NFL Draft Rumor Mill: Buzz Impacting the Colts Leading Up to Draft Night

With the 2018 NFL Draft just hours away, the number of rumors about what teams will do seems to multiply like rabbits. Many of us scoff at these, as most come to nothing, but some can cause players to slide or teams to move up to grab players they covet. The Colts sit in an enviable position this year, so let’s take a look at some of the rumors surrounding what decisions they will make once they are on the clock tonight.

Baker Mayfield to Go to Cleveland

This one is not Colts specific but would have major implications on everyone’s draft board. It comes courtesy of Adam Schefter.

If Mayfield goes at 1, there is the belief that Sam Darnold could go second to the Giants, who might otherwise trade out or draft Bradley Chubb or Saquon Barkley. If that happens, the Browns and Broncos will have to decide if the value is in trading out due to more QB scarcity, or sticking where they are and making their pick.

The Broncos have long been speculated as a team who could take a quarterback anyway, despite their assertions that they will not. If that happens and 4 of the top 5 picks are quarterbacks, the Colts will have a tough decision to make about whether to take one of those top three premium guys or trade back to someone who is frantically trying to get a quarterback. Both situations are good if you’re a Colts fan.

Sony Michel’s “Bone-on-Bone” Knee Condition Could Cause Him to Slide

It is no secret to anyone who has read any of my takes on the draft that I am a Sony Michel fan. This one again doesn’t directly affect the Colts but could have an impact. Michel, who has slowly seemed to move up boards league-wide, was beginning to seem like a real possibility to creep up into the late teens or early 20s in this draft and possibly leapfrog Derrius Guice.

With the report coming out from Mike Mayock that there is concern about the knee, it is entirely possible that he could slide back into the 2^nd round. Given the depth at the running back position and the Colts handful of 2^nd round picks, this could definitely lead to him being available when the Colts are on the clock in the 2^nd round.

Colts Could Trade Back With Buffalo, Prefer Their 2^nd Round Picks

This one comes courtesy of Peter King. In his MMQB column a few days ago, he speculated that the Colts would trade back with Buffalo:

I could see Colts GM Chris Ballard valuing the 53rd and 56th picks collectively higher than the 22nd pick in this draft. So, 12, 53, 56 and, say, 96 for six?

The idea that the Colts will want to trade back is a prevalent one. Ballard, for his part, has said that he would have to be really blown away by an offer to consider it. If he thinks a player he really wants could still be on the board at 12, this offer would be hard to pass up.

Colts Will Take Roquan Smith at 6

This is a rumor that came up from a couple places. Eric Edholm tweeted about it, and Todd McShay took Smith for the Colts in a “dueling mock draft” with Mel Kiper.

It got more legs when Daniel Jeremiah talked about it on the Move the Sticks podcast 2018 NFL Draft Preview Show.

Ballard has publicly commented on what a talented player Smith is, and he would be a great fit for a talent-deficient linebacker group, so this rumor certainly could be a credible one.

Check back throughout the day for more Colts-related rumor updates.