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.
2. Daviyon Nixon is fading fast
While Christian Barmore, who is facing his own slide, is regarded as the best defensive tackle in this class, Nixon is making a strong case for the No. 2 spot, as the Iowa All-American showed that he’s one of the best athletes at his position.
Nixon is starting his own perilous descent down draft boards, as Bob McGinn of The Athletic (subscription required) claims that teams are concerned about his behavior off the field, with some reportedly taking him off of their board altogether. Could the Colts be willing to give up on this Day 2 steal because of his past?
Daviyon Nixon might be too much of a risk for the Colts.
Nixon’s reported transgressions include a “dorm-room incident” in the summer of 2018, even though he was not found liable for any wrongdoing. Regardless, several teams have either removed him from their board or expressed moderate to severe concerns with him, and that risk could be too much for Indianapolis.
Ballard has proven that he’s willing to take on players, like Al-Quadin Muhammad, who have a shady past, but it would be difficult to convince Ballard to draft someone with a red flag like Nixon and use one of the few Day 2 picks he has (thanks to the Carson Wentz trade).
1. The Titans trade up
Tennessee will be the Colts’ biggest enemy next year when it comes to chasing the AFC South title. Mike Vrabel and his crew will still challenge for the playoffs despite the Titans’ poor defense and the loss of OC Arthur Smith. The Titans, still licking their wounds after the Isaiah Wilson debacle, could look to move up to acquire a franchise cornerstone.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah listed the Titans as one team to watch when it comes to trading up, as they could sacrifice some of their depth in order to draft a potential star to replace one of the many players that departed in the offseason.
The Colts need to hope that the Titans don’t move up.
Not only would the Titans leapfrogging the Colts be devastating for Indy’s chances at the division crown, but Tennessee also has holes at edge rusher, wide receiver, cornerback, and right tackle. The Titans, if they make the right pick, would both grab an instant starter and remove another player from Ballard’s big board.
With how far away the Jaguars and Texans are from contending, the Colts and Titans will be locked in a division arms race for the next few seasons, and what goes down in the draft could have some serious ripple effects. If the Colts aren’t trading up, they need to cross their fingers that Tennessee doesn’t get bold and jump ahead of them.
Indianapolis Colts: 5 best No. 21 overall draft picks in NFL history
These 5 players are the best No. 21 overall NFL Draft picks of all time, a sign that the Indianapolis Colts could draft a star this year.