The offensive line was a major problem for the Colts in 2017, and general manager Chris Ballard can help fix that issue by upgrading at the guard position this offseason.
The interior of the Indianapolis offensive line was ravaged by injuries last season, and that included losing guard Jack Mewhort for the year. The Colts didn’t have any depth behind Mewhort at guard, and that became apparent as they were last in the league in sack percentage.
Mewhort is a free agent this offseason, and it’s unsure whether he’ll be back in a Colts uniform in 2018. If the Colts lose Mewhort, this becomes an even bigger need to address this offseason.
Luckily, there are a lot of good guard prospects in this year’s draft class. Ohio State’s Billy Price is one of them, and he could be available at the beginning of the second round. UTEP’s Will Hernandez or Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn are also very solid prospects, and Chris Ballard may give them a look at the beginning of the third round.
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Panthers guard Andrew Norwell is the consensus top guard in the 2018 free agent class, and the Colts have enough cap room to give him a huge offer to bring him to Indianapolis. Brandon Fusco of the 49ers is probably the second-best guard available, but there aren’t many other talented guards in the 2018 free agent class.
Protecting Andrew Luck should be the top priority for the Colts front office this offseason, and that begins along the interior of the offensive line. Whether Chris Ballard chooses to address that issue in free agency or the draft, Indianapolis needs to add a reliable starter or two at the guard position.