This Indianapolis Colts’ late Day 3 draft pick could carve out a steady role as a rookie.
Immediate contributions from sixth-round draft picks often isn’t the norm nor the expectation. If it happens, that’s obviously great, but teams aren’t banking on that either and know that time and development are needed. But when it comes to Indianapolis Colts’ defensive tackle Tim Smith, the opportunity to make an impact sooner rather than later does exist.
Leading the defensive tackle rotation for the Colts are DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. But this is a heavily rotated position where four or sometimes even five players see playing time each week, and in 2025, improved play behind those two is very much needed.
To help accomplish that, GM Chris Ballard reshaped the position group behind Buckner and Stewart this offseason by not re-signing Taven Bryan or Raekwon Davis, while bringing in Neville Gallimore, bringing back Eric Johnson, and drafting Smith. Adetomiwa Adebawore returns for his third season as well.
For Smith specifically, given his skill set, he has the ability to carve out a potential role as a secondary run defender after Stewart, which is the role he was frequently asked to fill at Alabama, and graded out quite well in that regard by PFF’s metrics.
Doing the dirty work that is required to be a stout interior run defender isn’t always going to show up on the stat sheet. But with the push that player generates, the space they eat up, and the blockers they occupy, the defenders around them will benefit from that presence in the middle.
Having a stout run defense then keeps the offense behind the sticks and in predictable passing situations, where the defense then has the advantage.
Along with Smith’s ability to help out in the run game, he lined up across multiple gaps while at Alabama as well, and that element is an important aspect of playing along the defensive line in Lou Anarumo’s defense.
“I think what’s unique about him is his ability to play blocks,” said assistant director of college scouting Jamie Moore via the Indy Star. “It’s something that (defensive coordinator) Lou (Anarumo) talked about when he got here, explaining how this defense is going to operate up front.”
Regardless of who it is, whether it be Smith, Johnson, Gallimore, or Adebawore, the Colts will have to rely on at least two of those players to play meaningful snaps this season. But who emerges and takes control of that playing time remains to be seen–nothing seems to be a given at this time.
So I imagine that determining who those players are will involve a hefty competition this summer, and Smith’s skill set could put him in a position to earn steady playing time as a late-round pick.