I'm all for drafting Simmons at 34, but it's too much of a risk at 26 for me. Let someone else risk a 1 on him if they're going to.

You really believe the drop off between what we could get at 26 vs 34 is that significant?

In my mind, if they believe that Simmons is truly as good as the hype (the talent to become the next Suh) then you do it. If not, then I’m not sure imterested at #34 anyway.

I agree that Brown may be the best WR in the draft. If Wilkins slips to 26, then Ballard is all over him. If not then I would want Murphy and then Tillery at 34 or vice versa.

I've got a feeling that Tillery has Pats written all over him if he's there at 32. He's just the type of versatile defender that BB drools over.

It’s a difference of 8 picks. But spending a one would give you the 5 year option which might be nice considering the injury. Real chance he is gone at 34. I don’t know if he lasts to 26 if the run on defensive line happens that I suspect will happen.

What's the best case scenario for Simmons playing this season...maybe 8 games..and then how effective will he be?

Also he's got the baggage of punching a woman in the face. I'm pretty sure that Ballard will steer clear of that dude.

If Ballard believes he has grown as a person and put that behavior in the past I think he would consider him.

I think you don't risk a first round pick on an injured player, because of the higher trade value first round picks carry (fifth year option is very attractive to teams trying to get a QB). I also think the talent level of the other options the Colts will have at 26 among healthy players is enough to go for one of the healthy players on the board. I might feel differently about it in the position of the Raiders, Rams, or Cheaters, but that's not the position the Colts are in. Also, having watched the tape, Tillery could be as good as Simmons IMO, and won't be injured to start the season. You don't have to agree, but that's my take on it. Considering what happened with Jaylon Smith and Myles Jack in recent history, I think quite a few NFL talent evaluators agree.

Every coach he's ever had fully vouches for his character. Considering that incident happened when he was in high school, I think Ballard will be among the group who looks at it as an isolated incident rather than a character red flag.

That is the take I have from it all. He did something horrible, knows and owns it and has worked hard to be a decent person. If Ballard with the amount of research and info they can get on him decides he is OK, I a cool with it.

I think Tillery is underrated, but I don’t think he is a top ten player. Maybe he will be but Simmons is the better rated player and a DT doesn’t usually have an instant impact like a RB does. I’m ok with losing half a season or even a season of the guy turns out to be a Fletcher Cox type. Getting a ten year stud is worth the trade off for me.

His sister was in a fight with the girl, he said he feared for his family. I don’t like the fact she was on her back at the time. But he was in high school and all the reports about him since then have been great. I didn’t not like the Mixon situation and did not want him. But the circumstances seem different here.