Colts Q&A with Jake: Pre-2018 Draft Edition

This week, I answered your Indianapolis Colts and 2018 NFL Draft questions. I’d love to do this again before the draft hits because, as we all know, topics and situations during draft season are always fluid.

I’m always open for questions on Facebook and Twitter, but I’ll put another call out for your questions closer to the next video. Enjoy!

Nathan Jenks @NDJ607to706 (Twitter)

“Is Tremaine Edmunds the real target at No. 6 for the Colts?”

I think Edmunds is a target for the Colts at No. 6 or if they trade down, but not necessarily the target. I think the Colts prefer to have a three-man race at 6 between Bradley Chubb, Quenton Nelson and Saquon Barkley. I’ve heard quite a bit about Roquan Smith being in the mix at No. 6 also. Edmunds becomes more of an option if the Colts trade down and more of the aforementioned guys are off the board. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if Edmunds happened to be the pick at No. 6, as he fits a need at linebacker and has tremendous potential.

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Jason Johnson @jasonmjohnson04 (Twitter)

“Would we (Colts) really trade back if it’s not in the top 10? If we do I feel it’s more quantity over quality. I believe with having no linebackers we go Roquan Smith at 6.”

General manager Chris Ballard said that in order for the Colts to trade back again — and for it to be out of the top 10 — the offer would have to blow them away. To me, that means multiple picks in the first couple rounds ranging from this year to next. Smith is definitely an option at No. 6, as he’s the perfect type of linebacker for their new defense. Smart, fast and a good likelihood of becoming an elite player at his position.

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Sean Cox (Facebook)

“Sam Hubbard and Billy Price. Let’s hit Ohio State hard in that second round. Thoughts?”

I’m actually not crazy about Hubbard, but I would take Price for sure, especially if the Colts don’t come up with an interior lineman like Nelson or Will Hernandez. I wouldn’t be against the Colts taking Hubbard with their third pick in the second round (No. 49), but I doubt he’ll be there. In my opinion, he’s just not good enough of a pass rusher to make up for the fact that he does very little against the run. If Marcus Davenport, Josh Sweat or more dynamic guys like Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Lorenzo Carter were there in the second, I’d rather have them. In the third, you could get someone like Dorance Armstrong Jr., Chad Thomas, Uchenna Nwosu or Kemoko Turay

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Daryl Ingram @DarylIngram9 (Twitter)

“Who are some late-rounders Chris Ballard should target?”

Some good late-round/lesser-known guys the Colts could find at some positions of need are as follows:

RB — Ito Smith (Southern Miss)

WR — Daurice Fountain (Northern Iowa), Ray Bolden (Stony Brook)

ED — Mike Love (USF), Anthony Winbush (Ball State), Jacob Tuioti-Mariner (DE/DT) (UCLA)

LB — Skai Moore (South Carolina), Azeem Victor (Washington)

CB — Tremon Smith (Central Arkansas), Davontae Harris (CB/S) (Illinois State)

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James Merrill (Facebook)

“If Andrew Luck has complications before the start of the season, are the Colts okay with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback for the start of the season?”

I believe that they would be comfortable in that scenario. Trading down in the draft from No. 3 was a good indicator that Luck will be available because it takes them out of the running for this year’s top quarterbacks. They know Brissett as a leader and signal-caller, and having a whole offseason with Frank Reich should do wonders for both Luck and Brissett. Reich is the type of coach to plan around a player instead of forcing a player into a plan.

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*Questions have been lightly edited for clarity.