Colts training camp: Frank Reich praises rookie WR Parris Campbell

Colts second-round pick Parris Campbell is proving in training camp that he is more than just a gadget player.

Former Ohio State WR Parris Campbell was one of the most difficult players to scout during the 2019 NFL draft process. His raw, natural talent as an athlete on the football field was obvious. Few players can run as fast as he does with such effortless movement skills. But he ran a limited route tree as a Buckeye and didn’t have the most consistent career catching the football.

As a result, Campbell was viewed by many draft analysts as a limited player whose upside is hindered by his ability to win only on manufactured touches. And while it’s unfair to knock a player for doing what his college coaching staff asked him to do, the reality was that Campbell’s tape was somewhat incomplete.

The Indianapolis Colts weren’t scared away. They selected the 6-foot wideout in the second round and are already seeing the kind of results in training camp they expected when they made the pick.

Coach Frank Reich spoke with reporters Saturday and gave a summary of what Campbell’s performance has been like so far.

“We saw a guy who could develop into a legit wide receiver – inside, outside, has the skills and the footwork to run all the routes,” Reich said of the Colts’ pre-draft opinion of Campbell. “It’s just going to be a process. It’s only been two days, but we are seeing the skillset that we were hoping we would see.”

Campbell is expected to line up alongside T.Y. Hilton and Devin Funchess and should become one of Andrew Luck‘s primary targets in the short and intermediate passing game. He’ll work across the field and give Indianapolis’ offense a dimension it’s been lacking for many years.

If Campbell continues to progress in training camp, he can easily challenge to be one of the most productive rookie receivers in the NFL this season.