NFL Mock Draft 2017: Another mock draft has the Colts taking Dalvin Cook

The NFL Scouting Combine is only a few weeks away, marking the next significant event in the league’s draft season. We still have plenty of time before the draft rolls around, and mock drafts are well underway.

If the early trends are any indication, here’s what we’ll be seeing a lot of in mock drafts for the Colts over the next few months: linebackers, and maybe a running back (Dalvin Cook).

We’ve seen a lot of mock drafts that have the team taking edge rushers, which makes sense, considering it’s their top need and that it’s a strong edge class. With D’Qwell Jackson now cut, it’s possible we’ll be seeing some mock drafts give them an inside linebacker, too. And then there’s also the mocks that have them taking Florida State running back Dalvin Cook.

SB Nation’s Dan Kadar is the latest one to have the Colts taking Cook, as that was exactly the pick at number 14 in this morning’s mock draft:

Don’t forget, the Colts and Eagles will flip a coin at the scouting combine to determine who picks 14th. My mocks have always had the Eagles at 14th, so we’re changing things up a little this week by moving Indianapolis up.

Positional value could lead to a mini Cook tumble on draft night if he doesn’t go inside the top 10. That’s good for the Colts, who have an old Frank Gore and little else behind him.

Kadar also was looking at how much each team needs a quarterback in today’s mock draft, so he added this about the Colts:

Should they draft a quarterback? With Andrew Luck firmly in place, you’d probably say no. But back Scott Tolzien is entering his final year of his contract, so the Colts could use a late pick on someone like Florida’s Austin Appleby, or sign him as an undrafted free agent.

Cook to the Colts has been a popular mock draft pick recently, and for understandable reasons. Cook was a tremendous running back at Florida State; he’d be a good fit in the Colts’ offense; and the Colts need a dynamic, young running back to pair with veteran Frank Gore and and serve as the long-term back. It’s also important to note that it seems a lot of people think it would be a good value pick for the Colts there (see Kadar’s “mini Cook tumble” phrase).

Of course, the question has always been about whether the Colts should pass up on some of the pass rushers and defenders available to take Cook, not so much about whether Cook would help the Colts. The Colts have so many weaknesses on defense, and there’s a lot of intriguing defensive talent in this draft that could still be available when the Colts select in the first round. So yes, Cook would be an exciting addition to the offense, but is that the best possible pick the Colts could make there? That will surely be a topic of discussion over the next few months in Indianapolis.

As for Cook, though, he had a tremendous collegiate career. In three seasons, he rushed for 4,464 yards and 46 touchdowns as he averaged 6.5 yards per carry, while also catching 79 passes for 935 yards and two scores. Averaging 1,800 total yards and 16 total touchdowns per season is pretty impressive, for sure. In 2016, Cook rushed for 1,765 yards and 19 touchdowns while also adding 488 yards and a score receiving, on his way to being a unanimous All-American selection.

Would you be in favor of the pick for the Colts?