The Indianapolis Colts made a surprising move late on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft when they traded back into the third round to select former Maryland safety Nick Cross.
After making three selections on the offensive side of the ball on Day 2, general manager Chris Ballard and the rest of the draft room couldn’t help themselves. They had to find a way to get Cross to Indy.
So they traded a fifth-round pick (No. 179 overall) and a 2023 third-rounder to the Denver Broncos for the No. 96 overall pick. Doing so allowed them to draft one of the most athletic safeties in the entire class.
Cross is young and wildly athletic. He won’t turn 21 years old until September. Part of that is why he may not be a major factor right away, but his upside is also through the roof.
Here’s what draft analysts had to say about Cross during the pre-draft process:
Also, check out what they said about other Colts’ draft picks;