Pros and Cons for the Colts Drafting Barkley and Chubb

The Colts have a big decision to make in the upcoming draft. Who should they use their number first round pick on? It seems to have come down to two players: Saquon Barkley and Bradley Chubb.

“With the number three pick in the 2018, the Indianapolis Colts select…”. Who will commissioner Roger Goodell say at the end of that sentence? Will it be the running back out of Penn State? Or will it be the defensive end from NC State? There are pros and cons to taking both Saquon Barkley and Bradley Chubb.

If the Colts take the running back Barkley, they would be getting perhaps the best overall talent in the draft. He is a dynamic playmaker and would take pressure off of Andrew Luck and the passing game. He would be able to enhance the passing game as well with his great hands out of the backfield.

More from Horseshoe Heroes

• Colts explored hiring former quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky
• When is the NFL Combine 2023? NFL Combine schedule, events, how to stream
• Latest NFL mock draft has Colts trading up to No. 1 for star QB
• Eagles offensive free agents that could follow Shane Steichen to Colts
• Here’s why Colts linebacker Shaq Leonard is going to love Shane Steichen

But if the Colts take Barkley, they risk not upgrading a bigger need on their team. The Colts already have a young running back in Marlon Mack who looked great last season as a rookie. Taking Barkley would mean that the greater needs of pass rusher and offensive lineman would need to be answered in later rounds by less talented individuals.

Chubb would fit the need of pass rusher for sure. He is fast around the edge, has good instincts, and is a sure-tackler. He can use the bull rush as well as the speed rush. Chubb is also a smart player who would benefit from  defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ new Tampa 2 scheme.

But taking Chubb has its risks as well. He did not perform well against two inferior opponents this past seasons, having only four total tackles in two games against Furman and Pittsburgh. Neither of those teams have good offensive linemen, and Chubb seemed to struggle nevertheless.

Next: A History of Colts Running Backs Drafted in the First Round

The Colts could see those games as outliers though and they would hardly be blamed for it. Chubb has a lot of upside, as does Barkley. Ultimately, the pick will come down to who the organization thinks can help them the most. And hopefully for Colts fans, they make the right choice.