As NFL teams begin to figure out what does and doesn’t work with the league’s new kickoff rule, a handful of players with collegiate returning experience went off the board on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Among them was Oregon State wide receiver Anthony Gould, a 2022 All-American punt returner, who the Colts selected with the first of their three fifth-round picks (No. 142 overall).
“This new kickoff return rule is going to change some things,” general manager Chris Ballard said. “It’s a little bit of an unknown right now but we think he’s got – he’s an explosive player with the ball in his hands, he has had a lot of success in college returning punts and he’s a pretty good wideout so excited to get him.”
Before we continue, here’s an explainer from Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason on what, exactly, kickoffs will look like in 2024: