2025 Draft Needs

[compuls1v3]

What are your top 5 needs?  I say we need to draft Buck's replacement on D-Line in the first, need a stable, consistent free safety in the 2nd, and a coverage LB in the 3rd, an RB in the 4th, and a corner in the 5th.  

[John Hammonds]

We "need" corner, linebacker, safety, and the next generation of defensive line.

 

HOWEVER

 

This is the last year of Ehlinger's rookie contract, and we are most likely not going to retain him.  And Flacco is 40 years old next year.  We only signed him to a 1-year contract.  We're gonna have to draft a QB.  Not in the early rounds.  We're not looking for a new franchise QB (yet!!!!)  Draft a QB in rounds 4 or 5, and bring in another veteran for primary backup duty.

[Mr. Too Proud]

I'm in the minority but I say Right tackle...

Braden Smith has 1 less year than Defo left on contract. We just lost Fries for the season. Draft a guy that can play Right Guard for now and eventually takeover Right tackle because Raimann deal is around the corner to.

 

RT, D-line, Safety, LB and CB 

 

I would grab a RB as well because JT isn't playing hurt anymore 

 

 

[Defjamz26]

In order:

1. Corner (CB1)

2. FS

3. Edge

4. TE

5. Depth (everywhere but WR)

 

If we’re not limiting it to just players

1. GM

2. Defensive coordinator 

3. CB

4. FS

5. TE

 

This team is not not nearly as good as our record shows. So many things within the organization are wrong. TBH I’m not opposed to blowing it up and building around Steichen, but even he’d be on thin ice.

 

[NewColtsFan]

8 hours ago, Mr. Too Proud said:

I'm in the minority but I say Right tackle...

Braden Smith has 1 less year than Defo left on contract. We just lost Fries for the season. Draft a guy that can play Right Guard for now and eventually takeover Right tackle because Raimann deal is around the corner to.

 

RT, D-line, Safety, LB and CB 

 

I would grab a RB as well because JT isn't playing hurt anymore 

 

 

It’s possible that the guy you want who starts at RG and then moves to RT is already on the Roster.    
 

Matt Goncalves.  
 

I don’t think the Colts would draft him 82nd overall unless they saw starting talent.   I don’t think his future is as a depth guy.   Maybe he’s only a RG?  
 

Maybe the future RT to replace Smith comes in R1 in 2026? 
 

Just thinking out loud.   

[OhioColt]

3 hours ago, NewColtsFan said:

It’s possible that the guy you want who starts at RG and then moves to RT is already on the Roster.    
 

Matt Goncalves.  
 

I don’t think the Colts would draft him 82nd overall unless they saw starting talent.   I don’t think his future is as a depth guy.   Maybe he’s only a RG?  
 

Maybe the future RT to replace Smith comes in R1 in 2026? 
 

Just thinking out loud.   

Not out of the relm of possibility I suppose to draft Wyatt Milum in Round 1.  Both OTs will be FAs end of next season. Milum hasn’t played RT since his Feshman year but not uncommon to draft a typical LT and move them to RT.  With Bernhard’s age a move to RT might not be a bad move. 

[NewColtsFan]

6 hours ago, OhioColt said:

Not out of the relm of possibility I suppose to draft Wyatt Milum in Round 1.  Both OTs will be FAs end of next season. Milum hasn’t played RT since his Feshman year but not uncommon to draft a typical LT and move them to RT.  With Bernhard’s age a move to RT might not be a bad move. 

I think at this age and stage, Raimann is the LT for the foreseeable future.   I’m not sure if or when we actually draft a future RT,  25? Or 26?   But I think if Goncalves replaces Fry then we will draft a new RT to replace Smith.  
 

But….  If Fries recovers and stays at RG, then it’s possible Goncalves might be the RT of the future.   I’m sorry I’m throwing out so many possibilities.  There are many moving parts and options that could happen.  At this point, it’s just too hard to know.  

[tweezy32]

1-3 should be CB, SAFETY, Linebacker

[Mr. Too Proud]

On 10/24/2024 at 12:02 PM, NewColtsFan said:

I think at this age and stage, Raimann is the LT for the foreseeable future.   I’m not sure if or when we actually draft a future RT,  25? Or 26?   But I think if Goncalves replaces Fry then we will draft a new RT to replace Smith.  
 

But….  If Fries recovers and stays at RG, then it’s possible Goncalves might be the RT of the future.   I’m sorry I’m throwing out so many possibilities.  There are many moving parts and options that could happen.  At this point, it’s just too hard to know.  

