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As the offseason for the Indianapolis Colts is in full swing there are several situations that the fan base is looking forward to ironing out. First, the Colts need head coach. Then the rest of the staff can be brought in, alongside Chris Ballard, to pen their gameplan for the upcoming free agency period and set their draft strategy.
We wanted to get some of our ideas out there on the prospects that you could expect to hear called in late April, some you may like and others you may not. However, Nobody has identical strategy’s, or view all prospects the same as others may and that is all part of the fun heading up to the draft.
Thus, we ran 3-round simulation mocks on Fanspeak, using all of their settings and bigboards and used their difficult setting as well. For the first mock-off of the season between the Stampede Blue staff we didn’t use any trades as the idea is to select as the Colts currently find themselves in an advantageous position at No. 3 overall.
With that being said, here are our staff 3-round mocks using our current strategy.
Matt Danely
Rd 1, Pick 3
Quenton Nelson | G | Notre Dame
Minkah Fitzpatrick and Saquon Barkley were first and second off the board and the natural selection was Bradley Chubb if I wanted him. Many others will pick him and that’s great for the Colts, but when push comes to shove we’ve seen Andrew Luck take an inordinate amount of punishment over the years. Nelson is the best lineman in the draft and I believe that he has more versatility than is currently perceived.
I’ve been waiting on solid OL prospects to become good and it’s just not happening, nor am I in the mood to wait around anymore. Luck has taken underperforming rosters – particularly weak defenses – to the playoffs and has won games. Protecting him comes first for me this year and adding anything else comes secondary to the needs of the team, period.
Rd 2, Pick 36
Quenton Meeks | CB | Stanford
For the second pick I needed to see that the Colts continue to add quality coverage options to the secondary that shows to become one of the younger units in the league. Meeks adds exceptional length and the ability to shadow routes despite his 6-foot-2, 197 pound frame.
Meeks is an improved physical presence in run support, continues to challenge at the catch point and is a disciplined cover corner with good punch at the line of scrimmage. Meeks fits what is necessary for the Colts secondary to make strides they’ve failed to in the recent past.
Rd 3, Pick 67
Hercules Mata’afa | Edge | Washington
Despite passing on Chubb early on, the Colts still found an edge defender who can contribute in both aspects. He’s a quality run defender adding over 90 tackles in the past two seasons, can get to the quarterback (15.5 sacks between 2016-17) and has enough burst to win in a variety of ways.
Mata’afa is more of a DE than he is an OLB, but at this point anyone who can rush the passer effectively will be a commodity for this front seven.
Chris Blystone
Rd 1, Pick 3
Minkah Fitzpatrick | Safety | Alabama
With my first pick I decided to do something different than most mock drafts are projecting. I took S Minkah Fitzpatrick. While the Colts need a pass rusher, they also desperately need to have a position group that is very good from top to bottom. Fitzpatrick’s versatility paired with the young talent the Colts already have, could help make this group one of the more dangerous defensive backfields in the NFL.
Rd 2, Pick 36
Orlando Brown | OT | Oklahoma
The second pick was a tough one for me. At pick number 36, one of my favorite players in this draft, RB Sony Michel, was on the board. However, When OT Orlando Brown fell to this point it seemed like the better value was to bolster the offensive line by adding a quality lineman. Brown has been graded as a first round talent who is great in pass protection, and grabbing him in the second round means adding a guy who can solidify the right side of the Colts line and develop before eventually taking over for Anthony Castonzo.
Rd 3, Pick 67
Jaire Alexander | CB | Louisville
At 67 I struggled to identify an obvious pick. By not taking an edge rusher in the first two rounds, I felt that was a major need, but with none on the board that thrilled me, I decided to double down on making the Colts’ secondary one to fear. I selected CB Jaire Alexander from Louisville. Alexander is an aggressive corner who excels and undercutting routes and creating turnovers. This move could make the Colts secondary a very good group for a very long time.
