2009 Draft Prospects to Watch (Colts May Be Interested)

Potential Rd. 1 Picks

DT
Peria Jerry - Ole Miss (Conventional wisdom says that Jerry will likely not be on the board for our first pick in the 2009 draft but in my opinion, if he is, the Colts should strike)
Sen'Derrick Marks - Auburn (This is probably too much of a reach, even to fill our biggest need position on the team)

OT
Eben Britton - Arizona (In my opinion OT is the team's second greatest need, behind DT.  If Britton is available and Jerry is gone, I think getting the best OT available would be a wise move)
William Beatty - Connecticut (I would consider this pick to be a potential reach and not overly likely but if Jerry is gone and one of the better RB prospects is gone, it might be wise to snag the best OT left on the board.  Polian doesn't play like that though, so don't count on it)

WR
Percy Harvin - Florida (Grabbing Harvin so young and this high in the draft may be a reach not only in terms of his value but also in terms of our team's needs.  Additionally, he may end up being another project receiver and we already have enough of those on the team to deal with.  However, with his blazing speed and prototypical Colts WR size... he could be a terror for defenses from the slot and would probably get a shot to show his stuff as a return man... grooming our 2/3 receiver for Harrison's departure may be a good idea)
Darrius Heyward-Bey - Maryland (Another potential project receiver but one with intriguing physical attributes at 6'2", 205 lbs... he runs a low 4.3 40 yd. dash... would be a very difficult player to cover with his size and speed in any formation as a receiver and could also be a potential return man.  If he's a project he'll not get selected here... nor Harvin most likely... but they're the most intriguing WRs that legimately may be available with our first round pick)

RB
Chris Wells - Ohio State (Although Wells is projected by most to be the number 1 RB in the draft, he is not a known commodity as a receiver out of the backfield... he may not be the best fit for the Colts in the draft as a result)
Knowshon Moreno - Georgia (Moreno is the kind of double-threat the Colts look for out of the backfield and would be a valuable pick in the first round... another intriguing RB may still be available, though, and who is a better pick for the Colts is tough to figure)
LeSean McCoy - Pitt (McCoy, like Moreno, is an electrifying runner, very quick and can turn on a dime.  May not have shown the vertical talents of Moreno (leaping ability), but his running reminds me of Chris Johnson... some say Reggie Bush v 2.0)

LB
James Laurinaitis - Ohio State (It's also unlikely that Laurinaitis will be on the board when the Colts get to select their first round pick but if Jerry and Britton are gone, it would make A LOT of sense to get a player with the kind of athletic ability Laurinaitis has)

C
Max Unger (intriguing as he's not only a GREAT center prospect but also has the skills to play OT) - Oregon (I know, I know, why would we selected another Center in the first round?  We probably won't, however, Unger has as much or more ability than any of the players we took last year to replace Saturday when he leaves/retires and can play OT in our system right away as well.  A versatile OL like that would be VERY hard to pass up if he's still available and Jerry is gone)

Potential Rd. 2 Picks

DT
Evander Hood - Mizzou (Hood is more of a penetrating DT, has a very quick first step and is fast for his size... would be the kind of DT the Colts like to pick... however, if we have not picked up a DT already... we may actually focus on a run stuffer and continue developing Foster as our penetrating UT)
Ron Brace - BC (Brace is a larger, space filling DT who also has the ability to penetrate on passing downs.  He is strong and can get good push while having the vision and hands to shed blockers and hit ball carriers who try to run through his hole... he may be the run stopping DT we're looking for with this pick if he's on the board)
Fili Moala - USC (Another penetrating DT, just a bit heavier than Hood.  We like DTs who can penetrate, regardless of filling space, so Moala is an option but of the three listed here I like Brace the most)

OT
William Beatty - Connecticut (If he drops this far he'd be a great pick)
Phil Loadholt - Oklahoma (Run-blocking specialist)
Troy Kropog - Tulane (Run-blocking specialist)

WR
Hakeem Nicks - NC (At 6'1" Nicks is tall for our receiving corps and does not possess blazing speed but had a monster year at NC and would potentially provide us with a player who's ready to play a significant number of downs if Harrison exits and if the project receivers already on the roster need more time to develop.  In other words, I could see Nicks being able to contribute in the passing game immediately.)
Derrick Williams - Penn State (Williams is fast, typical size for Colts receivers, and extremely dynamic as he can run with the ball and return punts/kicks.  If Williams is available here (he has drawn some comparison with Harrison) it would be difficult to pass him up.  Of all the WRs in the draft, I think Williams offers the most overall value.)