I think we should draft 1 this year, 1 reason is the adjustment of the power and the speed of the NFL. 

 

My argument for not drafting a DT early because they would be 3 (behind Defo and Grover). Yes they can split time but unless a injury happens in all likelihood they are playing 30 to 40 percent of the snaps vs taking a RT who will immediately step into the RG position and get to pre-season and practice against Nfl edges 

[Dark Superman]

1. CB

2. S

3 TE

4. RB2

5 QB2

[Solid84]

DT

FS

CB

LB

RB

QB (Sam's replacement)

 

Going by Ballard's draft history, I'm almost certain we draft trenches in the first and specifically DT. I think Mason Graham will be out of reach, so maybe a guy like Deone Walker or Dontay Corleone?

 

Next I hope we're looking at FS. Cross has been good at SS, but I feel it's pretty obvious neither Cross nor Blackmon are great fits at FS. I'd really like it if we could get Xavier Watts. The guy's just a ballhawk and I feel we kinda need a guy like that to discourage opponents from throwing deep.

 

I don't think we can rely on Brents to develop anymore. Not saying he won't, but with the amount of injuries he's had, I feel he's an injury liability and behind in development. Not sure Ballard sees it the same way - he does tend to like his guys longer than most. I like Jahdae Barron. He has experience at both outside CB and FS.

 

Coverage LB needs to be a priority in my opinion. Preferably a 3-down guy as well. Carlies has been good for us in coverage, but I think he's a little too light to be a 3-down LB. I'd really like it if we could find a guy who could beat out Speed or Franklin. I think Harold Perkins Jr. and Danny Stutsman are the top LBs this draft, but I'm not sure Ballard wants to spend 1st or 2nd rounders on LBs. I like Smael Mondon and Lander Barton. Maybe even Jay Higgins, but I'm not sure he's athletic enough to be a high-level NFL LB.

 

I LOVE Ashton Jeanty, but drafting him is not realistic. There are a few guys later in the draft that might be good for us though. I like Jonah Coleman a lot.

 

I don't think we keep Ehlinger. I think Steichen wants his own guy. QB rankings are weird this early, so who could be available is difficult to say.

[IndyEV]

[LJpalmbeacher2]

1. GM

2. DC

3. TE

4. CB

5. BPA between S, RB2, bpa

[LJpalmbeacher2]

On 11/1/2024 at 2:40 PM, IndyEV said:

We'll need to trade back lots and lots of times for additional picks to fill that list. 

[CoachLite]

On 11/8/2024 at 4:18 PM, LJpalmbeacher2 said:

We'll need to trade back lots and lots of times for additional picks to fill that list. 

Buy another winning NFL team, and give them our uniforms to wear.

[Dark Superman]

On 10/23/2024 at 4:39 PM, John Hammonds said:

We "need" corner, linebacker, safety, and the next generation of defensive line.

 

HOWEVER

 

This is the last year of Ehlinger's rookie contract, and we are most likely not going to retain him.  And Flacco is 40 years old next year.  We only signed him to a 1-year contract.  We're gonna have to draft a QB.  Not in the early rounds.  We're not looking for a new franchise QB (yet!!!!)  Draft a QB in rounds 4 or 5, and bring in another veteran for primary backup duty.

You forgot TE.

[OhioColt]

On 11/15/2024 at 8:10 PM, Dark Superman said:

You forgot TE.

Figure Colts will resign Mo Alix-Cox over Granson where Granson R52/72 TEs comapred to Mo is 21/72.  I realize your not as high on him but Mo has been consistent as they come, not the greatest but serviceable.
 

Ogletree to me is a silent weapon and better option but under used.  
 

For the draft I would want TE Jalin Conyers who can block and catch.  Look what he done against #20 Colorado caught 3-50 and 2 TDS. 

[Archer]

Hard to say until we see what happens in FA, but I say we sigh a FA CB and our draft needs go:

 

1) DT

2) S

3) LB

4) Swing Tackle

5) QB

[MikeCurtis]

On 10/26/2024 at 6:52 PM, Solid84 said:

DT

FS

CB

LB

RB

QB (Sam's replacement)

 

Going by Ballard's draft history, I'm almost certain we draft trenches in the first and specifically DT. I think Mason Graham will be out of reach, so maybe a guy like Deone Walker or Dontay Corleone?

