If you’re interested in the Colts’ draft prospects for 2017, here’s a look at the team’s defensive backs. Last season, the Colts’ outside edge rushers were weak with only two players recording more than three sacks. Jabaal Sheard, the starter, was replaced by John Simon, a former Texan who had a solid season but was placed behind Whitney Mercilus or JadeveonClowney.
The Colts were in need of an edge rusher, and the pick of Paye fits the bill. Paye is underdeveloped and slightly undersized, but he will thrive under the new offensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Once Justin Houston returns, Paye will start at left tackle. DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, and Grover Stewart will be in the rotation to help him defend the Colts.
The Colts’ need for pass protection continued to plague them in the first two days of the draft. While they drafted defensive tackle Quincy Wilson as a solid value, they didn’t do anything to improve the Colts’ pass defense. However, they did select a run-blocker and another outside linebacker in the second round – a pair of players who can help the Colts protect Andrew Luck.
Despite this, Indianapolis’ draft had four players who were able to contribute immediately. This is not the best draft class in franchise history but it’s still a good one. The Colts’ scouts are well-versed in their class, so it’s not surprising they got their first-round pick. But with the loss of a third-round pick in Carson Wentz’s trade, they are expected to hit on several high-profile prospects.
The defensive line is a major weakness for the Colts, so they have to get a pass rusher to replace Leonard. The Colts would be well-served by a player like Jonathan Allen. Allen’s dominance at Alabama made him an excellent fit with the Colts’ system. He was a top run-stopper in college, so it is no surprise that he went for the Colts.
Although the Colts have many holes in their defensive backfield, Foster and the offensive line class give them a good chance to get off to a good start. Next, they face the Baltimore Ravens. It would be a mistake to take a risk with Foster and pass on the defensive line class. The future success of the Indianapolis Colts will depend on the strength and stability of the defensive line class. So, let’s see who they pick, in this Colts mock draft.
The Colts’ offensive line is already set, with the exception of Anthony Castonzo, who’ll make the decision in March. This position was a mess before Chris Ballard took it over. However, it has improved. Zach Banner was added to the team to stabilize the line. However, he wasn’t able to stay healthy for the cutdowns so he is unlikely to be available for Week 1.