RB
Donald Brown - Connecticut (A solid, fast, running back with better size than many backs in our stable, Brown could offer an immediate boos to the backs as a true change of pace option.  Addai, Hart, Brown would be a killer back treo for now and the future)
Devin Moore - Wyoming (Grabbing Moore this high in the draft may be a reach, but his speed is astounding and his potential as a return man is exciting.  Definitely a change-of-pace kind of option potentially)

CB
Alphonso Smith - Wake Forest (When you're team is lacking in cover corners, ball hawks, in the defensive secondary... Alphonso Smith's name will come up in this year's draft.  We seem to have a fascination with fast but rather small players in our secondary... which may not be a good thing... but it's hard to argue with 20 interceptions)

DE
Aaron Maybin - Penn State (With all the depth at DE... particularly pass-rushing specialists, it probably wouldn't make sense to grab another one this early in the draft.  Also, as young as Maybin is... this could be a reach.  However, in terms of pass-rushers with a lot of speed and amazing amount of potential are concerned... Maybin would be a great guy to bring in to push Howard and Johnson for a roster spot this year)

Potential Rd. 3 Picks

DT
Fili Moala - USC (Moala will probably be gone by now but if we still haven't addressed our need at DT and he's on the board... this would be a good time to grab him)
Chris Baker - Hampton (Baker is also a penetration, sack specialist at DT but at 310 lbs he would definitely present more of a hole-filler than our current DTs)

OT
Troy Kropog - Tulane (Run-blocking Specialist)
Alex Boone - Ohio State (Versatile, in that he can play and has experience at both tackle positions... it's possible that he could be had later in the draft though... but if the others are gone and we've not yet picked up a tackle, we may want to do something here and Boone may be a good Big 10 option)

WR
Derrick Williams - Penn State (If Williams is available here I think he's a bit of a no-brainer but that could be just me... and of course it depends on where we've focused with our first two picks)
Brian Robiskie - Ohio State (Robiskie is familiar with Gonzalez and the Colts probably saw a bit of him while they were scouting the Buckeyes last year.  A bit tall for our typical receivers but could present mismatches and has good speed.)

RB
Devin Moore - Wyoming (Would be a valuable pick here.)
Javon Ringer - Michigan State (Ringer is a shifty back with good speed... he may get down into the 4.4s for the Combine... either way he would be a solid addition to our backfield crew and typical size for our backs though he's a bit short at 5'9"... his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield will be attractive if he's still on the board)

LB
Jason Phillips - TCU (He's bigger and faster than most of our current LBs, and he comes from a very strong defensive system that plays a style of defense where quickness and swarming to the ball is the focus.  He could excel in our system right away, or be a strong replacement for Brackett/Keiaho in a year.  Not only can Phillips play the run but he has done well in coverage at TCU as well.  Phillips and Follett, I believe, offer the greatest overall value at the LB position in this draft.)
Tyrone McKenzie - South Florida (McKenzie is also bigger and faster than most of our other LBs and is a hard hitter... would be a great LB in our system)
Gerald McRath - Southern Miss (McRath is tall for our LB system, maybe too tall and his weight to height ratio makes him a bit smallish... but he has the skillset to potentially play well at the Will.  In my opinion a Sam or Mike would be better.)
Marcus Freeman - Ohio State (Big for our LB rotation, but has the speed and hole closing skillset that would help not only stop the run but potentially could be used in blitz packages if we go with a heavier blitz scheme this year.  Add to that, he's from the Big 10 and it's not difficult to think that he might end up on our roster)
Zack Follett - California (This guy is fun to watch.  He lays wood... HARD.  He can blitz/penetrate and has the quickness and vision to get good angles on runners out of the backfield.  Based on what we've seen and heard to this point, Follett could be a powerful LB in our system and bring something we don't see a lot of in blitz packages.)

