OhioColt

Final edition, call it a less penalty driven team draft. The Colts trade up on Day 1. Round 1 a) WR Rome Odunze (Washington) – led all receivers in CFB in pass interference call draws with 9 in 2023. b) LCB Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo) – Only had 3 penalties in the last two seasons. c) WLB Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M) Round 2 a) OL Cooper Beebe (Kansas State) – Jack of all trades OL No matter where Cooper Beebe lines up, he produces elite play. At right tackle in 2020, he was a PFF honorable mention All-Big 12 honoree. As a left tackle in 2021, he was named first-team All-Big 12. In 2022 at left guard, Beebe was a second-team All-American. Beebe's 94.0 pass-blocking grade over the past two seasons led all offensive linemen in college football. During that span, he didn’t allow a sack on 770 pass-blocking snaps. Beebe is the only FBS guard who ranks in the top five in both PB (4th) and RB (2nd). He still hasn’t allowed a sack since the 2020 season. 2023 earned college football midseason all-America First Team. Very few penalties throughout his career. b) FS/NCB Javon Bullard (Georgia) – only had 5 penalties in college. c) SS Jaden Hicks (Washington State) – 2023 PFF TOW 2 honors. Leader on defense that off to a strong start for 2023 earning a 90.1 PFF grade in coverage with one interception after 3 weeks, dropped another but forced 4 incompletions. Great field and anticipation skills along with ball production. Versatile can align up in FS, SS, LB, or nickel. Only had 3 penalties in 2023. Round 3 a) CB Khyree Jackson (Oregon) – 2023 PFF TOW 4 honors. Jackson had a decent Senior Bowl Week and is best in Zone Coverage. Jackson’s got excellent height we covet at 6’3” with great weight at 203 pounds, with ideal arms 32” and the span of 78” and good 4.44s-Forty. Only committed 4 penalties in 2023. b) DB Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (Texas Tech) - only 7 career penalties with 200 tackles, 57 stops, 11 pressues, 3 sacks, 16 passes defended, and 10 interceptions. c) LCB Kris Abrams-Draine (Missouri) - 2023 PFF TOW 4 honors. After 6 games leads all FBS players with 8 PBUs (1.8 PDPG) while adding 3 INTs. 10 combined interceptions and (7) forced incompletions are the most among Power Five CBs while only allowing 11 catches all season. 2023 college football midseason all-America First Team. His 86.8 coverage grade is 5th highest in the FBS allowing just 107 passing yards and 11 receptions on the season. d) SWR Malik Washington (Virginia) – Josh Downs 2.0 and only committed 4 total penalties in five years (52 career games). Round 4 a) RG Zak Zinter (Michigan) 2022 PFF Week 5, 11, 12 TOW Honors. 2023 earned college football midseason all-America Second Team. Wasn’t called for a single penalty on 649 snaps. b) FS Cole Bishop (Utah) junior if he declares – After 5 weeks in 2023, targeted 13 times, 4 catches allowed, 2 INTs, and 4.8 passer rating allowed. Had a decent Senior Bowl week. Ejected for a targeting penalty. In 3 years only allowed 7 penalties. c) RB Isaac Guerendo (Louisville) – 9.97 RAS Round 5 a) WLB Michael Barrett (Michigan) PFF TOW 7 honors, round 5 projection had an outstanding year with an overall 90.6 defense grade only behind Edgerrin Cooper. An 82.5 run defense grade, a 93.5 pass rush grade, and a 77.0 coverage grade. Didn’t commit a defensive penalty in more than 1800 defensive snaps. b) SS Malik Mustapha (Wake Forest) – Zero career penalties c) SS Kitan Oladapo (Oregon St) – only 4 accepted penalties in final 30 games. Round 6 a) Edge Jalyx Hunt (Houston Christian) b) WR Ryan Flournoy (SE Missouri St) c) Edge Javontae Jean-Baptiste (ND) Round 7 a) LG/C Michael Jurgens (Wake Forest) – Only one of two guards in the Power Five with an 80.0 PB and RB grades. After 10 weeks has an 86.5 PFF grade with his 90.0 run-blocking grade is nearly 5 points higher than the next-best guard. 2023 earned college football midseason all-America Second Team. Only committed 3 penalties all season in 2023. b) OC Matt Lee Miami (FL) 2023 earned college football midseason all-America Honorable Mention. PFF TOW 9 honors. In 2022 he had an 82.5 overall grade with a 90.6 PB and 80.6 RB grade. As of Oct 15th, Lee is the highest graded center in all FBS earning an 82.7 PFF grade. Only allowed 2 penalties in 2022 on 1059 offensive snaps given up only four pressures and no sacks. c) MLB Dallas Gant (Toledo) - 2023 college football midseason all-America Honorable Mention

