Zach Hicks’ Final Colts Mock Draft + UDFA Signing Predictions

We finally made it Colts fans. Today is draft day and while the Colts may not have a pick in this round, we’ve finally made it to what we’ve all been waiting for.

I want to take a quick moment to thank all of you for your support and following this offseason. It has been a busy one for not only me but for the entire staff here at Stampede Blue. Draft season is personally my favorite time of year and I am glad that you all enjoyed the interviews, mock drafts, big boards, and Build-A-Ballard pieces that I posted these last few months.

Today is my final mock draft of the season where I try to predict what the Colts may do these next few days. I am not extremely connected in this industry but I talk to enough agents and people with the Colts to have a general idea of what they may do. With that being said, here is my final mock draft of the season for you all to enjoy/rip apart.

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***TRADE: Colts Trade Pick 34 to the Denver Broncos for Picks 46, 95, and 181. The Broncos moved up to select TCU CB Jeff Gladney.

So starting this mock draft off with a bang as the Colts trade out of the 34th pick. While there will be some intriguing options at that spot, the best way for Chris Ballard to add more picks and improve the depth of this roster is by trading this pick. The Broncos were desperate in this situation to get a day one cornerback and had so many picks later in the draft that they could afford to give up two later ones. This trade brings the Colts’ pick total in the class to 9.

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Round 2 Pick 44: Jeremy Chinn, Safety, Southern Illinois

Would it really be a Chris Ballard draft class if he didn’t shock us all with an FCS defender in the second round? On a more serious note, Chinn may not be at a position of need for the Colts but what he can do is way too intriguing to pass up at this spot. Chinn is an elite athlete who tested out of this world at the Combine, running a 4.45 while recording a vertical jump of 41” and a broad jump of 138”. On film, the thing that really pops is his versatility as he has experience playing safety, linebacker, and nickel corner even.

For the Colts, taking a player like Chinn would not spell the end for either Malik Hooker or Khari Willis on defense. What it would do though is add a versatile and insanely athletic chess piece to a defense that desperately needs that. Think of how the Los Angeles Chargers use Derwin James. While Chinn isn’t that caliber of player, he can fill that roll for a defense and provide value at multiple different spots. On top of all that, he is also a Team Captain, a Senior Bowl player, and he grew up in the Indianapolis area. I think when you add in all of these factors, Chinn is an obvious target for the Colts in round two.

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Round 2 Pick 46: Michael Pittman Jr, Wide Receiver, USC

It is no secret that the Colts need a wide receiver in this class. Perhaps the best fit in this entire draft for the current make-up of the Colts is Michael Pittman Jr. A big bodied player, Pittman Jr excels in traffic and plays with excellent physicality at the catch point. While he is a big bodied player who excels in contested catches, he is also extremely smooth in his routes and with his lateral ability. He does need to improve his releases a bit but he projects well as a starting X receiver in the NFL.

With Philip Rivers as the starting quarterback for the near future, the Colts need to look for big bodied receivers for him in this class. With Pittman Jr they get the best of both worlds as he is that big bodied guy but he projects well as a route runner too at the next level. He is also a Team Captain and Senior Bowl standout to go along with those traits. All in all, the Colts would be getting a perfect complement to Parris Campbell and T.Y Hilton on the outside in Pittman Jr.

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Round 3 Pick 75: Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia

Despite adding both Xavier Rhodes and T.J Carrie this offseason, the Colts could still use some help at cornerback. Hall is a real intriguing player who fits almost every category in what Chris Ballard looks for in a cornerback. He is a long and physical player who is at his best in either zone coverage or press man. He has some athletic limitations but he makes up for it by being one of the most instinctual and physical corners in the class. He also would have been at the Senior Bowl if it weren’t for his injury and he was basically a coach for Virginia last season after he went down.

For the Colts, adding a corner of Hall’s caliber is a no brainer in round three. He is a smart and effective player who can immediately help the team. Rock Ya-Sin was solid in year one and Kenny Moore II is a real good slot corner. Outside of that there are a lot of question marks revolving around if Rhodes can get back to his old self and if Marvell Tell can take that second year leap. Adding a player like Hall gives them a very good safety blanket and just a good overall player.

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Round 3 Pick 95: Kenny Willekes, Defensive End, Michigan State

Getting back to the defensive side of the ball, one of the best fits in this class is Kenny Willekes to the Colts to replace Jabaal Sheard as the strong side defensive end. Willekes is a player who garnered a ton of hype last offseason and saw that hype die off a bit for no reason in 2019. He is a really solid player who is a proven leader and hard worker off the field. He is strong against the run and has perhaps the highest motor in this entire draft class. With his strong hands and quick punch, he also offers quite a bit as a pass rusher despite not being the bendiest player.

The Colts needed to upgrade Jabaal Sheard this offseason as the veteran lost way too much in terms of pass rush ability in 2019. By adding Willekes, they not only get a great locker room player but also a high floor defensive end who can provide an impact. He may never be a 10+ sack player in the league but he will always provide great energy while being a plus run defender and a decent pass rusher. Adding yet another Senior Bowl standout Michigan State player to this defense could be the move in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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Round 4 Pick 122: Robert Hunt, OT/IOL, Louisiana

The depth on the offensive line for the Colts right now is borderline nonexistent. With the departure of depth players like Joe Haeg and Josh Andrews, the Colts need to bring in somebody to back up and develop behind the starting five. Hunt is a talented player who could fill in that Joe Haeg role for the time being. He is a big, physical tackle who plays with a mauler mentality. His mindset and play style fit exactly what the Colts like to do up front. He may not be the future at guard or tackle but he can at least be very solid depth and a player who doesn’t hurt the team whatsoever if he needs to take snaps at anytime during a game.