CB
Alphonso Smith - Wake Forest (Would be very hard to pass up here.)

S
Nic Harris - Oklahoma (Although listed at Safety... Nic Harris may be a Cato June type of player against the pass at LB, only with a strong reputation as a run stopper.  It wouldn't be the first time the Colts drafted a safety and put him at LB)
Michael Hamlin - Clemson (Michael Hamlin would be an amazing Safety/CB option for the Colts.  He is a playmaker and could negate all comers in our nickel packages as our nickel corner/safety.)

DE
Paul Kruger - Utah (Another pass-rushing specialist DE... very strong prospect and with his size 6'5", 260 lbs, could replace Josh Thomas/Raheem Brock)
Connor Barwin - Cincinnati (A converted TE, has speed and height to rush the passer and showed an amazing propensity to block kicks in college.  Probably a reach and unlikely given our depth at DE.)

Potential Rd. 4 Picks

DT
Terrance Taylor - Michigan (Taylor is a run blocking specialist and at 6'0", 317 lbs... he would be a formidable addition to our DT rotation to fill space and give us more size.  In my opinion, if we wanted to get a steal in the draft for our needs, Taylor may be available this late in the draft and may well serve the precise purpose we want to draft a DT in the first place.  Could give us more room to pick up a LB/RB/WR in the first three rounds if he falls this far)

OT
Alex Boone - Ohio State (Would be a strong OT option this deep in the draft if we've not addressed the position need already.)

WR
Brian Robiskie - Ohio State (If OT, DT and LB have been addressed Robiskie could be a strong WR prospect here.)

LB
Jason Phillips - TCU (If Phillips is available here, I would take him even if we've already drafted a LB... yes, I think he's that good and can be very good in our system.)
Marcus Freeman - Ohio State (Would be a strong pick if Follett and Phillips are gone and our other needs have been addressed but LB has not.)
Zack Follett - California (I feel the same about Follett here as I do about Phillips... maybe we could get them both??? O.O)
Jonathan Casillas - Wisconsin (With his speed, this would be a VERY intriguing pick not only as a potential boost to our LB corps but for our special teams unit.)

CB
Domonique Johnson - Jackson State (Johnson is 6'1" and runs a sub-4.4 40 yard dash.  He's from Div. II so he may slip lower but I would be a bigger fan of 6'1" CBs with blazing speed as projects that 5'8" and 5'9" ones)
Morgan Trent - Michigan (Solid CB for Michigan this year.  If we've filled our other holes, he could he a solid option for CB roster-spot competition.  At 6'1" with a 4.4 range 40 yard dash, having played at a Div. I level and faired well against strong competition, he could push a player like Ratliff out)

S
Nic Harris - Oklahoma (I would consider Harris along with the Phillips mold of no-brainer picks in this round if we've alread addressed DT and OT)
Michael Hamlin - Clemson (I would consider Harris the strongest DB option listed here at this round if he's available and DT, OT and LB have all been adequately addressed.)

DE
Connor Barwin - Cincinnati (Pass-rusher)
Matt Shaughnessy - Wisconsin (At 6'6" and 251 lbs. he could be a Thomas-type replacement.)
Phillip Hunt - Houston (Pass-rusher)

Potential Rd. 5 Picks

DT
Jarron Gilbert - San Jose State (Penetrating style DT, at 6'5" and 280 lbs. he would fit in the Foster mold and could be a late pick to secure more DT depth)
Alex Magee - Purdue (If we have to try and fill our DT depth late, Magee at 6'3" and 295 lbs could be an option and it would not be surprising if the Colts have done some research on him since he played in the Big 10)

LB
Jason Williams - Western Illinois (At 6'1", 235 lbs Williams is bigger and faster than the LBs currently on our roster and likes to get after the QB.  If our new DC likes to throw the blitz into his schemes, Williams who played in Illinois, may be someone who could fill that role)
DeAndre Levy - Wisconsin (Another Big 10 prospect, at 6'3" 232 lbs Levy is also faster than our current LBs and could be a special teams player who is developed for future LB play)

CB
Morgan Trent - Michigan (If still on the board, would be a good CB depth pick with the Jackson/Hayden situation still looming.)

