2010 NFL Draft – Colts: Round 3

With the XXth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts take:

Kevin Thomas, CB, USC

Kevin Thomas, CB, USC

Stats:

• HT: 6'0 / WT: 192 / 40: 4.48
• Career: 1-year starter at USC, 57 tackles, 11 PD
• 2009 Second-Team All PAC-10

Overview:

Marlin Jackson, Kelvin Hayden

Player Comparisons:

Thomas is a quick, physical, if inexperienced, cornerback. His height and weight are reminiscent more of Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden than the shorter/smaller Jerraud Powers, Jacob Lacey, or Tim Jennings. The Colts had a definite need for depth at CB (see: Tim Jennings in the Super Bowl), and have shown the ability to coach up inexperienced players (see: Powers and Lacey). Thomas provides an upgrade and depth as a dime- (or perhaps even nickel-) back.

Bio:

• USC Biography
• Wikipedia

Draft Analysis:

• NFL.com
  

  The Colts add depth to their secondary with the addition of Kevin Thomas. The Southern California standout had been one of the stars of the pre-draft season, and his intriguing skill set could flourish in the Colts' zone-based scheme.

• ESPN.com
  

  Thomas has a great combination of size and top-end speed. In addition he shows the ability to turn, locate and find the football. While he is a bit tight in the hips when having to quickly turn and run, he still provides enough athletic ability to develop into a quality starter in the Colts' defensive scheme.

• Yahoo Sports
  

  A physical, long-armed press corner who has the ability to re-route receivers off the line. Thomas lacks ideal range down the field but is a good fit for the Colts at this spot.

Scouting Reports

• NFL.com (Grade: 7.1)
  

  Thomas was a starter for only one season at USC. He has a good combination of size and athleticism for the cornerback position but doesn't have great strength in block protection or in tackling in run support. His length enables him to make plays on the ball, but he is inconsistent to re-route receivers off the line of scrimmage. He is an inconsistent reactor which makes him vulnerable to double moves and losing leverage in coverage as well as in run support. Thomas breaks down well in space but isn't a reliable open-field tackler. He runs well, but his technique (footwork, transition angles, etc.) need to improve for him to be consistently effective in both man and zone coverages. Thomas has the talent and size to develop into an effective NFL cornerback, but he needs to improve in several areas as well as answer durability concerns at the next level.

• SI.com (Grade: 2.79 - First-Year Contributor / Projection: Round 2/3)
  

  Positives: Nice-sized cornerback best facing the action. Stays low in his backpedal, quick flipping his hips and has a burst out of his plant. Displays better than average ball awareness, plays heads-up football, and fights hard to defend the throw.

  Negatives: Seems to struggle in zone and does not show great route recognition. Slow locating the ball with his back to the action.

  Analysis: After being used primarily as a backup prior to the 2009 season, Thomas showed flashes of ability last year. He possesses the size and the underlying skill to play at the next level as a nickel or dime back, yet he is an unfinished product and will need time to develop his game.

• National Football Post (Grade: 5.8 - Backup/Depth Caliber / Rank: #22 CB)
  

  A tall, long-armed corner who showcases good physicality off the line and loves to use his length to disrupt timing and bump receivers in the pass game, Thomas displays good awareness and ball skills in coverage and looks natural hand fighting with receivers in the pass game and closing on the ball. He displays decent click and close ability, but he is always up so tight to the receiver that he never has far to go. But he isn't the most fluid athlete when asked to change directions and quickly get out of his breaks. He has a tendency to get caught with his footwork overextended and fails to make up for a false step.

  Thomas isn't nearly as effective in off-coverage, where he needs to rely on this athleticism and footwork to win. He displays good straight-line speed when asked to turn and run downfield. Overall, he has the size, length and ball skills to make a roster as a bump corner, and I could see him carving out a niche as a team's nickel/dime corner, but he also needs to play bump on the outside.

• NFL Draft Countdown (Rating: 2 Stars / Ranking: #14 CB / Projection: Round 3/4)
  

  Strengths: Ideal height and bulk --- Long arms --- Smooth athlete --- Adequate speed --- Is quick and agile with excellent feet --- Fluid hips and transitions well --- Can turn and run with wideouts downfield --- Good ball skills --- Strong --- Physical --- Gets a nice jam at the line --- Solid instincts and awareness --- Confident with  a  short memory --- Upside.

  Weaknesses: Health / Durability is a major concern --- Tackling ability leaves much to be desired --- Is not real explosive and lacks a burst --- Struggles to recover when beat --- Is not overly powerful --- Doesn't have great hands --- Plays Tall --- Marginal  Production --- Relatively Inexperienced.

• Fox Sports
  

  A broken foot and shoulder surgery claimed much of Thomas' first two seasons at Southern California, but he still ended up making an impact, intercepting three passes while serving mostly a backup role in 2008 before earning All-Pac 10 second-team honors as a senior this past season. He finished the 2009 campaign with 57 tackles and 11 pass break-ups, although he didn't have an interception and wasn't able establish himself as an elite prospect. Thomas has good length for an NFL cornerback, and he proved his athleticism with showings as a top performer in the 40-yard dash, bench press, broad jump and 60-yard shuttle at the NFL Combine. But some doubts remain about his reaction time and technique in coverage, and his consistency is not where it needs to be at the next level. Durability is also a concern following his banged-up collegiate career. Thomas is probably too good of an athlete to slip through the draft in April, but he's an unfinished project as far as the NFL goes, which means he'll likely fall to the later rounds.