Colts Rumors: Could first-round pick be used on skill position player?
By Jerry Trotta
If anybody has the inside track on what the Indianapolis Colts are planning to do with their first-round pick in the 2021 Draft, please break your silence, because fans are being driven insane with how many rumors are currently engulfing the team.
The way we see it, general manager Chris Ballard can do one of four things and be left feeling pretty confident.
So, get ready for him to: address the left tackle vacancy, nab a starting-caliber edge rusher, add another pass-catcher for Carson Wentz or stockpile picks by trading back or out of the first round.
Deep breaths, everyone.
Either one of those scenarios should resonate with the fan base. However, the latest pre-draft buzz suggests Indianapolis is actually considering the most surprising of the four.
In his latest podcast, NFL Network insider Daniel Jeremiah mentioned the Colts as one of the teams who are seriously considering whether they should use their first-round pick on either another weapon for Carson Wentz or an offensive tackle.
Very interesting piece of information from @MoveTheSticks on his podcast:#Colts were mentioned as one of the teams internally debating whether they should use their early pick on an offensive tackle or add another weapon for Carson Wentz.
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) April 26, 2021
The latest pre-draft buzz suggests the Colts are considering using their first-round pick on a skill position player.
It’s certainly a little unsettling to think the Colts are internally debating whether to draft a wide receiver at No. 21 overall. That isn’t to say we’d oppose that decision. We just assumed that other positions — like left tackle, edge rusher or even cornerback — would take precedence over it.
After all, the likes of Kyle Pitts, Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith will surely be long gone by that point in the first round. Those are the consensus top four pass catchers in this year’s class and the talent drop-off after them is said to be significant, according to experts.
If we had a say in the matter, we’d go with Kadarius Toney, who shared the spotlight at Florida despite being overshadowed by Pitts. As a senior, the Gators star logged 70 catches for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns. If this was any other year, he’d be a lock to be taken inside the top 15.
How likely is it that the Colts draft a skill position player in Round 1? Well, NBC Sports reporter Peter King recently reported in his latest mock draft that Indianapolis feels that it can select an “immediate starter” at left tackle early in the second round. So…will they even appear in the first round, when all’s said and done?
#Colts believe they can get an immediate starter at left tackle early in the second round, per @peter_king.
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) April 26, 2021
Get ready for Indy to trade down from No. 21. pic.twitter.com/qHzirnjUrj
The only problem with that analysis is that the Colts don’t own an early second-round pick, so they’d likely have to trade back to be in that position. For context, they currently aren’t slated to pick after No. 21 overall until the tail end of Round 2 at No. 54 overall.
This is obviously a lot to take in for fans, and there’s no way to know for sure what direction Ballard is leaning towards with just two days remaining until draft night.
Pre-draft rumors have taken the league by storm in recent days and the sheer unknown regarding Indianapolis’ first-round plans unfortunately means this won’t be the last we hear of them.
