Colts Mock Draft 2.0

[Andy]

Changes to Rounds 3 and 4

1^st Overall Pick (1^st Round)

Andrew Luck – Quarterback – Stanford

This pick is a no brainer. Andrew Luck is not only the best QB in college right now, but he’s one of the best prospects in recent memory. He’s been considered to be the next Peyton Manning. Speaking of Manning, even if Peyton returns or not, the Colts need to draft Andrew Luck. If Manning is healthy, it means that Luck will be the eventual heir to Manning. Manning will teach Luck everything he knows, and there is no better person to learn from then Peyton. If Manning is not ready to go, well the Colts got their QB for the next several years. It’s a win-win situation, but Manning staying is a better situation. He will become a better QB if Manning stays around. He’s the obvious choice, and coincidentally this will be the 2^nd time where a 1^st year GM will have the first overall pick, and the top player is a QB. The last time it happened was in 1998 with Peyton Manning.

34^th Overall Pick (2^nd Round)

Chase Minnifield – Cornerback / Return Specialist – Virginia

The Colts need to spend a high draft pick on a cornerback. The secondary was horrible this year, and it’s not good if the Colts only have one good cornerback in Jerraud Powers. They need another good corner who can shutdown number 2 targets. Minnifield plays both man coverage and zone coverage. He’s very good at both. Teams in colleges are throwing away from him. He’s a great tackler, and can break off tackles very nicely. Another thing that makes him valuable is that he’s a very good punt returner too, something the Colts need very badly. He fits two needs for the Colts, and can be a starter for a long time. He has the potential to be like an Antonio Cromartie.

65^th Overall Pick (3^rd Round)

Alameda Ta’amu – Nose Tackle – University of Washington

The Colts are probably switching to a 3-4 defense as they just hired Chuck Pagano and Greg Manusky, who both have used the 3-4 defense on their defense. Now, when the Colts switch, they will be in desperate need for a 3-4 nose tackle. Alameda Ta’amu is a very good 3-4 nose tackle. This year, his numbers look bad as he was double teamed almost all the time, and when he wasn’t he shut down the run. He’s a great run stopper, who can sometimes get to the quarterback. He’s big, strong, but not very fast. It’s a big need, as they have no one but Antonio Johnson at nose tackle (and he’s bad), and Ta’amu will come in right away and help; he’s a senior. The perfect pick here.

98^th Overall Pick (4^th Round)

Brandon Washington – Offensive Guard – University of Miami

The guard spot is a weakness on the Colts, and it could become the biggest one if Ryan Diem gets released or retires. Brandon Washington is a left tackle who started his career as a guard. He could easily come in the NFL as a guard and perform at a high level. He could come to the Colts and become the starting left guard right away. Joe Reitz did a nice job for half the season at left guard, but let’s face it, he’s a backup. I still want to keep him however. Washington is big and strong, and reminds me of Jahri Evans. He could definitely end up in the 4^th round, and if he does, the Colts must take him!

129^th Overall Pick (5^th Round)

Tony Dye – Strong Safety – UCLA

Melvin Bullit needs competition. Dye has had some injury troubles, but when healthy is very, very good. He’s a very good tackler, who can play in the box. He’s very versatile, and is the leader of that defense. He can play either safety spot. He’s a solid backup, and I believe that in time, he could take over the strong safety position. He will give Melvin Bullit some competition, which is good, because everyone wants Melvin to reach his full potential. He also serves as a nice backup to Antoine Bethea, and could take over if anything bad happens to Bethea. This is a good value pick.

162^nd Overall Pick (6^th Round)

Dan Hoch – Offensive Tackle – Missouri

This is a good pick because the tackle position needs depth. Ben Ijalana and Anthony Castonzo are the tackles of the future, but the Colts don’t want just Linkenbach as the backup. They need some depth. He has a good amount of potential and was a pretty good starter this year in Missouri. He could provide depth to the left tackle position and could be a very good backup to Anthony Castonzo. The Colts had some trouble at the tackle positions with injuries, so having a good backup isn’t bad to have. Peyton (or Andrew) need all the protection they can get. He’s a big guy who’s very strong. His footwork needs some work, but he needs is experience and practice. Going up against Dwight Freeney in practice should help that out.

