Colts fans are going to hate Todd McShay’s projected first-round pick for Indy

Trading for Carson Wentz was enough to satisfy Indianapolis Colts fans for a couple of weeks, but now that it’s had enough time to marinate, many are starting to grow impatient again with regard to not knowing the front office’s plans to further round out the roster.

With the quarterback position resolved, we would assert that the Colts’ biggest remaining needs are at wide receiver, left tackle, defensive end, and potentially cornerback assuming veteran Xavier Rhodes, who returned to lockdown form in 2020, isn’t re-signed.

While free agency will present GM Chris Ballard with the perfect opportunity to make upgrades, we’re equally excited to see how he attacks the draft.

After all, the backbone of Indy’s roster is mostly composed of his selections over the last four years.

Speaking of the draft, ESPN expert Todd McShay released his latest mock and his first-round pick for Indianapolis probably isn’t going to sit well with the fan base.

Anybody down with the Colts selecting Miami edge rusher Gregory Rousseau at No. 21 overall?

Colts fans might have a problem with ESPN draft expert Todd McShay’s latest mock.

Here’s what McShay had to say in terms of explaining why Rousseau would make sense for Indianapolis in the first round over potentially a left tackle or cornerback/safety.

"“Christian Darrisaw might be an option if still available, filling in Anthony Castonzo’s spot at left tackle, or the Colts might take a long look at Trevon Moehrig (TCU) at safety. But it’s hard to ignore the need for pass-rush depth, especially as Indy deals with free-agency concerns on the edge. Rousseau hasn’t played since 2019, but he had 15.5 sacks in that season and can overwhelm blockers with his power. He’d help keep an elite defense at the top of its game.”"

It’s hard to disagree with that analysis, but should the Colts really use their No. 21 overall pick  on a player who didn’t play at all this past season? We fully understand that Rousseau is one of the most touted edge rushers in this year’s class, but his lack of experience indicates that he might not be ready to start in the NFL right away. And the Colts need a sure thing.

Why would they draft another experiment project at defensive end when they already have the likes of Kemoko Turay and Tyquan Lewis battling for playing time? This roster is seemingly a few big moves away from entering the championship conversation. They need to draft prospects that will be ready to contribute from Day 1, and Rousseau might not fill that bill.

Rousseau was an absolute monster for the Hurricanes as a redshirt freshman, producing 54 tackles (19.5 for loss), 15.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

However, he lined up at a number of different positions and has limited experience playing on the defensive line (he played receiver and safety in high school), which is presumably where the Colts would prefer to deploy him since their linebacking corps is stacked.

We don’t doubt that Rousseau will be a productive NFL player, but the Colts simply don’t have the requisite time to let him develop before he’s ready to make an impact. For that reason, we cannot get on board with this selection.

ESPN’s latest suggestion for Colts’ draft plan couldn’t be worse

In ESPN's latest column featuring "Daring Moves" for all 32 teams, there couldn't have been a worse suggestion for the Indianapolis Colts.