The Indianapolis Colts desperately need to revamp their defense. They weren't necessarily a shutdown unit last season, and with the Tennessee Titans getting more weapons, the AFC South might be one of the most interesting divisions next season.
Barring a big trade, the Colts won't be on the clock on the first day of the NFL Draft. Instead, they'll have to wait until No. 47 in the middle of the second round to get their hands on a rookie. Needless to say, that limits the number of guys who could potentially make an impact from day one.
Still, given their needs on defense, general manager Chris Ballard will be forced to roll the dice on someone there. According to ESPN insider Jordan Reid, there's some growing buzz around their interest in Cincinnati's Jake Golday.
Jake Golday's name keeps popping up for the Indianapolis Colts
"I'd be stunned if they didn't have linebacker at the top of their priority list in the second round," is what one league source told me when discussing the Colts. Jake Golday (Cincinnati) was mentioned as a Round 2 pick. He fits the prototype and qualities that the team has targeted at the position in past drafts."
As things stand now, the Colts' linebackers room consists of Akeem Davis-Gaither, Austin Ajiake, and John Bullock as the starters, with Jaylon Carlies and Joseph Vaughn for depth. Not only is that unimpressive, but it isn't even enough to withstand a full season.
Notably, Jake Golday may not be the most NFL-ready guy. He played only 24 games as a linebacker for the Bearcats, having begun his collegiate career in the FCS as a defensive end for Central Arkansas.
Even so, the athletic traits are more than impressive. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, he posted a 4.62-second 40-yard dash with a 1.6 10-yard split, a 39-inch vertical, and a 10-foot-5 broad jump.
He logged 101 total tackles in his final season in college, including 70 solo. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he registered 43 run stops, four sacks, 10 total pressures, and one forced fumble in 681 total snaps, logging an overall grade of 82.4.
He's an explosive and hard-hitting linebacker who makes the most of his damage near the line of scrimmage, and while his instincts as a pass rusher from his past as a defensive end are a plus, he's been much more effective in the interior and as a prototypical SAM linebacker.
The Colts will likely run some complex schemes under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, so he may not be able to make much of an impact at first. Also, there are doubts because of his lack of experience in the position. That said, he's physically tailor-made for the position and could be a green-dot guy in a year or two.
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