Brett Mock
Rd 1, Pick 3
Bradley Chubb | Edge | NC State
The first round of the 2018 NFL Draft is extremely difficult because there is so much uncertainty about what will happen ahead of the Colts. If two quarterbacks come off of the board, the Colts will have their pick between the best non-quarterback talents in the draft.
The one thing that is known above all else is that the Colts must generate a pass rush in 2018 and there are some arguments about whether Chubb is the best pure pass rusher in this draft but there is little argument that Chubb is a Day one starter, and has the all-around talent the Colts desire. Little to be upset about if this is the pick.
Rd 2, Pick 36
Rashaan Evans | LB | Alabama
Unlike in previous season, the high draft position will put the Colts in a place to steal a first rounder at the top of the second. This pick should bring tremendous value and the Colts absolutely need to get it right. While there are offensive players who deserve some consideration here, no single position on the team needs bolstered more than inside linebacker.
Ballard has to infuse the position with a player who doesn’t just hit hard, shed block, and make an impact in the passing game but also is athletic enough to cover tight ends and running backs out of the backfield. Rashaan Evans is that guy and would make an instant impact on the Colts front seven.
Rd 3, Pick 67
Sony Michel | RB | Georgia
The third round should create a lot of flexibility for the Colts. There’s a a real chance to get a difference-maker. After two defensive picks, I think offense makes a lot of sense here. I chose Sony Michel because I think he is the James White/Dion Lewis that Josh McDaniels will use a lot in the screen game. Not unlike a the very busy backfield in New England, where you never know which back will have the biggest impact in a game, I think Michel and Mack will compliment each other against different opponents or fronts based upon what McDaniels sees in front of him.
Jake Arthur
Rd 1, Pick 3
Bradley Chubb | Edge | NC State
Without trading back, this is just the simplest decision to make. Edge pass rusher has been one of the Colts’ two biggest needs for years, but they’ve been picking too low in the draft to be able to draft a premium player at the position. Those types of players also don’t hit the free agent market. The Colts finally have a chance to add a potentially top-notch pass rusher, so they should just do it. They don’t know when the opportunity will come around again.
Rd 2, Pick 36
Malik Jefferson | Linebacker | Texas
Right here, I struggled with Ohio State interior offensive lineman Billy Price as well, but I think the Colts want to do enough to the offensive line in free agency to where they don’t have to rely on the draft. At least I hope so. That doesn’t mean that I don’t think that they should draft any offensive linemen, but I don’t want it to have to still be a huge need.
Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds’ recent rise is pushing Malik Jefferson down the board to where the Colts may be able to get him near the top of Round 2. Alabama’s Rashaan Evans is also an option, but will probably go in the first round. Jefferson is a rangy linebacker prospect who could immediately become a better option than Antonio Morrison and Jon Bostic. Jefferson is a three-down player who can also fit into a 3-4 or 4-3 defense, whichever the Colts use in 2018.
Rd 3, Pick 67
Quenton Meeks | CB | Stanford
Meeks’ draft range is wide open right now. I’ve seen anywhere from late Round 1 all the way to early on Day 3. Regardless, he is the type of player that we have come to find that Colts general manager Chris Ballard covets. Meeks is listed around 6-2 and just over 200 pounds, so he’s got the size. He’s also a playmaker with ball skills, compiling 7 interceptions (for 2 touchdowns) and 17 pass breakups in his three seasons at Stanford. The only Colts cornerbacks under contract for 2018 are Quincy Wilson, Kenny Moore, Nate Hairston and D.J. White, so they need more quality bodies.
Stephen Reed
Rd 1, Pick 3
Bradley Chubb | Edge | NC State
This pick seems like a no brainer to me if the Colts don’t trade back. Chubb looks to be the best pass rusher in this class. Additionally, pass rush is near the top of the Colts weakness list. Take into account Saquon Barkley got taken at 1 by the Browns, and Chubb was also the best player available. If the Colts can’t trade back, I’d be ecstatic to snag Chubb. The only other players I’d even consider with the 3rd pick is Barkley and possible Notre Dame OG Quenton Nelson.
