Colts Rumored to be Interested in Baylor NT Andrew Billings

According to Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller, the Indianapolis Colts are rumored to be strongly interested in Baylor University nose tackle Andrew Billings ahead of this year’s NFL Draft:

"“It’s a big offseason for the Indianapolis Colts, and I’m told from a team source that they like Baylor nose tackle Andrew Billings a lot in Round 1.”"

While Miller ultimately had the Colts taking Eastern Kentucky pass rusher Noah Spence at #18 overall, Billings was selected just a few picks later at #21 by the Washington Redskins.

At 6’1″, 311 pounds, Billings could have the potential to become a true difference-maker for the Colts in the middle of their defense.

Billings has exceptional strength with a weightlifting background. Specifically, he set a Texas prep state record in powerlifting with 2,010 total pounds at a meet: 805 squat, 705 dead lift, 500 on bench that was previously held by “The World’s Strongest Man” WWE professional wrestler Mark Henry for 22 years. 

Not to mention, he also has quick feet for a player of his massive size:

The scary thing too is that Billings will turn 21 years old in a few days, so there’s still room for him to get physically bigger and stronger.

Last season as a junior for the Baylor Bears, Billings recorded 39 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks in 11 games–en route to becoming named Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year.

While the Colts found a 5th round gem in last year’s NFL Draft with David Parry, who started all 16 games for their defense as a rookie, the team could theoretically use an upgrade at nose tackle.

Parry started out strong for the Colts, but wore down as the season progressed.

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription), he finished with a -13.9 grade overall, which ranked him as the 68th nose tackle among 70 qualifiers.

This raises the question of whether Parry is best suited as a rotational defensive lineman going forward despite an encouraging rookie season.

The Colts do have backup defensive lineman Zach Kerr, who has shown prior flashes of his enormous talent, but he hasn’t quite been able to consistently put it all together.

Billings has the rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism, that could make him a dominant force at nose tackle in time (via his NFL.com draft profile):

"NFL COMPARISONChris Baker"

"BOTTOM LINEBillings won’t turn 21 until March of 2016, but he has the overwhelming strength of a full­-grown NFL defensive tackle. With elite power and unusual closing speed for a big man, Billings has a chance to become something we rarely see ­– a playmaking nose tackle with the ability to dominate at the point of attack. Teams will decide through research and interviews whether Billings can handle the NFL life at such a young age, but if he can, he has all-­pro potential."

When one looks at all of the historically great 3-4 defenses of the past, each defense has been anchored by a dominant nose tackle: Ted Washington or Vince Wilfork with the New England Patriots, Casey Hampton with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jamal Williams with the San Diego Chargers, even just recently, someone like Dontari Poe with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Since Chuck Pagano‘s installation of his 3-4 defense in 2012, the Colts have struggled finding a real impact nose tackle, as they’ve shuffled through the likes of Antonio Johnson, Aubrayo Franklin, Josh Chapman–all of whom are no longer with the team, before settling on Parry as mentioned.

While someone like New York Jets nose tackle Damon Harrison could also pique the Colts interest in free agency, Billings would be a cheaper alternative through the draft.

By all indications, the Colts could very well be looking to further “build the monster” through this year’s NFL draft:

"“I also have a defensive coach, and he wants to build a defense,” said general manager Ryan Grigson at the NFL Combine."

Billings could really anchor the middle of the Colts defensive line and along with Kendall Lanford, Henry Anderson, and Arthur Jones aside of him, form one of the strongest defensive lines in football–really setting the tone for the rest of the team’s defense.

Whether Billings will actually be the team’s pick at #18 however, remains to be seen. Nevertheless, he’s certainly an intriguing prospect for the Colts at nose tackle.