Which Indianapolis Colts’ rookie has earned the highest PFF grade since the 2006 season?
Pro Football Focus’ grading system goes all the way back to the 2006 season, so Ryan Smith recently went back through each team’s draft classes during that span to find the highest-graded rookie. So, who from the Indianapolis Colts holds that title?
The leader was taken in the 2012 draft by the Colts, but it isn’t quarterback Andrew Luck. Instead, it is third-round pick and tight end Dwayne Allen.
“Allen was the more productive player as a rookie, finishing fourth on the team in targets (70), receptions (49) and yards (572) and third in touchdowns (three),” wrote Smith. “His 84.4 PFF run-blocking grade ranked among the top 10 tight ends for the season, as well.”
As Smith notes, Allen was among the best run-blocking tight ends in football that season by PFF’s metrics. He finished fourth on the team in targets with 70 during his rookie year, catching 49 of those passes for 572 yards with three touchdowns.
Allen’s overall grade of 85.9 that season from PFF was the fourth-highest among all tight ends league-wide.
Allen would play seven seasons in the NFL, with the first five coming with the Colts. That 2012 rookie season was Allen’s most productive of his career, as he navigated injuries over the next couple of seasons.
When it was all said and done, Allen appeared in 86 games, including 72 starts. He caught 139 passes for 1,564 yards with 20 touchdowns.
From this year’s class, Tyler Warren and JT Tuimoloau are perhaps the two most likely players to give Allen a run for this title.