The offseason has begun for the Colts, and that has resulted in the focus of Colts fans beginning to shift toward the Draft and free agency and what the team has to do to improve. And, with it being Monday, that means that Mocking the Draft's Dan Kadar has put out his next first round mock draft. His mock drafts are always fantastic, and this week he has the Colts taking an offensive lineman in South Carolina guard A.J. Cann.
29. Indianapolis Colts: A.J. Cann, G, South Carolina
General manager Ryan Grigson has been uneven in drafting offensive linemen, but it would be hard to fail taking Cann. He's the draft's best pure guard prospect and may have been South Carolina's best player last season.
For the Colts, it's clear that they need offensive line help, as it has to be one of their highest priorities to protect Andrew Luck, their franchise player. The left side of their line appears to be set, with Anthony Castonzo at left tackle and Jack Mewhort at left guard - though Cann plays left guard as well. That likely wouldn't be the deterring factor in the Colts' decision, however, as Mewhort could move to right tackle or one of the guards could move to the right side of the line. The bigger issue for the Colts is getting players on the line that can protect Luck, and that must be a priority. Drafting Cann would provide another solid player up front for the Colts, which is exactly what they need. And for a Colts fan who has seen Ryan Grigson miss on some early picks and on some linemen in his tenure with the Colts, you have to like reading what Kadar wrote when he said "it would be hard to fail taking Cann."
Cann (6-4, 311 pounds) was a fifth year senior in 2014, and in his career at South Carolina he made 51 career starts as a four-year starter at the left guard spot. He was a team captain for the last two years of his collegiate career and among the best offensive linemen in the country. He would provide a needed boost to one of the biggest areas of need for the Colts this offseason.