 

Next I hope we're looking at FS. Cross has been good at SS, but I feel it's pretty obvious neither Cross nor Blackmon are great fits at FS. I'd really like it if we could get Xavier Watts. The guy's just a ballhawk and I feel we kinda need a guy like that to discourage opponents from throwing deep.

 

I don't think we can rely on Brents to develop anymore. Not saying he won't, but with the amount of injuries he's had, I feel he's an injury liability and behind in development. Not sure Ballard sees it the same way - he does tend to like his guys longer than most. I like Jahdae Barron. He has experience at both outside CB and FS.

 

Coverage LB needs to be a priority in my opinion. Preferably a 3-down guy as well. Carlies has been good for us in coverage, but I think he's a little too light to be a 3-down LB. I'd really like it if we could find a guy who could beat out Speed or Franklin. I think Harold Perkins Jr. and Danny Stutsman are the top LBs this draft, but I'm not sure Ballard wants to spend 1st or 2nd rounders on LBs. I like Smael Mondon and Lander Barton. Maybe even Jay Higgins, but I'm not sure he's athletic enough to be a high-level NFL LB.

 

I LOVE Ashton Jeanty, but drafting him is not realistic. There are a few guys later in the draft that might be good for us though. I like Jonah Coleman a lot.

 

I don't think we keep Ehlinger. I think Steichen wants his own guy. QB rankings are weird this early, so who could be available is difficult to say.

Hey man.... I am in the EXACT camp that you are

 

I would go 

DT

FS

CB

LB

QB

 

I would let our old QB and Sam E go

 

Neither are our future

 

If no decent vet QBs are available, I would be so bold as to let the Bean be the backup and let the 5th round player compete

 

I think the Raiders move on from the Mullet 

 

[Hawkeyecolt]

The Colts don’t need a cover LB.  They need a stud every down LB.  Speed and Franklin are the weakest part of the defense.  Carlies is supposed to be a cover LB.   They need a high draft pick to replace Speed. 
 

TE is also high on the list.  They have Woods, Ogletree, and Mallory back, but they need a #1 TE they can count on.  By some reports they were trying to trade up for Bowers. 

[compuls1v3]

I change my mind.  EVERY GREAT team has/had a STUD TE.  We used to have Clark, NE had Gronk, Chiefs have Kelce, Lions have La Porta, Niners have Kittle, Broncos had Sharpe, etc, Chiefs had Gonzales, etc.  We need a stud TE 1st, or acquire one in FA if there are any.  If we can solidify the offense with this, then we can fill out on D.  We need better LBs, a true #1 corner, and a FS.  I feel like all of these can be had in the next draft.  We also need another great RB.  I think we should create a 3 headed monster, with 2 good RBs, and Richardson as the wild card.

[Defjamz26]

After a few more games, I’d bump TE up to priority 1. The group we have is atrocious.

[MikeCurtis]

On 11/27/2024 at 8:57 AM, Defjamz26 said:

After a few more games, I’d bump TE up to priority 1. The group we have is atrocious.

But, but, but....  Our TEs have high RAS scores.....  if RAS was just production we would win the SB....

 

MAYBE.... JUST MAYBE,...... RAS isnt the be all, end all

 

There aren't many star TEs in this draft, so we would have to go FA

 

Our DTs are aging, and there are some decent kids in this draft, that could be available

 

We also need a FS in a bad, bad way, Which we SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED this past year

 

Our CB room needs at least one player from this draft

 

We also could use a LB in this draft as well to develop.

 

 

In rounds 1-3

 

DT, FS, LB would be my picks.

 

Our LBs have a great game, then have a HORRID next game.... we need to upgrade one of the spots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Defjamz26]

3 hours ago, MikeCurtis said:

But, but, but....  Our TEs have high RAS scores.....  if RAS was just production we would win the SB....

 

MAYBE.... JUST MAYBE,...... RAS isnt the be all, end all

 

There aren't many star TEs in this draft, so we would have to go FA

 

Our DTs are aging, and there are some decent kids in this draft, that could be available

 

We also need a FS in a bad, bad way, Which we SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED this past year

 

Our CB room needs at least one player from this draft

 

We also could use a LB in this draft as well to develop.

 

 

In rounds 1-3

 

DT, FS, LB would be my picks.

 

Our LBs have a great game, then have a HORRID next game.... we need to upgrade one of the spots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hear you about FS, and there’s 2 that I like in the draft, but we need to go with a veteran there. I know that’s not Ballard’s style but it needs to be if he’s still going to be here. I would target Javon Holland in FA. Use the first 3 Rounds of the draft to find a TE, CB, and LB.