Colts take OLB Noah Spence in new mock draft

The Indianapolis Colts need help at pass rush, and an updated mock draft have them taking a controversial player to fill that role.

The Colts are desperate to find a consistent pass rush, but would they be willing to risk their first round pick on a player with a drug history?

Over at Bleacher/Report, draft expert Matt Miller has put out his updated notebook. In his new mock draft, he has the Colts taking Eastern Kentucky outside linebacker Noah Spence. Miller doesn’t give any thoughts on the pick, but he does have a brief Q&A with the prospect:

"Miller: You’ve worked out for teams that run a 3-4 and teams that run a 4-3. Are you more comfortable as a 4-3 DE or 3-4 outside linebacker?Spence: To be honest, I think I can play either position…and I’m not just saying that.Miller: Of all the sacks you had in college football, which one will you never forget?Spence: My sophomore year against Penn State to end the first half. I loved that sack the most because it came at a great time in the game and it was a home game and against my home-state team. I also knew Donovan Smith was supposed to be pretty good.Miller: Which NFL player do you think you most closely resemble as a player?Spence: Justin Houston. I love the way Justin plays—his heart, relentlessness and the love for the game show. Not to mention his pass-rush moves. I try to take as many as I can from him and use them in my game."

Interesting that Miller doesn’t take the time to ask Spence about his history. He was banned from the Big Ten for failed drug tests (plural) and had to transfer away from Ohio State to Eastern Kentucky.

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The Colts brass are on record as saying that off-field character issues are a big red flag and generally removes a player from their draft board. They have had a number of talented players who’ve had their issues with drugs in recent seasons that have hurt the team (Jonathan Newsome, LaVon Brazill). That said, they still had Spence in for a workout earlier this week and his history is going to hurt his draft status.

The NFL is littered with redemption stories (Tyrann Mathieu) and just as many who failed their way out of the league (Justin Blackmon). The decision to take Spence will mostly revolve around whether or not a team thinks he falls into the former category or not. His time with the Colonels certainly points to Spence cleaning up his off-field issues as he’s been on a pretty strict drug testing schedule that would be hard to beat.

Spence is certainly talented and he is physically exactly what you want out of an edge rusher. He isn’t the kind of player you would want to start from day one and might take a couple years to develop, but with the right coaching (and veteran leadership) he’ll develop into a solid starter.

This is a high-risk, high-reward pick that some team is going to make in April. The Colts might make that move, but it’s more likely that they take a player without a questionable past.

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