Colts: 3 NFL Draft rumors that should worry Chris Ballard
By Mike Luciano
The Indianapolis Colts will finally get the chance to make the No. 21 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday night, as Chris Ballard is looking to add the one missing piece that takes Indianapolis over the hump and cements them as the team to beat in the competitive AFC South.
The Colts could either grab a new left tackle in order to keep Carson Wentz upright, get some studs on the defensive side, or add a new wide receiver that could eventually be a No. 1 target.
However, the Colts aren’t the only team heading into draft night with the intent of finally becoming a contender.
Indianapolis is surrounded by several other playoff teams that could start to get aggressive and nab players Ballard has his eye on.
Additionally, with more concerning reports coming to light every day, the Colts are starting to see some potential steals fade away into obscurity.
If there’s fire behind the smoke of one of these three rumors, Ballard’s plans for a grand draft that sets Frank Reich up for the next decade might be interrupted by a few other pesky contenders.
These 3 NFL Draft rumors should concern the Colts.
3. WFT eyeing Christian Darrisaw
Considering the need at left tackle, Darrisaw looks like the perfect pick for Indianapolis, as he’s started to set himself apart as the No. 3 offensive tackle in this class behind Oregon’s Penei Sewell and Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater. Unfortunately, the Colts might not even have the opportunity to draft him.
With the combination of football IQ, power, and athletic ability the Colts would love to have, Darrisaw could start at left tackle over Sam Tevi without having to move Quenton Nelson or Braden Smith over. That’s the good news. The bad news is that he likely won’t be there at No. 21.
The Colts could miss out on Christian Darrisaw.
Peter King, who is as connected as anyone, claims in his latest mock draft that Darrisaw and Washington would be a perfect fit because Ron Rivera might look to upgrade over Geron Christian and Saadhiq Charles at the left tackle spot. Indianapolis’ dream scenario could crumble to dust right in front of them.
Washington needs a long-term solution at quarterback, but with all of the top prospects likely to be off the board, they will likely choose to protect Ryan Fitzpatrick and roll with their existing offense in 2021. A solid strategy for Washington, but a killer for the Colts, who will miss out on their dream target.