Without a pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts spent the first night of the draft watching. When day two started Colts General Manager Chris Ballard set out to fill the small holes remaining in this ship.
By most accounts, the offense was in dire need of some firepower after being exposed last season once injuries hit. The Colts signed quarterback Philip Rivers this offseason but that did little to curtail the demand to draft another one. Ballard stuck true to his guns and made it clear that he wouldn’t chase any prospect in this class. After adding some skill positions early in the draft the Colts used the remaining picks to round out the roster.
Colts win 2020 NFL Draft
Not being able to start building your team until the second round might be detrimental most years, but this class is loaded with talent. Chris Ballard wasted no time improving the Indianapolis Colts offense by drafting wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. out of Southern California.
He is a big-bodied receiver that should give Rivers a huge target downfield like he had back in Los Angeles with Keenan Allen. During his senior season at Southen Cal, Pittman Jr. was able to rack up 101 catches for 1,275 yards with 11 touchdowns averaging 12.6 yards per reception. He should be the perfect complement to T.Y. Hilton and allow him to not see so many double teams in 2020.
More from Horseshoe Heroes
- 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
- What should be made of Jim Irsay and Colts talking about Bryce Young and the Bears?
Following up on his first pick in the second round GM Chris Ballard hits another home run by taking running back Jonathan Tayor from Wisconsin. Taylor is a rare breed at running back and there are few that are as complete as him coming out of college.
He was a star once he set foot on campus rushing for 1,977 yards and 13 touchdowns as a true freshman in the BIG 10 conference. Finishing his college career with 6,174 rushing yards with 50 touchdowns and 407 receiving yards. There is no other prospect that embodies the Colts “run the damn ball” philosophy more than Jonathan Taylor.
Jonathan Taylor was a BEAST!!
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 24, 2020
Consider the CONTEXT:
This Wisconsin offense was so predictable - no talent & ran ALL THE TIME.
He constantly had to produce against defenses anticipating the run.
And yet he still was insanely jacked.
He's going to EAT behind that o-line
With starting safety Malik Hooker being on the trade block the Colts made sure to draft a developmental replacement if he does depart. Julian Blackmon out of Utah is a very intriguing prospect mainly because of his versatility playing both corner and safety in college.
Free safety is going to be the best position for Blackmon in the NFL. It will allow him to scan the field and be the ball-hawk like he was this past season with four interceptions and five passes defended. Luckily, Julian will be given time to develop while seeing some time in the nickel and special teams.
Although Chris Ballard said he would not chase a quarterback in this year’s draft, one ended up falling to him in the fourth. Washington quarterback Jacob Eason has been a fan favorite for the Colts to land in the 2020 Draft for a long time.
Eason has everything that head coach Frank Reich covets in a quarterback with a howitzer for an arm that launches beautiful deep passes. He will be competing with Chad Kelly for the 3rd string position as the Colts have no intention of trading or releasing Jacoby Brissett.
With Philip Rivers signed to a one year deal and Brissett having one year remaining on his deal Eason could see playing time next year coming out of training camp.
This is quite a quote from new Colts QB Jacob Eason:
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) April 25, 2020
"As soon as this virus calms down, I'm gonna go in there and compete my nuts off."
In the closing rounds of the NFL draft, the Colts took a few developmental and depth players to bolster the roster. In the fifth-round Ball State offensive lineman Danny Pinter heard his name come off the board. Playing multiple positions on the Ball State line Pinter is a player that needs two years to develop.
Only playing two seasons on the line leaves him a bit raw all around and lacks the real lower body strength to play right away. Penn State defensive tackle Robert Windsor will be a rotational player along the Colts defensive line. He has a high motor and above-average quickness getting off the ball but his lack of length will keep him from being a starter long term.
Dipping back into the secondary well late in the draft, Isaiah Rodgers out of UMass looks to be a special teams ace early in his career. An undersized corner with an average skill set as a defensive back but he was an All-ECAC selection as a returner with 53 returns for 1,295 yards.
Likely joining him on special teams will be safety Jordan Glasgow out of Michigan. Viewed as a hybrid athlete that can play some linebacker he will have a hard time seeing the field outside of special teams.
Not to be forgotten in the shuffle wide receiver Dezmon Patmon of Washington State finally heard his name called on night three. Another big-bodied fast receiver for the Colts to develop for the future. He needs this coaching staff to teach him how to use his size to his advantage and work on his catching in traffic.
Indianapolis won the 2020 NFL Draft hands down in my opinion with the key pieces they were able to acquire. Getting a starting wide receiver and running back in the second round after missing out on the first round completely is impressive.
Pittman Jr and Taylor will be staples of this Colts offense for years to come the way Chris Ballard has built this team. Everyone is young and coming into the prime of their careers at the same time. Jacob Eason gives the Colts a little more time when it comes to finding that franchise quarterback. He posses all the abilities to be a starting-caliber NFL quarterback it’s just getting him mentally prepared before he sees the field.
After Free Agency and the draft, the Colts have very few flaws going into the 2020 season and remain Super Bowl favorites.