Washington had a break-out year for sure and was his best decision of his collegiate career to transfer and obviously paid dividends. Washington said it before but looks like Josh Downs 2.0 and project to be drafted very similar in Round 3. Between wide receivers and defensive backs, we could use another strong Downs clone in the slot. With Downs that is the only biggest knock about drafting TE Bowers as he commands a lot of passes in the slot and would take away an already important role the Downs already excels in doing.

Based on immediate needs and BPA totally agree. Top CB Quinyon followed by TE Bowers. I know our TE room is crowded but MAC really feel this is his last year with the Club. Any given game we've seen a breakout game from one of the other tight ends we have. Bowers would be an immediate upgrade a long-term fixture. Since we haven't addressed the lack of DB depth this offseason, Quinyon is also a high priority need for our Club and should be versatile enough if we do change DC next season to match next defensive scheme.

A trade with Tennessee is out of the question. No need to be too aggressive swapping with the Giants. Clearly want to draft ahead of the Bears (P9) and the Jets (P10).

With the NFL postponing Atlanta's potential draft picks deferred to next year this might very well be a blessing for the Colts tbh and offer them something in return for trading up with them knowing full well they are looking to forfeit pick(s). If not, the Colts look for another team to make the offer with Atlanta to move up. That's my projection. A Colts trade up should keep us in consideration for a top CB or even TE Bowers imo.

FYI Castro went back to college at Iowa this upcoming season. Look for Sebastian in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Like most QBs they need a safety blanket to throw to and that can be a TE. Draft rumor-mill already in full circulation with news that the Colts want to trade up on Day 1. Still think it's a long shot to draft a legacy in MHJ reaching P4 with the Cardinals. A trade up to P8 with Atlanta is probably the most realistic scenario and TE Bowers would be the call-in. Not sold on most of this year's draftable QBs and doubt 4 or more will be drafted within the top-8 picks. See the draft play out like every other year where teams can stay and get a serviceable QB.

This could very well be the rare year we do trade up on Day 1. Really shocked if we go after a legacy and the cost might be too rich for the short-term versus draft immediate draft needs. Now a trade up to say P8 swap with Atlanta has a higher percentage of happening I do feel. No way going to trade within our division with the Titans at P7. At P8 should still have one of the top-3 WRs or even better option of drafting a generational TE in Bowers.

I project Elijah Jones (BC) to be more of a CB3-4. Definitely got the speed and coverage skills but worried about his run defense and below-average tackling skills.

Earlier in the offseason I mentioned the Colts would be wise to extend Buckner this year and lock him down where he hopefully can retire a Colt. With the news heating back up around Brandon Aiyuk requesting a trade again and the success we have found with other former 49er's (Buckner, Ebukam) if the updated cap space wouldn't be a tempting topic to add Aiyuk. I would propose a trade back swap our Round 1 picks. Biggest issue with extending Aiyuk is we have a lot of talented players who will be free agents in 2025. Paye would get rookie contract extended. Other player trade option wouldn't mind is acquiring Edge Maxx Crosby. Very happy to have both Buckner-Stewart for a few more years creating a dynamic defensive unit. Now just need to build around them.

Did see where the Texans released one of my college edge players that was high on, Myjai Sanders out of Cincinnati. Wouldn't mind adding him to our defensive line. Imagine Alec Pierce wouldn't complain and support efforts to add Sanders.

