Fortunately for Colts, 2016 NFL Draft is Loaded Defensively
According to MMQB Peter King’s piece Monday morning, with the NFL Combine set to begin in Indianapolis, the 2016 NFL Draft is projected to be loaded defensively–particularly along the defensive line per a conversation with NFL Network Draft Guru Mike Mayock:
"“It’s an A draft for defense, C for offense,” writes King. “Mayock thinks there could be 19 defensive players among the 31 first-rounders. ‘We can talk quarterbacks and other sexy positions,’ Mayock said, ‘but the nuts and bolts of this draft is defense. And think about this: There are 10 to 12 interior defensive linemen who could have first-round grades from some teams. It is by far the best year for interior defensive linemen in my memory’.”"
The Colts defensive line received significant reinforcements in last year’s draft, as the team found two talented young players Henry Anderson and David Parry, who started from Day 1.
Not to mention, general manager Ryan Grigson hit a home run in signing veteran free agent Kendall Langford, who became the team’s most consistent defensive lineman.
With Arthur Jones returning, the Colts defensive line figures to be one of the stronger points of their defense.
That being said, the team could still use edge pass rushers, and whether that comes from the defensive line or at outside linebacker is irrelevant.
The Colts could also arguably use an upgrade at nose tackle, where Parry as an undersized nose held his own but may be better suited as a rotational defensive lineman when it’s all said and done.
Of course, at pick #18, the Colts could be tempted by an incredibly talented, yet perhaps troubled pass rushing prospect such as Ole Miss’s Robert Nkemdiche or Eastern Kentucky’s Noah Spence, whom Mayock mentioned:
"“Mississippi defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche fell from a fourth-floor window of a Hyatt in Atlanta in December, and police found seven marijuana cigarettes in his hotel room, leading him to be suspended for Ole Miss’s bowl game,” writes King. “So there’s that. ‘If you watched his Alabama tape from this year and we lived in a vacuum with no concerns for off-the-field stuff, you’d think he could be the first player picked in the draft,’ said Mayock. “Then there’s defensive end Noah Spence, booted out of Ohio State for failing multiple drug tests, including one for ecstasy; he transferred to Eastern Kentucky and had 11.5 sacks last fall in his only season there,” added King. “‘One of the most talented kids in the draft,’ said Mayock, ‘but obviously, you’ve got to be careful.’ Spence is similar in size (6-2 5/8, 252 pounds) to Von Miller.”"
While the offensive line also needs to be addressed, the Colts could be wise to pick up at least a talented pass rushing prospect or two in this year’s NFL Draft class–especially since it seems to be loaded with potential candidates.
The Colts defense finished tied at 22nd for the least amount of sacks with 35.0 sacks this past season, and the team clearly lacked pass rushing from the edge.
As the Denver Broncos recently showed in their Super Bowl run, a relentless pass rush can solve a lot of a defense’s holes and ultimately dominate football games.
However, talented pass rushers are always held at a premium, and young ones don’t exactly grow on trees–being normally hard to come by.
If the Colts have an opportunity to grab a talented young pass rusher early on, the team shouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger given their desperate need.