Players who have stood out in NFL preseason

#9 Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Colts

This dude was a monster versus the Ravens, as he showed up in the backfield constantly. The Colts need defensive playmakers badly and while Jabaal Sheard, Malik Hooker and possibly rookie linebacker Darius Leonard look like cornerstones for this unit, they hardly have any proven guys on that roster.

Even though Hassan Ridgeway has only recorded 22 career tackles in his first two seasons, I think he could be a difference-maker for them in 2018. Al Woods should be the Colts run-plugger as that shade nose, but they need a penetrator to emerge for them and the third-year man could be the guy.

Baltimore has pretty really talented young interior offensive linemen behind their starters, but Ridgeway just killed them, producing two tackles for loss and two sacks (even if one came off a stunt). He already had a couple of QB-takedowns in week one versus the Seahawks and wrecked their O-line in the fourth quarter.

In week three against San Francisco he showed some flashes, but also exposed the one downside to his game – he tends to go upfield so far, that he opens up running lanes behind him. Regardless of that, the disruption he can deliver is something nobody has brought for them on the inside for a while now.

Ridgeway displays outstanding quickness for a guy at 305 pounds and so far he has gotten an angle on the ball-carrier pretty much every time because of how often he lands that initial club and then he gets past with that quick arm-over. While unproven, the Colts have some intriguing options on the defensive line thanks to their last two drafts, so it will be interesting to see how they pan out and if Ridgeway can emerge for them.