Adding Depth After the Draft for the Indianapolis Colts

With the 2015 NFL Draft just a few days away, over 200 young men will take the first step into making their dreams come true.

The Indianapolis Colts hold nine draft picks in this year’s draft, and need to add depth at several positions. One being the offensive line.

The Colts ranked just 21st in pass blocking efficiency last season according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required) with a rating of 78.2. Their highest rating in the three years since Andrew Luck has been under center.

During those three years, the offensive line on average is allowing Luck to be hit 59 times during the season, hurried 141 times, and sacked 22 times. On an average of 695 passing plays, that means he is being forced into some sort of pressure 31 percent of passing plays.

While the line has shown tremendous improvements over that last three years, the Colts clearly need to add depth.

Using a first round pick might not be the best option as the “elite” tackles will be off the board by then. And it might not even be in the best interest of the team to look to pick up a lineman in the first few rounds, as needs at linebacker, safety, and defensive line seem more presentment right now.

They Colts could look to adding depth after every player is called on Saturday and sign a unrestriced free agent rookie to an invite to training camp.

That man might be a former teammate of last year’s second round draft pick Jack Mewhort.

At 6″6″ and 305 pounds,

is an intriguing prospect at right tackle.

In 2010 he entered Columbus as a defensive end. After four years of competing for playing time, he entered the 2014 season as the starting right tackle.

In all honesty you want to see a player have the resume at his position, and Baldwin does not have that. But what he does have is the strength ( 30 reps on bench) and the speed ( 4.94 40 at his Pro Day).

He might be raw in the aspects of being an offensive lineman, but he has shown the ability to adapt to a new position.

Although he is not highlighted above, you can see his ability to recover quickly when beat. He is number 76.

Pass blocking is one of the hardest things to learn in the game, and especially when you have not played your entire career.

You need quick feet and hands, and must be able to re-adjust on the fly in a moments notice.

After being beat on the spin move, Baldwin is able to adjust his hands and feet and back pedal quickly to square up his defender and not allow him to get to the quarterback.

He might be a work in progress, but he shows great potential along the offensive line.

Above you can see his quick feet again with the ability to pull. Although I would like him to drop his hips more before initiating contact on the linebacker, he is quick around to the hole.

The Colts already have a “plug-in” offensive lineman in Joe Reitz who can play along the entire line, but Baldwin has that type of potential as well.

And the with the future health of Gosder Cherilus up in the air, the Colts need to add depth behind him.

Baldwin might not be an immediate starter of opening day roster guy right away, but with a little polish and work he could become the Colts starting right tackle in the future.

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