Draft Targets at #26 and #34
 

The draft is still a few weeks out, but I think we have enough information to start culling the list of potential targets for the Colts at #26 and #34.

1) There are several players very likely to be selected in the top 25. Based on Ballard's comments, it's doubtful he will trade up to get one of these 16 guys before they're off the board:

• QB: Kyler Murray
• QB: Dwayne Haskins
• QB: Drew Lock
• WR: DK Metcalf
• TE: TJ Hockenson
• OL: Jonah Williams
• OL: Jawaan Taylor
• OL: Andre Dillard
• EDGE: Nick Bosa
• EDGE: Josh Allen
• EDGE: Rashaun Gary
• EDGE: Montez Sweat
• DL: Quinnen Williams
• DL: Ed Oliver
• LB: Devin White
• LB: Devin Bush

2) There are also some highly rated players that either aren't a scheme/character fit or at positions that are very unlikely to be targeted early by the Colts:

Scheme/Character:

• DL: Jerry Tillery (5 technique)
• DL: Dexter Lawrence (2 gap player)
• EDGE: Jachai Polite (character knocks)
• CB: Greedy Williams (better suited for man scheme)
• CB/S: Rock Ya-Sin (likely a slot cover corner)
• CB/S: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (likely a slot cover corner)

Positional Value:

• TE: Noah Fant
• TE: Irv Smith
• RB: Josh Jacobs
• OL: Garrett Bradbury
• OL: Cody Ford
• QB: Daniel Jones
• OL: Erik McCoy
• OL: Dalton Risner
• RB: David Montgomery
• LB: Mack Wilson
• S: Nasir Adderley (strictly a FS)
• S: Deionte Thompson (strictly a FS)

That significantly narrows the list of potential targets at #26 and #34:

Potential Targets:

• DT: Jeffrey Simmons
• DT: Christian Wilkins
• DT: Dre'mont Jones
• EDGE: Brian Burns
• EDGE: Clelin Ferrell
• EDGE: Jaylon Ferguson
• S: Jonathan Abram
• S: Taylor Rapp
• CB: Byron Murphy
• CB: Deandre Baker
• WR: AJ Brown
• WR: Marquise Brown
• WR: N'Keal Harry
• WR: Riley Ridley
• WR: Deebo Samuel
• WR: Terry McLaurin
• WR: Paris Campbell

Obviously some of these guys will be off the board, so the list becomes even shorter when the Colts are on the clock at #26 and #34. I list the defenders first because I'm fairly confident that's the direction they will take. The list of WRs is a bit long because I'm not 100% sure what the Colts would value more. Do they want a slot guy? A speed threat to stretch the field?

What do you guys think? Any names you think should be moved around? Any names you would add?

I don't know how you pass on Byron Murphy if he's still on the board?

It sure why you are listing the OL players as non positional. We need a future LT

1) Ballard will use the insane cap space to re-sign Castonzo.
2) The value isn't there at #26 or #34. Ford and Dillard will probably be off the board, and a lot of scouts don't like them at LT anyway. I wouldn't be surprised to see a developmental tackle taken at #59 or later, but not that early with the type of talent that will be available.

How the corners come off the board is a big question mark, IMO. If a few corners go before 26, it makes it more likely a guy like Burns, Wilkins, or Simmons are still available.

Stop making sense, they need a backup LT to get the colts to the super bowl

So, are you 100% convinced that that Braden Smith is the RT of the future? I'm not.

I'm also not 100% convinced that Glowinski can maintain his success either. If not, maybe Smith gets moved back inside to RG...in that case we need a RT to replace him.

We are also pinning a lot on LeRaven Clark at LT if Castonzo should go down. Yet alone the fact that we can't guarantee that Castonzo will be a Colt after 2019.

Don't get me wrong. This is probably the best O-Line that we have had since at least 2009. But one more piece needs to be added to insure that it stays that way.

2009? No. You’re either misremembering or crazy. This OL right now is the best OL we’ve had in decades. In 2009 we had Charlie Johnson playing above his head at LT while Ugoh sulked on the bench, Mike fucking Pollak at RG, Saturday as a shell of who he used to be at C, and the lumbering corpse of Ryan Diem at RT before they kicked him inside (where he still wasn’t very good).

He’s slow, under 6’, and we have 3 starting-caliber corners already on the roster. Ballard will pass on him easily.

This.

I have a sneaking suspicion that if Ford is on the board, he'll be the pick. He likely won't be, but if he is...well, I'd love the choice.

But I know nothing about this sort of stuff.