’t be included.
Here are some names to watch for on Sunday: