NFL Mock Draft 2015: Matt Miller Projects Seven-Round Mock Draft for Colts

A couple of days ago, Bleacher Report draft analyst Matt Miller released a full seven-round mock draft.  Yes, you read that right, a full seven-round mock draft with all 256 picks, including the recently announced compensatory picks.  This is quite an impressive task, and so let's take a look at what Miller had the Colts doing with each of their nine picks.

First Round, 29th overall - Andrus Peat, Offensive Lineman, Stanford

The Indianapolis Colts handed Gosder Cherilus a five-year, $35 million contract before the 2013 season in hopes that he could become the bookend to Anthony Castonzo as the team loaded up the edge to protect Andrew Luck. However, Cherilus has been a disappointment—an expensive disappointment—and the Colts must look to improve the position.

To find that man, they can go back to Luck's alma mater. Andrus Peat has the length, size and athleticism to play left tackle, but the power to start at right tackle immediately. He's an attacker, a finisher and has the skill in the run game to open up the Colts' offense. Additionally, he can move well enough to make the Indianapolis pocket a mobile one for the excellent athlete at quarterback.

Second Round, 61st overall - Jordan Phillips, Nose Tackle, Oklahoma

Third Round, 93rd overall - Mike Davis, Running Back, South Carolina

Fourth Round, 128th overall - Cody Prewitt, Free Safety, Ole Miss

Fifth Round, 165th overall - Damian Swann, Cornerback, Georgia

Sixth Round, 204th overall - Antoine Everett, Guard, McNeese State

Seventh Round, 244th overall - (Miller mistakingly has the Cowboys still with this pick)

Seventh Round, 255th overall - Ray Drew, Edge Rusher, Georgia

Peat is a player who should be familiar to Colts fans who keep up with mock drafts, as he has been a popular name linked to Indy over the past couple of months.  Hailing from Andrew Luck's alma mater, the 6-7, 313 pound lineman started every game over the last two seasons at left tackle for Stanford.  He's a good run blocker and can hold his own in pass protection as well, and he's familiar with a pro-style scheme at Stanford, making him more pro-ready than most.  If anything, there's a chance he might not be there at number 29 for the Colts.

Miller projects Peat as the Colts' right tackle, and there are certainly some questions about Gosder Cherilus right now.  As general manager Ryan Grigson said at the owner's meetings this week, "We really like Gos, but we've got to see how he comes back."  Drafting Peat in the first round would likely illustrate that the Colts have serious questions about Cherilus, but it also could be for depth purposes moving forward.  After this upcoming season the Colts could save money by releasing Cherilus, and that's something that might happen.  It would be wise, then, to address the long-term future at the position this year if given the chance.  This of course depends on what defensive players are available to help the Colts right away, but getting Peat to be the long-term answer at right tackle whenever the team does move on from Cherilus wouldn't be the worst option by any means.

Throughout the rest of the draft, Miller has the Colts adding a nose tackle, a running back, a safety, a corner, a linebacker, a guard, and an edge rusher.  Just looking at it that way, it seems as if he has the Colts addressing a number of significant needs - some better than others, but he does have the Colts addressing many of them.  And that'd be a good thing if it actually happened in the draft.

What are your thoughts on this seven-round mock draft?