Rookie defender named 'biggest surprise' of offseason by Colts insider

A rookie defender for the Indianapolis Colts was among the biggest surprises during offseason programs.

Each of ESPN's NFL Nation reporters had to pick the "biggest surprise" player for the respective teams they cover. Stephen Holder selected safety AJ Haulcy.

With the starting safety role next to Cam Bynum up for grabs this summer, Haulcy appears to be the front-runner for those snaps.

"Coaches are raving about the rookie drafted in the third round from LSU," Holder wrote. "He's been working almost exclusively with the starting defense and is clearly the early favorite to win the starting job at strong safety."

Haulcy brings very impressive ball production to the secondary, not to mention that he is quite versatile, able to be moved around the defensive backfield.

This not only provides Lou Anarumo with additional flexibility in how he utilizes Haulcy and constructs his game plans, but it also allows him to move Bynum around more as well.

As Holder mentions, Haulcy already has the attention of the coaching staff.

"He's come in and exceeded my expectations, just from a mental standpoint," Lou Anarumo said, via Holder. “He's not a repeat offender when it comes to a mistake that he may get. He gets football."

Bynum has taken notice as well.

“First day of practice, he had a one-hand, snag pick on an over route," Bynum said, via The Athletic's James Boyd. "Snatched it out the air. So what he's been doing so far, learning the defense, sitting next to me in film, I'm able to get a lot of knowledge from him, vice versa, I'm able to give whatever I can to him, and just from the whole room, I think everybody's been embracing all the rookies, especially AJ. He's been doing a really good job of filling in and rotating in with heavy, heavy rotating with the ones. I think he's been doing a really good job and operating like a vet."

Also in the mix for playing time are Jonathan Owens, Juanyeh Thomas, and Hunter Wohler.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Why AJ Haulcy was named Colts 'biggest surprise' player of offseason