NFL Mock Draft 2015: Colts Projected to Take an Offensive Lineman in the First Round

NFL Draft week is finally upon us!  The draft will take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and at that point the mock drafts will stop and we'll actually find out what teams will do after months of speculation.

But before we get to that point, there will be a lot of new mock drafts out this week, and we'll be looking at a number of them.  Mocking the Draft's Dan Kadar typically releases his mock draft every Monday, and this week is no different. Kadar released one this morning like normal, and he had the Colts taking Miami offensive tackle Ereck Flowers in the first round.

29. Indianapolis Colts: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami

Speaking of dubious right tackle situations, say hello to the Colts. With Landon Collins being long off the board, a player like Flowers would be a coup.

I don't think it's any secret that the Colts' top priority in the draft should be defense.  With that said, however, I don't think we can just immediately dismiss the possibility of the Colts adding a right tackle.  I do have doubts about whether Flowers is the right guy for the right tackle position if that's the way the Colts opt to go, but we can't rule out them focusing on the position.

The Colts have concerns about Gosder Cherilus, particularly when it comes to his health but also somewhat about his poor play in 2014.  It's thought that those two issues go together, though, and so the Colts are in a "wait and see" mode right now when it comes to Cherilus.  If he is healthy, he'll be their starter next season - though the Colts would likely need a long-term replacement for him.  The problem is that, with the draft being at the end of April/beginning of May, and with Cherilus not expected back until June, the Colts will likely have to make an informed decision on what the best direction is to take.  Even team owner and CEO Jim Irsay, when speaking with the media on Friday evening, mentioned right tackle as a position that is possibly a need, depending on Cherilus' health, right after mentioning another need in the safety position.

So if the Colts do decide to take a right tackle on Thursday night, it will be just further evidence of serious questions about the status of Gosder Cherilus.  With all of that said, however, I would still lean toward addressing the defensive side of the football.  With players like Eddie Goldman still available at pick number 29 in this mock draft, I don't think that Flowers is the best pick.  And regardless of Cherilus' health, I think that the depth along the offensive line is solid.  While it might not be ideal, Joe Reitz could fill in at right tackle, or Todd Herremans could move to right tackle and someone move to right guard, or Jack Mewhort could move to right tackle and someone move to left guard (this is the least likely scenario) - but you get my point: the Colts would have options, and while they might not be elite options, they could easily make it work in 2015 if Cherilus doesn't come back healthy.

There are bigger needs defensively, and as I've said all offseason, that needs to be the focus.  We can't rule out the Colts adding a right tackle, but if it were up to me, I would address the defensive side of the football with the first round pick.