There’s Still Hope Bradley Chubb Could Get to Colts at No. 6

Rumors surrounding the top of the 2018 NFL Draft are at a fever pitch right now. The demand for quarterbacks is going to shape the whole round, but several other teams near the top are complete wild cards.

The Indianapolis Colts currently sit at the sixth overall pick. There’s almost a certainty that three or four QB’s will be taken before then, which would leave a couple of opportunities for a non-QB that the Colts need to be taken. The Colts don’t need a franchise QB like other teams ahead of them in the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, New York Jets and Denver Broncos, so they will almost have the pick of the litter when it comes to the best players who aren’t quarterbacks.

However, the Giants, the Browns with their second pick at No. 4 and the Broncos could really screw the Colts by selecting the player they need most, NC State edge defender Bradley Chubb.

Chubb is the best defensive player in the draft and plays one of the most critical positions on an NFL field. The reasons why he may not be there for the Colts at No. 6 are obvious. However, although it seems less likely by the week that Chubb could be available to the Colts, I wouldn’t abandon all hope yet.

I’ve been involved in a couple of journalist mock drafts lately where I represent the Colts’ pick at No. 6, and Chubb has fallen into my lap both times.

1. Browns — Sam Darnold, Quarterback, USC
2. Giants — Josh Allen, Quarterback, Wyoming
3. Jets — Josh Rosen, Quarterback, UCLA
4. Browns — Harold Landry, Defensive End, Boston College
5. Broncos — Baker Mayfield, Quarterback, Oklahoma
6. Colts — Bradley Chubb, Defensive End, NC State

1. Browns — Sam Darnold, Quarterback, USC
2. Giants — Josh Rosen, Quarterback, UCLA
3. Jets — Baker Mayfield, Quarterback, Oklahoma
4. Browns — Minkah Fitzpatrick, Defensive Back, Alabama
5. Broncos — Tremaine Edmunds, Linebacker, Virginia Tech
6. Colts — Bradley Chubb, Defensive End, NC State

The Colts don’t have any premium pass rushers on the current roster. They have Jabaal Sheard and John Simon, both of whom are productive and capable of putting consistent pressure on quarterbacks, but they don’t often register sacks. The Colts also have second-year player Tarell Basham, who we have no idea whether he will develop into an above-average starting pass rusher yet. In the Colts’ new 4-3 defense, arguably the most critical point is to generate pressure and get sacks from the front four.

Interestingly enough in the two mock drafts above, Penn State running back Saquon Barkley and Notre Dame offensive guard Quenton Nelson were not among the non-QB’s taken before No. 6. Barkley is almost certain to be either the first or second non-QB picked in the real draft, and Nelson is the most anticipated guard I can remember coming out in all my time paying attention to the draft. He also could be taken before the Colts pick.

While both of the above scenarios seem unlikely to have the specific non-QB’s go ahead of the Colts that were taken, it is certainly possible in an unpredictable NFL. All in all, guys like Barkley, Nelson, Fitzpatrick, Edmunds, Derwin James, Roquan Smith and Denzel Ward could have a definite effect on the top five picks in the draft.