NFL Draft Countdown #31 Indianapolis Colts

Free agency:

To this point the Colts have done what they always do, they reward their own by extending starting LB Gary Brackett to a long term deal.  They also have decided to part ways with starters, guard Ryan Lilja and LB Tyjuan Hagler and DE Raheem Brock and CB Marli Jackson.  They also decided not to tender one time starter CB Tim Jennings who wound up signing with the Bears. 

The Colts are limited by what they can do in free agency due to their status as one of the top eight finishing teams in the league.  So they likely won't be adding more players through free agency. 

Draft Needs and Targets:

The Colts are an unpredictable team because they never seem to draft for need they always draft the best player available.  They also don't draft what the experts predict they'll draft nor do they go with what the experts think are good players.  The strategy has typically paid off in spades, only one of their first round picks since 2001 is currently not with the team and that's only because Marlin Jackson signed a two-year-deal with the Eagles.  The Colts build through the draft and are one of the best teams in the NFL at doing so. 

Even with the success the Colts have had they still have their needs.  Most notably they need some help on the offensive line and help at the defensive tackle position.  Mike Pollak hasn't panned out as planned so they'll need to add some new blood along the interior a swing guard center guy wouldn't hurt.  A prospect like Vladimir Ducasse from UMass or Charles Brown the OT from USC would seem to make the most sense for the Colts at #31.  Ducasse is one of those swing guys with plenty of size and part of the reason they decided to cut Lilja was because they wanted to get bigger up front.  Ducasse would afford them that opportunity but that seems to be the obvious selection and as I said, they never go with the obvious choice.  Also a player who would seem to be there at the back end of the first round who might be able to learn from Jeff Saturday and  perhaps even replace Florida center/guard prospect Maurkice Pouncey seems to fit the profile that Bill Polian likes a lot. 

If the Colts were going to target players on the interior of the defensive line they may go after a player like Penn State DT Jared Odrick or DT Brian Price from UCLA.  Both players have the interior presence the Colts like, they're quick and explosive enough to attack the gaps as is needed in the Cover-2.  However they're big enough to help hold up against the run thus putting the Colts in a better position to stop the run. 

Beyond the trenches the Colts could also target players in the secondary to offset the loss of Jackson and Jennings.  Meaning CB Kyle Wilson from Boise State, Kareem Jackson from Alabama, or Dominique Franks from Oklahoma could also be options. 

As always though as analyst I'm limited to guess work in the case of the Indianapolis Colts.  They may completely surprise us all and take a player that doesn't seem to fit into their immediate needs.  Trying to project the Colts in the draft is like trying to predict what the weather will be like in two weeks.

Find the latest NFL odds on who Indianapolis might take with this Colts draft needs article.

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