Colts reportedly like Giddens and will give him the opportunity to earn a role this season, even if he starts the year as the RB3 behind Jonathan Taylor and Khalil Herbert
DJ Giddens was an exciting pre draft prospect this year, one of the many running backs touted as a “changing of the guard” at the position. As with many of the backs in his cohort, Giddens failed to get either good draft capital or a decent landing spot — or neither in his case. The Colts have one of the few true studs at RB in Jonathan Taylor, and a very high quality backup in Khalil Herbert, nevertheless the team is committed to giving Giddens a fair shake in the rotation.
Giddens has the prototypical tools you look for in a running back, a 6ft, 212 lb frame who ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and measured out with a 95th percentile burst score – he also has back to back productive seasons at Kansas State, running 1226 and then 1343 yards with plenty of catches on his profile. The big impediment to Giddens starting the season as the 3rd down back this year is his pass blocking, but the Colts suggest that if he improves in that area he could earn that role.
Author: Lukasz Stec (@Lukasz_FF01)
Indianapolis Colts rookie running back DJ Giddens will ...
The Indianapolis Colts added former Kansas State running ...
The Indianapolis Colts have selected Kansas State running ...
The Indianapolis Colts add a quality backup by using pick 151 on Kansas’ Running Back DJ Giddens
The Indianapolis Colts have added a new piece to their backfield with the selection of DJ Giddens, who will serve as a backup to All-American stud running back Jonathan Taylor. Giddens, a physical back at 6’0” and 212 lbs, brings athleticism and burst to complement Taylor’s explosive running style.
Giddens will have the opportunity to prove himself behind Taylor, though the competition for carries remains fierce. He’s known to be very good when he gets past the line of scrimmage, and is great in space, but struggles with the basics of reading the field before the snap and finding lanes. Giddens’ fantasy football stock will be limited as long as Taylor remains healthy and a central part of the offense, however if the Colts struggle early and decide on a full rebuild, Taylor might get traded and the door for Giddens could quickly open.
Author: Lukasz Stec (@Lukasz_FF01)
DJ Giddens improved his draft stock with an impressive 2025 NFL Combine performance.
DJ Giddens, the Kansas State product, handled over 200 carries each of his final two seasons. Giddens also caught more than twenty passes in his two years as a starter.
It was the 2025 NFL Combine, though, that was more than impressive for Giddens. Per RAS.football, Giddens earned a 9.78 RAS, which ranks 43rd out of 1909 running back profiles dating back to 1987. Giddens ran a 4.43-forty yard dash, ant put up a 91st-percentile speed score. But that’s not all: Giddens’ 95th-percentile burst score confirmed what scouts saw on film.
Giddens’ projection continues to hover around Round 4. He’s only 21 years old, and could easily step in to an RB2 role right away on an NFL team. He may need to develop as a pass-blocker, but Giddens could be an interesting backup to start.
Author: Bradley Stalder (@FFStalder)