193^rd Overall Pick (7^th Round)

Nathan Stupar – Outside Linebacker – Penn State University

Gary Brackett may not come back to the Colts, and the same can be said about Ernie Sims. The Colts need some depth, or a potential starter. Don’t laugh at 7^th rounders becoming starters, Kavell Conner was drafted in the 7^th round and he’s a starter now, and a very good one at that. Penn State is a great school that has produced some great kids. Stupar will provide good depth, and if needed could probably come in and do a nice job as a starter. He’s a good all around linebacker that makes a lot of stops for losses. This last year, he had 7 starts with 73 tackles (3^rd on team), 6.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 2 sacks and a forced fumble. He’s a senior and his coach was Joe Paterno for most of the time, which means he’s pretty pro ready. He could be a nice addition to the Colts, who badly need depth at LB, especially if Brackett and Sims could not come back.

[Moncrief]

That is one good draft right there Andy fills all our needs. Now throw in the comp. picks I would look at the best safety on the board with our 4th round comp. pick.

[CR91]

no compensation picks for session and charlie johnson?

[Moncrief]

no compensation picks for session and charlie johnson?

How about this with our 4th round comp. pick we choose Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt.

6th round comp. Tyler Nielsen, OLB, Iowa

[Andy]

How about this with our 4th round comp. pick we choose Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt.

6th round comp. Tyler Nielsen, OLB, Iowa

no compensation picks for session and charlie johnson?

Compensation picks will be added in later mocks as they haven't announced it yet, so I have no idea what round we'll get. Ill put em in when they're announced.

[pacolts56]

How about this with our 4th round comp. pick we choose Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt.

6th round comp. Tyler Nielsen, OLB, Iowa

I like Nielsen alot.... he'll be a mid-round pick in my mock.

[21isSuperman]

I like the draft. I don't like the safety pick though. We have had plenty of experience with safeties who are hurt often, but very good when they aren't hurt. I want a guy who has shown he can stay healthy

[Kirie89]

I think it's a good draft, but it is a little too defensively oriented.

Although it is the defensive who is most in need, there is a possibility that the Colts will have to start with a rookie QB next season and one should give him some starting help through some good new players to throw to.

[BmoreColt]

I like the guard you selected, but I don't like the safety, corner, or linebacker, they are all more 4-3 guys. But Washignton is a second round pick, so the Colts could trade that with Philly who want OLB Zach Brown, we get there two seconds. Add the Comp pick it would look like this..

1. Luck

2. Kendal Reyes DE/DT 3-4

2. Brandon Washington LG

3. Leonard Johnson or Trumaine Johnson CB

4. Nigel Bradham 4-3 OLB or 3-4 ILB

4. Kheeston Randal DE/DT 3-4

5. Ryan Broyles WR

6. Matt Daniels SS

7. Ryan Miller or Antoine McClain RG

Restructure Manning, Freeney, Clarke, Addai

Resign Mathis, Wayne, Garçon, Gonzo, Saturday, Tamme, Wheeler..

Cut Brackett, Bullitt, Moala, Mookie, Snow.. More

Free Agents Aubrayo Franklin or Brandon McKinney NT and Corry Redding or Red Bryant DE

[wordofmouth]

I like it a lot!

As fans we almost always base our mock drafts around need because we don't know enough about the individual players and can afford to optimistic. In a different thread I stated that I think we need OG,CB and NT addressed in rounds 2-4. After that, I like that we got a safety and some depth at Tackle and MLB. I would pick up a receiver and maybe a TE with our comp picks.

OF course the real draft probably won't look like this because good GM's draft individuals more than they draft positions.

But, as I said, if the individuals you listed panned out, it would be a heck of a draft!

[gacker65]

I think it's a good draft, but it is a little too defensively oriented.

Although it is the defensive who is most in need, there is a possibility that the Colts will have to start with a rookie QB next season and one should give him some starting help through some good new players to throw to.

Thank you. Have Been saying that for awhile now. You draft Luck and the draft HAS to be Offense heavy to help him.

[21isSuperman]

Thank you. Have Been saying that for awhile now. You draft Luck and the draft HAS to be Offense heavy to help him.

Not necessarily. The offensive line will have guys like Castonzo and Pollak, guys with experience who know the playbook. It wouldn't hurt to bring in someone at a guard position though. At RB, you have 3 guys with experience. At TE, Tamme is solid and if Clark restructures, you'll have 2 good guys there. At WR, even if Wayne does leave, I see us re-signing Garcon (who has been improving every year) and Collie will remain. On the other hand, the defense is completely changing its philosophy and we have to fill in all the holes on defense. Other than Powers and Bethea, our secondary isn't anything special. Our LBs are solid. D-line needs some help.

