NFL Mock Draft 2016: Colts take outside linebacker Leonard Floyd in latest mock draft

The mad rush of free agency has now come and gone, and while there are still several players left to be signed in the coming weeks, the first few days of the new league year has altered draft needs for many teams.  The Indianapolis Colts aren't one of them, however, as rather than addressing some of their needs and question marks in free agency so far, the team has simply created more.

The Colts still need pass rush help, offensive linemen (particularly on the interior), and a starting cornerback.  In addition, they now need an inside linebacker to replace Jerrell Freeman (unless they are really, really sold on Nate Irving).  In other words, the team still has plenty of holes, and while it wouldn't at all be a surprise to see them sign a free agent or two, the Colts will need to address their needs primarily through the draft.  They have six picks, and with Andrew Luck's looming mega-extension, hitting on those picks becomes even more important than normal.

As already mentioned, however, nothing much changed for the Colts between before free agency to now, and as a result the mock drafts haven't really changed too much for them.  SB Nation's Dan Kadar released his latest mock draft todayand had the Colts taking Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd with the 18th overall pick, a common selection for Indy in mock drafts.

With Freeman off to Chicago, the Colts will need to find a linebacker, but there just isn't another one in the middle with the value here. Instead, they could target a pass rusher like Floyd to create pressure off the edge.

In Kadar's mock draft, Alabama inside linebacker Reggie Ragland went 17th overall to the Atlanta Falcons, so that's why he says there's not a guy at that position worth taking with the 18th pick for the Colts.  Instead, he has them taking an outside linebacker and a guy who could, hopefully, give the Colts some much-needed pass rush help.

Floyd played in 38 career games at Georgia (starting 32) before deciding to head to the NFL after his junior year.  He recorded 184 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, four passes defensed, and 54 quarterback pressures during his time at Georgia, leading the team in sacks in each of his three seasons.  In 2015, he was a finalist for the Butkus Award (the nation's top linebacker); in 2014, he was Georgia's Defensive MVP; and in 2013, he was named to the SEC All-Freshman team.