Rd 2, Pick 36
Josh Jackson | CB | Iowa
Jackson seemed like an easy decision for me at the top of Round 2. Jackson has the best coverage skills and has the ability to excel in any scheme. With my hope the Colts transition to more of a Seattle style defense, Jackson and Quincy Wilson could be a lock down tandem for years. The other player I considered here was Georgia OG Isaiah Wynn since the interior of the OL was a mess.
Rd 3, Pick 67
Will Hernandez | G | UTEP
This pick was the only one I second guessed myself. Given how bad the Colts interior of the OL was the past four plus years, I felt I had to reach a bit to take Hernandez, even though it’s not actually a reach since he’ll likely go in RD2. I was torn between Hernandez and a RB option. Georgia’s Sony Michel and San Diego State’s Rasaad Penny were both available but felt the OL had to be addressed. Plus, assuming Josh McDaniels becomes the next Colts Head Coach, I’d be interested to see how they use Marlon Mack.
Andrew Aziz
Rd 1, Pick 3
Bradley Chubb | Edge | NC State
I was hoping to focus a bit more on offense, but this is how it fell into place. Chubb adds a ton to the front seven and especially for this first pick on my mock BPA is the way to go.
Rd 2, Pick 36
Rashaan Evans | LB | Alabama
Evans is another stud who instantly boosts the speed and talent within the front seven. This unit has needed an improvement for years and Evans is a legitimate starter with what the Colts have had lately.
Rd 3, Pick 67
Anthony Miller | WR | Memphis
In the third round, I got the man who I believe is the best receiver in the draft — Anthony Miller — who should complement TY Hilton very well. The running back spot and the offensive line don’t get much help in this draft, but hopefully the Colts may address those needs in free agency.
Faraz Majid
Rd 1, Pick 3
Bradley Chubb | Edge | NC State
Chubb is the best player, at a premium position, that is a desperate need for the Indianapolis Colts. There really isn’t a better fit here than this. What we do need to watch out for is a prospect that goes by the name of Marcus Davenport. He could be a Khalil Mack-type riser during draft season. Keep an eye on him this Senior Bowl Week and beyond.
Rd 2, Pick 36
Arden Key | Edge | LSU
Is this excessive? You can never have too many pass rushers, and Key was thought to be the next big thing at the position before he suffered off-field follies. In the 2nd round, it is more than okay to bet on a player’s upside, especially when it could lead to a devastatingly lethal pass rush. Andrew Luck on one side, and a combination of Key/Chubb/Sheard on the other? Sign me up.
Rd 3, Pick 67
Anthony Averett | CB | Alabama
I really did want to select an offensive lineman or a running back here, but it would’ve been a reach either way. Averett seems to always be in position to make a play on the ball, and he would add to an already promising secondary in Indianapolis. This defense is starting to get stacked, and GM Chris Ballard can add a back in Royce Freeman or Josh Adams later, as well as offensive linemen Mason Cole or Will Clapp. I’m all in on this pick in the 3rd round.
Jared Malott
Rd 1, Pick 3
Saquon Barkley | RB | Penn State
I cannot fathom a world in which Chris Ballard has not evaluated Barkley as a once-in-a-generation player. I think if he’s available and we’re not trading the pick back, then you simply take Barkley and win now. I’d also be a fan of Bradley Chubb or Quenton Nelson, but Barkley has just won me over.
Rd 2, Pick 36
Chukwuma Okorafor | OT | Western Michigan
I was pleased to learn that in addition to being 6’6” and 311 pounds, Chukwuma has played both left and right tackle. Regardless whether this is the player chosen, I have a feeling one of the first three picks in this draft for the Colts is going to be an offensive linemen.
Rd 3, Pick 67
Dante Pettit | WR | Washington
Of course I’m dreaming, but how nice would it feel to have a really good kick and punt returner with the upside of potential of taking some snaps at WR? Again, I’m not sure this is the guy, but I think that the Colts are in the market for a wide receiver in the early part of this draft.