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With Dwight Freeney gone, the Colts have a major need at pass rusher to fill in the draft in the 2013 NFL Draft. Here are outside linebackers we think the they should target. The list includes a few names that might be just a tad out-of-reach:
Cornellius "Tank" Carradine, Florida State
Matt Grecco's Scouting Report:
The guy looks like he could be an excellent pass rusher, likened to Julius Peppers or DeMarcus Ware, but whoever drafts him will be going way out on a limb given the injury and production risks. The further down the draft he goes the more the risk is mitigated, but unfortunately that does not help the Colts.
Projection: 1st round
Ziggy Ansah, BYU
Scouting Report from reader FatDT:
At the beginning of pre-draft season Ansah was considered a late-first or early-second round pick. There were still questions about his inexperience and solid-but-unspectacular production. Thus Ansah accepted an invite to the 2013 Senior Bowl. He began the week of practice slowly, but exploded during the game with seven tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. He then confirmed his freaky athleticism at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.63 second 40 yard dash, supposedly without having prepared for the Combine at all.
Projection: 1st round
Dion Jordan, Oregon
Matt Grecco's Scouting Report:
There are a few guys that we'll be profiling that will most likely not be available when the Colts select at pick #24, but because this draft is so wide open, and have seen guys be the #1 pick as well as the #22 pick, we're going to go ahead and profile them, in the off chance they fall to the Colts. One guy who will most likely be gone early, yet it isn't certain, is Oregon OLB Dion Jordan.
Projection: 1st round
Cornelius Washington, Georgia
Matt Grecco's Scouting Report:
The addition of Erik Walden by the Colts raised some eyebrows, especially because most people who have watched him play say he's pretty good against the run and in pass coverage, but severely lacking when it comes to rushing the QB. With that in mind, a guy like Washington, who could come in to get at the QB, could be a nice addition by the Colts.
Projection: 2nd-3rd round
Nate Williams, Ohio State
Matt Grecco's Scouting Report:
If I were playing GM, Williams might be a guy to look at as an undrafted Free Agent, if he makes it that far. However, while I think the Colts need depth at pass rusher, there are plenty of guys without an injury history that I think should get a look first. Obviously I'm not talking with the guy, or watching specific tape, but my though is he's a UFA for a Colts, but not draftable.
Projection: 6th-7th round, college FA
Chase Thomas, Stanford
Matt Grecco's Scouting Report:
Thomas was a four year player on "the Farm", making an appearance in all 53 games for Stanford, starting the last 48 of them, which included eight starts as a Freshman at 4-3 DE. After the 2009 season Vic Fangio was brought in as Defensive Coordinator, making the switch to a 3-4 Defense, which he played in for his final three seasons for the Cardinal.
Projection: 2nd-4th round
Khaseem Greene, Rutgers
Matt Grecco's Scouting Report:
Most people consider him to be a 4-3 WILL Linebacker, but I actually think with his size and strengths would fit nicely as a 3-4 Inside LB, as he obviously is used to playing in coverage. The ability to cover Tight Ends is becoming more and more a prerequisite to playing an Inside LB position in the 3-4, and a former Safety easily fits that description. His biggest weakness will be his ability to play the run, mostly because his body type is virtually maxed out, so he won't be able to get much bigger.
Projection: 2nd-3rd round