We are fully entrenched in the NFL draft season now with free agency wrapping up. The Colts have a plethora of options and roster needs to sort out for the upcoming draft. Both sides of the ball need their attention, and we all know Ballard rarely goes the way bloggers and pundits want them to. Let’s start by ranking the offensive side of the ball, and give some analysis and potential names they might look at with about a month to go until the draft begins.
Need #1: Tight End
This is probably the most indisputable argument you have seen in all NFL mock drafts, and for good reason. The Colts have not had 500 receiving yards from the tight end position since 2018. Last season, the Colts had a total of 467 yards from the entire tight end position. It’s obvious how big this need is, and it will be the focal point heading into the draft. Whoever the quarterback will be, they need a safety net, and bringing in another pass catcher will be crucial next season.
Plenty has been written about Penn State TE Tyler Warren and Michigan TE Colston Loveland. They should be #1 on the overall Colts draft board, and fans should assume they are. If for some reason they choose to go with someone else in round 1, who might that be?
Mason Taylor/LSU - An intriguing prospect that has gotten his name outcasted from the main analysts because of the assumptive top two getting all the attention. Has a similar build to both Warren and Loveland and similar skill sets. He played with and against strong competition at LSU and comes from an NFL bloodline. Not as polished as the top two candidates, but a solid prospect that can both catch and block for this team.
Need #2: Running Back
Even with the addition of Khalil Herbert, the team still has a need for depth. Let’s be honest: Trey Sermon just didn’t get it done last season, and Tyler Goodson was inconsistent. Herbert will bring some special teams presence, but he will also be the pass-catching back for the offense. Having both a bell cow back and now pass catcher allows some flexibility in the draft.
Jarquez Hunter/Auburn - We have discussed Ollie Gordon II and Devin Neal so far. While Hunter is a small, undersized back the scouts have said he runs “angry” and determined. Hunter ran a 4.4 40-yard dash and is great after contact. He can catch the ball out of the backfield and can contribute on special teams. He needs some work with ball security and pass protection but with a late round pick, you hope you can coach that out of him and allow him to grow his contributions over time.