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The Indianapolis Colts are willing to be patient for the potential payoff when it comes to rookie pass rusher Dayo Odeyingbo, who is currently rehabbing from an Achilles tear in January.
Throughout the pre-draft process, the Colts kept going back to watch Odeyingbo’s tape, and the Vanderbilt product quickly became a favorite for general manager Chris Ballard and director of scouting Morocco Brown.
Though they may have to wait a year while Odeyingbo gets healthy, Brown and the scouting department see some shades of former New York Giants pass rusher Justin Tuck in Odeyingbo’s game.
“During the draft process, the Colts’ director of scouting, Morocco Brown, compared Odeyingbo to Justin Tuck, a third-round pick of the Giants in 2005,” wrote The Athletic’s Zak Keefer following a media film session with Ballard. “Tuck became a mainstay on New York’s defensive line, racking up more than 60 sacks in nine seasons and helping them win two Super Bowls.”
It’s easy to see the comparison from Tuck to Odeyingbo. Both pass rushers are explosive and lengthy. They may not win with extreme bend while running the arc, but their skillset and versatility play well in an aggressive front.
It’s hard for Ballard to contain his excitement when it comes to the potential of Odeyingbo.
“I couldn’t be any more excited about a kid,” Ballard said via Keefer. “He’s still young, but he’s got a really unique skill set with his length, his body control. He’s also really grown up in his career. You like to see that maturation each year.”
The Colts didn’t believe Odeyingbo would make it out of the second round and given their questions about how many true left tackles were in the draft, this pick seemed to be pretty easy for Ballard.
If the Colts wind up getting a Tuck-like career from Odeyingbo, no one will remember having questions about the pick on draft night.
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