Indianapolis Colts: 3 draft mistakes Chris Ballard made over the last few years
By Mike Luciano
The Indianapolis Colts can usually rely on general manager Chris Ballard to stockpile the roster with some quality draft picks.
After the horrid Ryan Grigson era, Ballard has proven that it’s possible to build a playoff team without a ton of premium draft capital thanks to trade-downs and identifying athletic prospects that would work well in his system.
The Colts will be looking to replicate their past success in the 2021 NFL Draft, when they will likely use the No. 21 pick in the draft to either find a new offensive tackle, get Carson Wentz more receivers, or improve their pass rush.
Ballard has proven to be an above-average drafter, but he’s by no means infallible, as evidenced by the fact he has had some major slip-ups in the past.
Not only has he failed to land some key contributors outside of the first few rounds in the last couple of drafts, but those picks have come at the expense of some of the biggest young stars in the game.
Indy needs to cross their fingers and pray the same terrible fate doesn’t befall them once again.
These three Colts draft picks haven’t panned out, to say the least.
3. EDGE Kemoko Turay, 2018
After fleecing the New York Jets in the Sam Darnold trade, Indianapolis ended up with four second-round picks. While Darius Leonard and Braden Smith are on their way to being two of the best Day 2 picks of the last decade, Turay and defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis have underwhelmed at the professional level.
Turay has recorded just 24 tackles and 6.5 sacks in the pros, and the Colts are clearly looking for more help in the pass rush department due to his inability to properly develop. While Turay lingers on the roster bubble, Indianapolis can only lament after passing up on other guys who have already become stars.
Who did the Colts pass on for Kemoko Turay?
Jessie Bates is becoming one of the best safeties in the game in Cincinnati, Fred Warner has blossomed into a star in San Francisco, and Orlando Brown Jr. is using his insane raw power to great effect in Baltimore. All three of those players went off the board after Turay.
Turay is still going to attempt to carve out a role as a situational pass rusher, but unless he has a Trey Hendrickson-esque spike in production, don’t expect to see him suddenly changing course and turning into the player Indianapolis assumed he would be. It’ll be hard to envision him getting a second contract with the Colts.