DE
Phillip Hunt - Houston (Pass-Rusher)
Cody Brown - Connecticut (Situational Pass-Rusher and possible special teams player)

TE
Davon Drew - East Carolina (With a full stable of TEs from last year's draft and on our practice squad it may be unlikely to pick up another TE but Drew is a solid blocker and started to show some ability in the receiving game this year.  Who knows?)

Potential Rd. 6 Picks

RB
Tyrell Sutton - Northwestern (If we push back our focus on RB depth to the later rounds Sutton presents a strong option as both a ball carrier and receiver out of the backfield.  He may slip because he suffered a broken wrist during his Senior season.  5'9", 203 lbs.)
Kory Sheets - Purdue (Sheets is another strong Big 10 RB with a double-threat potential.  At 5'11", 203 lbs, Sheets set the Purdue touchdown record during his Senior season.)

DT
Alex Magee - Purdue (Would be a solid DT depth pick in the 6th.)

OT
Robert Brewster - Ball State (We know the Colts scouted the Cardinals this year and Brewster did a solid job protecting the pass to allow the Cardinals passing offense to generate the yards and scoring this year that made it the best year in the history of their team.  Would be a solid pickup in the 6th or 7th rounds... possibly earlier... if we want to improve our pass-blocking at the tackle position.)

LB
Jason Williams - Western Illinois (Solid LB depth pick in the 6th if we've failed to adequately address it earlier)
DeAndre Levy - Wisconsin (Same as Williams above)

CB
Cary Harris - USC (At 6'0", 184 lbs with a 4.4 range 40 yard dash, Harris could be a solid DB depth pick this late in the draft.)
Glover Quin - New Mexico (Quin earned a reputation as a ball hawk, knocking down 11 passes, along with 5 picks this year... at 6'0", 200 lbs. with a 4.5 sec. 40 yard dash, he could push Ratliff/Hughes/Jennings for the nickel spot if Hayden is retained.)

S
Darcel McBath - Texas Tech (A very solid DB, if he falls this low, his 4.4 sec. range 40 yard dash time and 6'1" height, along with strong ball-hawk skills could make him a formidable nickel DB option.)

DE
Cody Brown - Connecticut (Situational pass-rusher/ST)
Stryker Sulak - Mizzou (A Thomas, replacement type of pass-rushing DE... 6'5", 250 lbs.)

TE
Davon Drew - East Carolina (This late in the draft, if our other needs have been addressed, picking up Drew... a known blocker... couldn't hurt our TE competition in camp this year.)
Dan Gronkowski - Maryland (A pure blocking specialist in the TE slot, could be worth a look late in the draft or as an UFA)

Potential Rd. 7 Picks

DT
Nader Abdallah - Ohio State (6'5", 310 lbs out of a big 10 program... DT depth)

OT
Robert Brewster - Ball State (Solid late-round OL pick if he's still on the board.)

RB
Tyrell Sutton - Northwestern (Great RB depth choice this late.)
Kory Sheets - Purdue (Great RB depth choice this late.)

LB
Steve Davis - Minnesota (A converted DE and potential project pick, he's fast and at 6'2", 230 lbs. bigger than most of our current LBs)
Kevin Akins - BC (A quick LBer who could play in some special defensive packages)

CB
Glover Quin - New Mexico (A no-brainer CB depth pick if we're good elsewhere and he's still on the board.)
Donald Washington - Ohio State (Good size and speed and out of a Big 10 school but he didn't have that strong of a Senior year and will probably fall off of the board.)
Ryan Palmer - Texas (Typical size and speed for Colts DBs and could be a solid CB depth pick)

S
Darcel McBath - Texas Tech (If still on the board this would be a solid DB depth choice)

DE
Stryker Sulak - Mizzou (DE depth choice - Thomas competition)
Slade Norris - Oregon State (Could be a late round situational pass-rusher pick)

TE
Dan Gronkowski - Maryland (A pure blocking specialist in the TE slot, could be worth a look in the late rounds of the draft or as an UFA)
Darius Hill - Ball State (Can you ever have enough receiving TEs?  Maybe not, if not, Hill may get a look in rd. 7 or as a UFA out of Ball State)