[coltnorth]

If we assume we could pick up a NT like Franklin, a guard like Grubbs or Scott and think of trading Freeney for a 2nd round pick, what about this:

1st Round - Andrew Luck, no explanation required

2nd Round - Chase Minnifield or Alfonso Denard (if he recovers at combine) our new #2 corner

2nd Round (from Freeney Trade)- Kendall Reyes DE or Derek Wolfe DE, both ideal 3-4 ends

3rd Round - Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina or Kelechi Osemele, OT/G, Iowa State if Jones gone

4th Round- Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State or Tommy Streeter*, WR, Miami if we didn't get jones in 3rd

5th Round- Brandon Boykin, CB/KR/PR, Georgia or Dwight Bentley, CB, La.-Lafayette as nickle corners

5th Round (comp pick) - Josh Chapman, DT/NT, Alabama

6th Round - Ryan Miller, G, Colorado

7th Round - George Iloka, S, Boise State or Brandon Taylor, FS, LSU

I know free agency will change everything but for now, i like it

[BmoreColt]

If we assume we could pick up a NT like Franklin, a guard like Grubbs or Scott and think of trading Freeney for a 2nd round pick, what about this:

1st Round - Andrew Luck, no explanation required

2nd Round - Chase Minnifield or Alfonso Denard (if he recovers at combine) our new #2 corner

2nd Round (from Freeney Trade)- Kendall Reyes DE or Derek Wolfe DE, both ideal 3-4 ends

3rd Round - Dwight Jones, WR, North Carolina or Kelechi Osemele, OT/G, Iowa State if Jones gone

4th Round- Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State or Tommy Streeter*, WR, Miami if we didn't get jones in 3rd

5th Round- Brandon Boykin, CB/KR/PR, Georgia or Dwight Bentley, CB, La.-Lafayette as nickle corners

5th Round (comp pick) - Josh Chapman, DT/NT, Alabama

6th Round - Ryan Miller, G, Colorado

7th Round - George Iloka, S, Boise State or Brandon Taylor, FS, LSU

I know free agency will change everything but for now, i like it

Wolfe is a sixth round pick, Reyes I love that's why I take him all the time, many of ur players will be gone where u project them. Good concept though.

[coltnorth]

Just out of courisity, who do you think will be gone? I know Iloka is a stretch but he did get lit up in the bowl game vs ASU.

[BmoreColt]

Just out of courisity, who do you think will be gone? I know Iloka is a stretch but he did get lit up in the bowl game vs ASU.

Osemele won't get past round two, Wolfe isn't a bad pick just four rounds too early. But Martin in 4 isn't gonna happen, IIkols will not be there at 7. Check out the CBS big board, like ur picks though just unrealistic rounds unfortunately.

[coltnorth]

Well Osemele and Wolfe were back up picks so if things go the way I would love, its ok if they are gone. Maybe I'll move Ilkols to make up for Martin. If we can pick up a SS in free agency and move Bullit out, even better. I like him when hes healthy but he has finished the last two years on IR

[BOTT]

maybe a reach for minnifield at this point, but who knows until after the combine. if the colts are going to take a cb in the 2nd some guys like minnifield, gilmore, norman,etc are going to have to impress at the combine. i hope ta'amu is there in the 3rd, but i doubt it. not sure about washington, some people have him rated 2nd round talent and some have him rated 5th round talent.

i could also see the colts taking someone like nick perry/andre branch in the 2nd and then taking george iloka in the third....but who knows?

[coltnorth]

Does anybody see us getting a 4th or 5th round pick for Addai or Clarke?

[BOTT]

Osemele won't get past round two, Wolfe isn't a bad pick just four rounds too early. But Martin in 4 isn't gonna happen, IIkols will not be there at 7. Check out the CBS big board, like ur picks though just unrealistic rounds unfortunately.

i dunno, scouts inc (by no means a bible) has him rated as a mid 3rd rounder and the national football post has him as the 6th best guard. would love for the colts to get a quality guard in the draft though...

[BmoreColt]

i dunno, scouts inc (by no means a bible) has him rated as a mid 3rd rounder and the national football post has him as the 6th best guard. would love for the colts to get a quality guard in the draft though...

Really? He can play RT as well, I love him to the Colts if he lasts to the third round surely I would take him! My recent mock I trade back in the second and take him, he'd be a freak RT!

[Bulldog Colt]

This is one of the best up so far. Wouldn't mind seeing the OLB from Ark St. as a 7th round instead, name escapes me