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Round 5 Pick 160: Anthony Gordon, QB, Washington State

The Colts are set at quarterback for the 2020 season with Philip Rivers and Jacoby Brissett currently on the roster. Where they aren’t set is at quarterback of the future as neither of those players are the long term answer for the team. While grabbing Gordon on day three likely means he’s not the answer either, he seems to be the best option at becoming anything of the day three quarterbacks. He has a quick release along with natural accuracy and a great ability to anticipate throws and adjust his throwing motion to fit passes in to tight places. He is a bit of a project as his footwork is a bit of a mess and his arm overall is below average but he could be like his teammate from Washington State in Gardner Minshew with a little luck and development. The beauty of the Rivers signing is that even if the Colts don’t get a QB in this draft, they can take a day three guy they like and worry about the future in either the 2021 or 2022 draft class.

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Round 6 Pick 181: Jake Breeland, TE, Oregon

The Colts may not necessarily need a tight end after signing Trey Burton yesterday but I’m sure the Colts and Frank Reich would love to get back to having four tight ends on the roster again. Breeland is an underrated tight end in this class who was on pace to have over 1,000 yards and double digit touchdowns last season before he tore his ACL halfway through the year. On film though he is a real athletic tight end who excels in the passing game and is also a high effort blocker who has shown continual improvement in that area. The Colts also appear to have a lot of interest as Breeland told me that he met with the Colts at his Pro Day and had a FaceTime call with them.

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Round 6 Pick 193: Danny Pinter, OT/IOL, Ball State

Remember when I said the Colts basically have no offensive line depth? Yeah they need a lot of help there. Pinter is an intriguing player as he is a former tight end who moved out to right tackle his final few seasons at Ball State. He is an elite athlete who just needs to refine his technique and add a little bit of strength to be ready for the NFL game. He is a good long term prospect who the Colts could have interest in though. He reminds me a lot of Jackson Barton who the Colts took in the seventh round of last year’s draft. Chris Ballard was reportedly really upset about losing Barton according to a source so he could try to redo that pick with Pinter in this class. Pinter is also a local Indianapolis kid so the Colts have probably known about him for years now.

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Round 6 Pick 197: Joe Reed, Wide Receiver, Virginia

Like I mentioned earlier, the Colts need all the help they can get at wide receiver. An interesting player to take a look at later in the draft is Joe Reed. An athletic and productive player as a Senior, Reed burst on to the scene this past season. He was electric on special teams for the Cavaliers and was a pretty underrated offensive playmaker when on the field. He best projects to the NFL as a depth receiver who provides a big spark on special teams. He reminds me a lot of Zach Pascal actually and that is one player that it doesn’t hurt to have two of.

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Potential UDFA Targets

1.) Austin Mack, WR, Ohio State

Mack is an unspectacular do-it-all type of player from Ohio State. He does all the dirty work while bringing nothing over the top or special to the team. With Ballard’s connections to Ohio State and the fact that Mack grew up in the Indianapolis area, I think this could be a very real UDFA signing that could result in Mack landing on the practice squad after the offseason.

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2.) Austin Hall, LB, Memphis

While the Colts are very unlikely to draft a linebacker in this class according to a source, they could be active in the UDFA market for one. One of the most intriguing options is hybrid LB/SAF Austin Hall. Hall is a great athlete with excellent length and has the versatility to play multiple positions. The Colts are one of three teams that really like Hall according to a source.

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3.) Mason Kinsey, WR, Berry University

Going really small school with this one but the Colts do have interest in Kinsey after the draft. The small school receiver was very productive in his college career and projects well as a slot receiver in the NFL. He is a great route runner with good hands and he stood out in practices against top prospect in that week.

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4.) Levonta Taylor, CB, Florida State

Once a highly rated prospect, Taylor’s game has fallen off a bit the last few seasons. Still, he has the athletic traits to be intriguing at least in the NFL. He has great mirroring ability and quickness to play many roles. His size may limit him in the NFL but the Colts could be interested in him as a camp player in that Kenny Moore II role.

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5.) Dustin Woodard, IOL, Memphis

One of the more athletic interior linemen in this class, Woodard is flying a bit under the radar after not receiving a Combine invite. His film is unspectacular at times but he is a hard nosed player who moves well and plays physical. He would be a good camp player to compete for depth on the interior.

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6.) Jared Hilbers, OT/IOL, Washington

Speaking of competing for depth, why not bring in a player who is familiar with Chris Strausser and his scheme? Hilbers is a solid offensive lineman who was recruited by Strausser to Washington back in the day. Reuniting a solid linemen with his former coach could provide good depth in camp for the Colts.

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7.) Adrian Killings, RB, UCF

With the return of Jonathan Williams being unlikely, the Colts could have an opening at RB4 this next season (if they keep that many on the roster). Killings is more of a scat back but he is an elite athlete with great quickness and speed (ran a 10.53 100m in high school). If the Colts need a backup to Nyheim Hines, Killings is their guy.

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8.) Kameron Cline, DT, South Dakota

Last player I’m going to list here is a relative unknown. Cline had a decent Senior season for South Dakota and the NFL apparently loves his skill set for the next level. The Colts are one of many teams to have shown interest in him. An explosive defensive tackle as a UDFA is never a bad thing to add.