The Indianapolis Colts are in a weird spot this offseason. The team needed to bring back quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce in free agency, and it did that while even clearing some salary cap space. But Indy didn't truly answer its need at edge rusher, though more and more draft pundits believe the team will take Missouri's Zion Young in the second round.
That includes a recent mock draft by The Athletic, which projects Young to the Colts with the 47th pick overall. Indianapolis, of course, doesn't have a first-round draft pick after general manager Chris Ballard traded the team's next two selections in that round for cornerback Sauce Gardner last season.
The risk is that a team could steal Young from Indy before the team has a chance to choose him, but what is clear is that Indy needs to make taking an edge rusher a priority. Young has the physical traits that should help defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo turn him into a productive player quickly.
The Athletic mocks edge rusher Zion Young to the Indianapolis Colts
The Missouri product is tall (he is 6'6") and has the frame to add more weight if needed, and while he lacks elite speed, he has the strength to play in the NFL immediately. He also knows how to use his hands to keep would-be blockers off him and to outmuscle them to get pressure on quarterbacks.
Zion Young also has excellent technique, which obviously will help him transition to being a productive professional quickly. That might mean a team in need of a pass-rusher takes him earlier than he might otherwise be for a player who won't test well in terms of how fast he can run a 40-yard dash.
"With (Trey) Hendrickson no longer on the free-agent market," The Athletic's James Boyd writes. "Young is a no-brainer selection for the Colts. The former Missouri star had 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss during his final college season. Young, who is 6-6 and weighs 262 pounds, would compete for a starting role opposite 2024 first-round pick Laiatu Latu."
To that last part, someone needs to. Chris Ballard gets a lot of credit for what he has done in past drafts (which is a little odd, as the rosters he has put together have only produced two playoff appearances in nine years), but he hasn't drafted well with two of the most important positions: Quarterback and edge rusher.
Laiatu Latu might turn out to be Ballard's best pick at the latter, but the ascending third-year pro needs help. Zion Young, who has been mocked to the Indianapolis Colts by The Athletic, Clutch Points, Underdog Fantasy, and others, could be the right guy. That is, if he lasts until pick 47. Don't bet on it.