Colts Draft: Wealth of Options in McShay-Kiper Live Mock

The NFL Draft is a mercifully just six days away now. The rumors and chatter between NFL teams actually has some value now and the numerous mock drafts are coming to an end.

Last night, ESPN indulged their top two draftniks: Mel Kiper and Todd McShay. The pair alternated picks in a live three round mock draft and the options available for the Indianapolis Colts at pick 29 were surprising.

The Colts had their choice of three very talented defensive players who should realistically go much higher in the draft:

Alabama safety Landon Collins

Missouri outside linebacker Shane Ray

Clemson linebacker Vic Beasley

McShay made the pick for the Colts and took Ray (had Kiper done so, the result would have been an offensive lineman). His analysis:

"Ray dropped a little bit here due to concerns over his toe injury and based on the fact that I have some questions about his ability to drop in coverage as a 3-4 outside linebacker. But he’s a great value this late in the first round, and he’d give the Colts much-needed youth at the edge-rusher position behind veterans Robert Mathis and Trent Cole."

Recent reports indicate that Ray could be out for the next five months due to a toe injury that likely requires surgery. Former Colts GM Bill Polian said this week that he saw Ray as the next Robert Mathis.

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“When I see him I see Robert Mathis,” Polian said on ESPN. “Near a Hall of Fame player. People who don’t like him are going to say he’s narrow of build and therefore can’t stand on the line of scrimmage, and that’s fine. I don’t want him to stand on the line of scrimmage, I want him to go chase the quarterback, and he’s about the best in this draft at doing that.”

Polian wasn’t too overly concerned with the toe injury either.

“There is no long-term lingering issue with turf toe, not like a knee injury,” Polian said. “You recover from it, you’re back, and you’re ready to go. I would not move him. I’d be praying that he’d come to me,”

Either Ray or Beasley would be a good option at OLB. Beasley is an athletic freak and there he’s been incredibly durable throughout his career. He had an unreal Combine and is one of the best edge rushers in the draft.

Considering that Collins was available at this point, and following Grigson’s comments on him earlier in the day, it was surprising that they didn’t select him at 29 in this mock draft.

The mock continued for another two rounds, a surprising move as they generally just deal with the top end talent of the draft.

Pick 61 (McShay): Donovan Smith, OT, Penn State

"Offensive linemen have flown off the board in this mock draft, so I had to reach for Smith a little bit here. But I really needed to get a tackle who can help protect Andrew Luck long term."

Because Luck gets hit too much and all that.

Pick 93 (McShay): James Sample, S, Louisville

"The Colts are in need of a starter at free safety opposite strong safety Mike Adams, and Sample could compete for the job as a rookie. He possesses above-average coverage ability and is excellent in run support."

Based on this mock, the Colts addressed three of the highest needs on the list (at least according to ESPN). Having a wealth of options fall to the team at 29 seems unlikely, but it wouldn’t be surprising if one highly touted prospect were to fall to them late in the first round.

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