Jaylon Carlies to Colts in NFL Draft: Instant grade, analysis, stats for 5th-round pick

The Indianapolis Colts needed some depth at linebacker and safety, so they used their fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to address at least one of those needs. They selected Missouri safety Jaylon Carlies at No. 151 overall. Here's our instant draft grade of the pick and our rapid analysis of the pick.

Missouri safety Jaylon Carlies to Colts NFL draft grade: Instant reaction

Grade: A

Why: Jaylon Carlies is an interesting prospect in that he could profile as either a safety or a linebacker at the next level, and the Colts happen to run a defense that blurs those two positions. Given Ronnie Harrison Sr.'s transition to linebacker from strong safety last year, it feels likely that he'll start his career out in the box.

Carlies scored an 8.26 out of 10.00 on the Relative Athletic Score, which compares NFL Scouting Combine prospects across eras. His 6-foot-3, 227-pound size would make him a slender linebacker but one who could become a force in coverage, which he was at Missouri, where he turned in nine interceptions in three seasons.

He could spend a year behind Harrison Sr. before building into a Colts starting linebacker in base defense. He should also command a strong special teams role early on.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Grading Colts pick of Jaylon Carlies at No. 151 in NFL Draft 2024