Want a strong argument for Phillip Dorsett as one of the more underrated rookies in 2015? UTH Contributor Mike Beckley weighs in on the now Colts wide receiver:
The draft community was shocked when the Indianapolis Colts “reached” for Phillip Dorsett with the 29th pick in the first round of the NFL draft when the team had so many other needs. They have T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener and added Andre Johnson and Duron Carter this off season. Dorsett was not a prospect that was ranked incredibly high by “draft twitter” prior to the draft due to his small size (5’10” and 185 pounds) and modest college production. He needs to be high on draft boards now and hopefully this article explains why.
Last year T.Y. Hilton averaged 18.9 PPR points per game in 2014 and he is a free agent after the season. The Colts may not want to pay him 9-10+ million/year when they have Dorsett for cheap for four or five years at least. If Hilton walks, Phillip Dorsett has that same upside plus a higher draft pedigree. It’s a risky bet to think that Hilton walks away from Andrew Luck, but there are other reasons to believe Dorsett is worth a first round rookie pick.
Early this off-season, Donte Moncrief was being valued as high as rookie pick 1.5. He did not have a great rookie season and he fell to the late third round of the NFL draft. When Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks left the team, Moncrief’s value skyrocketed. Dorsett could do the same next year if Andre Johnson and Duron Carter are not cutting it. If he reaches that point, it may be time to sell, but that is a big jump from where he will go in rookie drafts this year.
Dorsett could be somewhat buried as a rookie. The targets will be spread among Hilton, Andre Johnson, Moncrief, Carter, Dorsett, Fleener and Allen. This could create a nice secondary buy opportunity for him halfway through the season. If you have patience, draft him as a top-12 player and do not sell for less. If you aren’t in a position to draft him, there may be a chance to get him for a second round pick during the 2015 season.
If six months ago, someone were to tell you that the Colts were going to draft a wide receiver with 4.28 speed in the first round of the NFL draft, you would say that receiver should be a first round rookie pick. Well that happened, and Dorsett should be selected around rookie pick 11 in my opinion. It may take some time for his path to significant targets to clear out, but if you are patient, it will be an investment worth making. You want a first round wide receiver tied to Andrew Luck for the next five or more years.
As always, hit me up on twitter @BeckleyNFL and lets discuss and you can tell me I’m crazy.
