OPINION: Last discussion before the picks start coming in

(Darron Cummings | AP)

The day is finally here; the NFL Draft begins tonight at 8 p.m. ET, and it’s shaping up to be an interesting one. The Colts, of course, do not have a 1^st round pick after trading both this year and next year's first round picks to the New York Jets in exchange for corner Sauce Gardner. Instead, the Colts will be waiting for the second round to begin on Friday; barring a trade up into the 1^st round, which seems to be an unlikely scenario for Chris Ballard and the Colts, but never out of the realm of possibilities.  

Know what you need – Edge and Linebacker 

Regardless of the position in which the Colts are aiming to draft, the priorities stay the same. Edge and linebacker. While arguments can be made for other positions, like I made for cornerback and wide receiver, it is clear where the Colts' holes remain. Even before the departures of defensive ends Kwity Paye, Tyquan Lewis, or Samson Ebukam and linebacker Zaire Franklin, the play was disappointing at best. The threat off the edge complementing Laiatu Latu was not there, and the support when a receiver broke free or a running back popped a run was sloppy. It’s why general manager Chris Ballard went into the offseason with the mindset of getting younger and faster, and while decent depth was added, the difference makers have not been found. And even if you are banking on the development of a younger raw prospect out of college, it is a bet the Colts must be willing to make.  

Previous Chris Ballard drafts centered around linebacker went fairly well in the Colts’ favor. Some of the names include Shaquille Leonard, Bobby Okereke, Zaire Franklin, and EJ Speed. As for edge rusher, the results have been underwhelming, with Chris Ballard more than often striking out on his selections. Even if the full extent of Laiatu Latu’s abilities hasn’t been realized, Ballard still has an underwhelming track record of drafting defensive ends. Kemoko Turay, Tyquan Lewis, Ben Banogu, Dayo Odeyingbo and J.T. Tuimoloau are all the edge rushers drafted by Chris Ballard in the 2^nd round. While Odeyingbo produced a season high of 8.0 sacks, he is the only one that effectively stood out. And yes, the verdict may still be out on Tuimoloau, but the doubt among Colt's observers is most certainly palpable. 

Judging by the history provided, viewers would more than likely hope for the Colts to draft a linebacker in round 2 instead of a defensive end. And luckily for the Colts, the linebacker class this year is inspiring. Players like Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas), Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech) and Josiah Trotter (Missouri) are just some of the names out there, possibly available in the 2^nd round for the Colts. Interestingly, Chris Ballard has shied away from drafting linebackers with shorter arms. So, with someone that has a smaller frame like Rodriguez out of Texas, you have to wonder if his other intangibles and him placing 5^th in Heisman voting would work in his favor with the Colts. Effectively weeding out the negative measurables the Colts may have fixated on.  

Filling the void at Wide Receiver 

The Colts will undoubtedly be interested in adding a name at wide receiver to compete for the spot Michael Pittman Jr. Left. I made my case for Ted Hurst out of Georgia state being the number 1 prospect for the Colts to draft to fill the void left by Pittman, but there are a variety of options. Are the Colts looking for a bigger body close to that Pittman build? Or are they okay with the idea of getting a quicker receiver, even if that means the player’s height and overall build is closer to a Josh Downs or T.Y Hilton build, in the 5’10 - 5’11 range? Because with 2026 being a make-or-break year for the Colts, Chris Ballard’s ability to be stingy is at an all-time low. Their incompetence will be their downfall if not properly addressed. 

More big men up front 

The Colts will inevitably be looking to add competition and depth to their offensive line. Backup center Danny Pinter signed with the Baltimore Ravens and right tackle Braden Smith signed with the Houston Texans, so it is known where the Colts’ weaknesses lie. There is a sense of comfortability moving forward with upcoming 2^nd year player Jalen Travis at right tackle, but by no means is Travis starting a guarantee. Additionally, Colts center Tanor Bartolini could also benefit from having another player behind him in his position. Seeing as injuries do unfortunately take place in inconvenient times and there are no other bodies providing insurance in his role at the moment. I foresee the 4^th – 5^th rounds being a good spot for the Colts to find depth at both right tackle and center. 

Adding another Defensive Back 

A defensive back is what feels like another inevitable pick for the Colts at some point in the draft. I already discussed D’Angelo Ponds being the best option at corner if the Colts want to effectively solve the new Kenny Moore problem at cornerback, but safety also presents itself as another issue. Nick Cross signing with the Commanders stings a bit for the Colts but was clearly intentional. Seeing as the Colts didn’t make a grand effort to re-sign Cross. There is a healthy amount of newly added players at safety through free agency, but adding another player through the draft is a must.  

Insurance Quarterback? 

Quarterback seems to be somewhat of a guarantee, judging by the amount of QB’s the Colts have both talked to and worked out. I view a move in this regard the same as I view the Colts taking Sam Elingher, not someone you specifically plan on starting but yet another level of comfort in competition and depth.  

Addressing Running Back 

Running back is an odd and quick one to summarize in my eyes. It is definitely not a position of need. With the addition of DJ Giddens this time last year and Ameer Abdullah, I would suggest that any sense of urgency is very low.  

Top prospect for each position 

Additionally, I would like to provide my top prospect specifically for the Colts at every position, perhaps to assist anyone who plans on watching the draft wondering what the Colts move might be. 

Quarterback: Garrett Nussmeier – LSU: Projection: Mid 5^th to early 6^th  

Running Back: Kaelon Black – Indiana: Projection: Late 6^th to 7^th  

Wide Receiver: Ted Hurst – Georgia State: Projection: Late 2^nd to early 3^rd  

Tight End: Sam Roush – Stanford: Projection: 3rd 

Offensive Tackle: Drew Shelton – Penn State: Projection: Mid 3^rd to late 5th 

Offensive Guard: Gennings Dunker – Iowa: Projection: Early 2^nd 

Offensive Center:  Trey Zuhn III – Texas A&M: Projection: Mid 3rd to early 4th  

Defensive Tackle: Darnell Jackson Jr. - Florida State: Projection: Mid 2^nd to early 3^rd  

Defensive End: Zion Young – Missouri: Projection: Mid 1^st to mid 2nd 

Linebacker: Anthony Hill Jr. - Texas: Projection: Late 1^st to mid 2^nd  

Safety: Robert Spears-Jennings – Oklahoma: Projection: Late 6^th to early 7^th  

Cornerback: D’Angelo Ponds – Indiana: Projection: Late 1^st to mid 2^nd 

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