The Indianapolis Colts might have had to part ways with some draft capital in both this year’s draft and the next in order to acquire quarterback Carson Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles, but that doesn’t mean that Chris Ballard and Frank Reich are totally bereft of ways to improve this team.
The Colts potentially solved their quarterback questions, but this team is still in need of playmakers at wide receiver as well as some help in the secondary and in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
So where will they look?
Ohio State’s dominance can make it easy to forget that the Big Ten is routinely one of the deepest conferences in college football.
If the Colts need some muscle on the interior and some speed on the perimeter, why not stay local and look to the country’s heartland for some studs that can contribute as rookies?
If the Colts, who play in the home of the Big Ten Championship, wanted to, they could plug up almost all of their holes by drafting players exclusively from that conference.
This Colts mock draft brings six Big Ten players to Indianapolis.
Round 1: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
While playing for a disappointing Minnesota team helped drive down Bateman’s stock while flashier SEC receivers like Terrance Marshall leapfrogged him in the eyes of some, he’s worth a first-round pick. With Indianapolis potentially losing TY Hilton and Zach Pascal in free agency, Bateman makes a ton of sense.
Bateman averaged just under 100 yards per game as the featured target with the Gophers last year, a testament to the 6-2, 210-pound receiver’s ability to both blow by cornerbacks and use his frame to haul in some tough passes.
Bateman could be an instant starter for the Colts.
Bateman’s best trait, which should get Reich very interested in him, is his route-running. He effortlessly gets separation at the line of scrimmage and maintains his speed at the stem of his route. A big-play threat and potential slot star, Bateman should be able to handle a steady workload as a rookie.
Imagine a three-wide receiver set in which Bateman uses his speed to go over the top, Michael Pittman Jr. relies on his 6-4 frame to secure contested catches over the middle, and Parris Campbell utilizes his electric running style to break off big plays on screens. If Ballard wises up and takes Bateman, that dream could become a reality.
Round 2: Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
While the Colts have Quenton Nelson and Ryan Kelly, the retirement of Anthony Castonzo opened up a hole at left tackle. Why not add someone like Mayfield, who is a premium athlete that has started at both tackle spots for Michigan during the last two seasons? He might be able to replace Castonzo on Day 1.
Mayfield can play either tackle spot for the Colts.
Mayfield faced a murderer’s row of pass rushers in college, and his ability to both beat them down with pure strength and handle their speed off the edge was astonishing. While he’s still a bit raw as far as his technique goes, his ability to get to the second level as a run blocker and hold his own in pass protection will make him one of the most coveted tackles in this class.
Round 4: Shakur Brown, CB, Michigan State
The Colts could be down a few cornerbacks once the free agency dust settles. Still, they should be looking to draft one even if they manage to retain a player like Xavier Rhodes. While a player like Brown is a little on the smaller side, he picked off five passes last season and continued to show that he’s a willing run defender.
The Colts could use Brown’s ball skills.
Brown will need some fine-tuning as a cornerback that struggled in zone coverage, because going to a team that runs a lot of zone could make his rookie year a bit challenging. However, the Colts need someone that can lower his pads as a tackler and force turnovers, and that could make him successful in Indianapolis.
Round 5: Shaka Toney, EDGE, Penn State
The Colts could use some more qualified edge rushers, and Toney is fresh off a very decorated career in Happy Valley. When all was said and done, he finished with 20.5 sacks in four seasons as a Nittany Lion, recording at least four every year. With his power and high football IQ, Toney was able to succeed against a difficult gauntlet of offensive tackles.
Toney could be a low-floor edge rusher in the Colts defense.
Toney might not have made a huge leap forward during his time at Penn State, and Jayson Oweh might look like the prospect with the higher ceiling, but how many four-year contributors in the Big Ten with his technical skills are available in the fifth round? Toney could be a slam-dunk selection for Indianapolis.
Round 6: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR, Iowa
Even a basic examination of Iowa’s offense can reveal that their passing game is both incredibly basic and rarely relied on. Because of this, Smith-Marsette never caught more than 44 passes in a season. However, the Colts might be able to beat the rest of the league to the punch by drafting him this late.
Smith-Marsette could be utilized effectively by the Colts.
Smith is a speedy home-run hitter who played in an offense that didn’t cater to his skill set. If the Colts want to revamp their receiving corps and go deep more to take advantage of Wentz’s arm strength, why not supplement the Bateman pick by adding someone as talented as Smith-Marsette into the mix?
Round 7: Lorenzo Neal, DT, Purdue
Neal is a 325-pound immovable object that ate up space on the Boilermakers’ defensive line. He might’ve only totaled four sacks in his college career, but he was routinely ranked as one of the best linemen in the Big Ten, and his ability to stop running backs in their tracks could make him very attractive for Indianapolis.
Neal could follow in his father’s footsteps with the Colts.
Neal is the son of former San Diego Chargers Pro Bowl fullback Lorenzo Neal. While he won’t be a Pro Bowler out of the gate, Neal can be a solid run defender that can give the Colts peace of mind if Grover Stewart needs to come out of the game. If he starts to slim down and improve as a pass rusher, look out.
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