When the Indianapolis Colts selected three defensive backs in the 2017 NFL Draft, many believed two of them could be immediate starters. They counted out slot cornerback Nate Hairston, but it seems he is the steal of the draft for the Colts.

Hairston immediately impressed and quickly gained the right to the nickel cornerback job in training camp. He’s manned the spot since and seems to be having a quietly superb rookie season.

Playing 83.3 percent of his coverage snaps from the slot. Hairston has yet to allow a touchdown and could be on his way to rewriting a little bit of history, per Pro Football Focus.

Indianapolis Colts: Cornerback Nate Hairston has 214 coverage snaps from the slot, and has yet to allow a touchdown in those snaps. The only cornerback in the last 12 years with more coverage snaps in the slot through ten weeks and hadn’t allowed a touchdown was Tyrann Mathieu in 2013.

Hairston has been a pleasant surprise for the Colts, and there would be even more reason for excitement about the young secondary, but safety Malik Hooker tore his ACL in Week 7, and second-round cornerback Quincy Wilson hasn’t been able to carve out a starting role.

Hairston will continue to be an asset out of the slot position as the Colts look to get their defense headed in the right direction.

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