CBS Sports has Colts taking RB or OLB in latest mock draft
By Evan Reller
The Indianapolis Colts have the 18th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, and the mocks are already starting to pour in.
With the 18th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Colts select… running back Ezekiel Elliott…or outside linebacker Darron Lee, both from Ohio State. At least according to the draft experts at CBS Sports.
The Colts have plenty of needs to address with their first round pick. Most analysts would tell you they clearly need offensive line help (which isn’t quite the case) but there are other directions the team could go with the 18th pick. They clearly need help in the pass rush department and could stand to find a younger playmaker at running back.
Rob Rang has the Colts using the pick on Elliott. Here’s what he had to say:
"Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State: Veteran Frank Gore provided some toughness to the Colts’ running game in 2015, but he lacks a dynamic element. Elliott isn’t the second-coming of Todd Gurley, but he is clearly the top running back in this class, showing the all-around game to play on all three downs immediately."
Not a bad selection, but running back doesn’t jump of the page in terms of team needs for the Colts. Running backs are still a dime-a-dozen in the NFL and more often than not team’s aren’t using a first round pick on a back. In Rang’s draft, Elliott is the first and only running back being taken in the first round. That should be a red flag.
That said, Elliott is a great NFL prospect. He has elite size and speed as well as all the traits you want in a ball carrier. And considering his position, Elliott could make an impact on the offense from day one. His one weakness is consistency in the passing game (something the Colts sorely need out of a running back) but there is no denying his ability once the ball is in his hands.
Elliott would absolutely be an upgrade over Dan Herron, another Buckeye, or whoever else the Colts bring in to backup Gore. It simply would be too early for the Colts (or any team) to take a running back in this draft.
Dane Brugler has the Colts taking Lee, another Buckeye, with the 18th pick. Here are his thoughts on the pick:
"Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State: The Colts need more speed on defense and Lee is one of the most athletic linebackers in this draft class. A high school quarterback, he is still developing his technique and discipline, but has high upside due to his natural athleticism and instincts."
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The Colts absolutely have to get faster (and younger) on defense, and Lee would fit that need. He excels in run support but mostly out of Ohio State’s 4-3 defense, which means he doesn’t have as much experience as a pass rusher. In 2015, he was second team All-Big Ten with 66 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
This likely means the Colts would draft him as a replacement for Erik Walden, who has one more year left on his current contract. The Colts would save $4 million by cutting Walden, who struggled his first season in Indy but has played well the past two. With this pick, the Colts should be looking for someone who can come in and start immediately, and that won’t happen unless Walden is let go.
Both picks would benefit the Colts, but neither addresses a particularly glaring need. Mel Kiper at ESPN had the Colts taking left tackle Taylor Decker…also from Ohio State. Apparently the Colts sent all of their scouts to Columbus this season instead of Stanford or Florida.
There are going to be plenty more mock drafts heading forward, and we’ll make sure to break down every potential first round pick for the Colts.