Updated Version 2.0 Abstain Round 1 a) RG Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon) – 2025 is a very weak OL class - Ryan Kelly 2.0 b) Edge Chop Robinson (PSU) c) WR Brian Thomas (LSU) Round 2 a) FS/NCB Javon Bullard (Georgia) b) WLB Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M) 9.26 RAS c) DT Darius Robinson (Missouri) Round 3 a) SWR Malik Washington (Virginia) – Josh Downs 2.0 b) CB D.J. James (Auburn) c) OG Christian Mahogany (BC) Round 4 a) CB/FS Jaylin Simpson (Auburn) – Ideal DB rotation pairing Simpson with Bullard b) OG Mason McCormick (S Dakota St) 9.96 RAS c) DB Renardo Green (Florida St) – FS/NCB Round 5 a) Edge Jalyx Hunt (Houston Christian) b) RB Isaac Guerendo (Louisville) - Look at Jalen Milroe (Alabama) next year as a better dual threat QB pair with AR c) WR Ryan Flournoy (SE Missouri St) Round 6 a) Edge Javontae Jean-Baptiste (ND) b) MLB Edefuan Ulofoshio (Washington) c) MLB Nathaniel Watson (Miss. St) Round 7 a) WR Jalen Coker (Holy Cross) b) WLB Trevin Wallace (Kentucky) c) OC Drake Nugent (Michigan)

@Defjamz26 Finally posted my Dr. T draft projections without regards to RAS this year and cross-referencing actual scores like past years. We should be set at SS with Blackmon/Cross locked in. Projecting adding Javon Bullard and Jaylin Simpson as or FS mix with flexibility to cover Kenny Moore (Bullard) and Simpson adding additional value as CB1-2 role competition with Jaylon Jones. I can still see the Colts add backup depth WRs with contracts expiring. Edge depth is another area of a need that I see. Not sold on all the QB hype and see the draft skip most of the QBs early like last year and teams taking some of the better players earlier than currently being projected. Projecting both CB Quinyon Mitchell and Terrion Arnold being drafted prior to the Colts pick. Now it's just a waiting game until April 25th.

Abstain Round 1 a) RG Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon) – Ryan Kelly 2.0, Outside of Joe Alt, JPJ is the second-best OL imo this year b) Edge Chop Robinson (PSU) c) WR Brian Thomas (LSU) Round 2 a) FS/NCB Javon Bullard (Georgia) b) WLB Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M) c) DT Darius Robinson (Missouri) Round 3 a) SWR Malik Washington (Virginia) – Josh Downs 2.0 b) CB D.J. James (Auburn) c) OG Christian Mahogany (BC) Round 4 a) CB/FS Jaylin Simpson (Auburn) – Ideal DB rotation pairing Simpson with Bullard b) OG Mason McCormick (S Dakota St) c) DB Renardo Green (Florida St) – FS/NCB Round 5 a) Edge Jalyx Hunt (Houston Christian) b) QB Jordan Travis (FSU) – Mobile pocket passer compliments AR c) WR Ryan Flournoy (SE Missouri St) Round 6 a) Edge Javontae Jean-Baptiste (ND) b) MLB Edefuan Ulofoshio (Washington) c) MLB Nathaniel Watson (Miss. St) Round 7 a) WR Jalen Coker (Holy Cross) - Can out-jump most as a red-zone threat just don't count on his breakaway (lack of) speed b) WLB Trevin Wallace (Kentucky) c) OC Drake Nugent (Michigan)

@Defjamz26 The Colts may very well be wise to add defensive players capable of both high-level man and zone skills. Not telling how much longer Steichen will keep Bradley as our DC. No telling what the potential next DC will implement. Obviously need players who can stop the run why am very high on players like WLB Edgerrin Cooper and DB Khyree Jackson. Thanks for the update same as what I had noticed but some added metrics I hadn't seen.

One I saw was written by a Hickey

Hoping we bring in Micah Hyde at FS, got to be better than what we have in-house already. Stephon Gilmore played well for the Colts and would be an immediate upgrade over Baker. If we have enough cap space, bring back Blackmon at SS. Those three key pieces would help bolster our DBs and keep up competitive in our division.

The Colts are thin at WR. Outside of the 3 main starters you mentioned plus Dulin we still haven't addressed this same issue in FA. A possibility we could draft one on Day 1-2 but am leaning towards Rounds 3 and later to add backups. Pearsall and Washington are two of my top draftable favorites with Flournoy in the mix. All three would fill the voids/team needs as @coltsfanej pointed out. Pearsall could be the Z, Washington in the Slot as Downs 2.0, and Flournoy the X-man. Defense backs should be our primary focus in the draft tbh for immediate team starters.

Go back and look at the Combine and Pro Day results will see a lot of CBs ran slow 4.5s-forty times. Really expecting a lot of them to be moved, not just Cooper DeJean, to FS.

@RollerColt Touched based on this previously but it's not always about the money. Hunter grew up in Texas and is a Texan's fan. Which probably makes the Colts a hated divisional rival. No money would convince a player to play for the "enemy" if given a chance to play for the home team scenario. Take the discount, even better if no state taxes, probably end up as a wash in the end. Someone in the Colts organization probably knew it was a long-shot odds to acquire Hunter but why not try at least.

Isn't Pearsall considered a slot wide receiver? With Josh Downs do really need another high pick used on another slot receiver.

Thanks for the correction and yes Leonard was an All Pro Weakside Linebacker. One our better Ballard draft picks, when he was fully healthy. That is the true essence of building through the draft. Hoping to draft the next All Pro player. Long-term is trying to retain them that can be the issue.

Talking about building through the draft. To me offensive players are an easier choice then selecting defensive players with regards to all the changes in the NFL with game play. The NFL and owners just created another issue for the defense now banning hip-tackles. Before was helmet to helmet hits and now hip-tackles. Better watch out how your tackle the quarterback. I understand player safety but now seems that the scouts and coaching staff have to find players who don't fall into these categories that the NFL and owners have set the newer standards or somehow coach these techniques out of players that have long been engrained. Penalties are drive kills or can extend drives as we all know. At this rate it seems the game will become two-hand touch or flag football, without the lingerie. Wouldn't want to be a defensive player in today's game. Free agency period is cooling off and maybe we acquire some more players but sure am like most here looking forward to the NFL Draft and seeing who our next Colts are. Not sure what the law of averages would be, but to me am figuring seven rounds, seven players, and if we hit on 3-4 each year that's a great draft. As well all know some players are scheme specific and their career just depends on the team's system used. I understand my own thoughts on a player whom I think we hit on will be viewed differently by another. I went back and posted earlier the players that have been draft by Ballard since he joined and again my own personal feeling is yes, we aced our drafts. Not everyone is a keeper and sticks around and the good ones do tend to move on. So many moving variables that fans, including my, nitpick over. By far am no expert but, like most here want to express their gratitude and frustration. Reasons why we don't quit our day jobs as the expression goes. Always somebody else's opinions and how they see the world. Never going to satisfy everyone. Take it with a grain of salt and move on. As fans we all want to be in the playoffs every year and main goal to win the Super Bowl, realistically odds are stacked against.

Guys am just reliving Pat McAfee’s NFL Draft day and still being slighted by the orangutan but his vibrant calling Oke a future HOF. I like Oke rather kept him tbh than Speed as our starter. Remember I said not to overpay Leonard. Wasn’t worth it not a true MLB and coming off injury was high risk. Rather saved the money and paid Oke instead. Now neither is on the team.

Seems like I struck a nerve almost 10 pages ago and this forum still going on and on why elite players avoid Indianapolis. Now we have added grievances with Ballard. Think by now we can agree that for a multitude of reasons a player will or will not sign with a franchise. Location is one, money is another. We all grow up a fan of a team or two and really despise another enough am sure a player would never want to join. Grass isn't always greener applies and players often see money green over potential of being a future HOF. Sometimes you're a great player like a WR on record pace with another future HOF QB. Make a bad decision to chase the money because your Club doesn't match the offer and now, you're playing for another team with a sub-par QB, sure the money is great, but your career take a nosedive. More case examples we could all image and go into but at the end of the day we are just fans here. We all think in our minds that we know how to run the organization better than the way it is going. We get upset the Colts brought back certain players and missed out on others in free agency, year after year. Never ending cycle of life. I think I got even more appreciation now for the Colts organization than in year's past after watching Hard Knocks. At the end of the day, we are all human and have emotions. NFL is a business. Fans are armchair GMs and self-proclaimed sports experts. Sports are fixed. Management can't solve all the problems in free agency nor the draft when a budget is involved. Heaven forbids if the NFL turns into baseball type contracts. Be a whole new world of problems. Got mad respect for a few fellow Colt's fans here but some of you really clearly need to get off your high horse and take it down a notch or two. Now can someone in the organization please listen to me and acquire someone I like for a change smh Go Colts until my last breath