2017 NFL Draft: Indianapolis Colts End-of-March 7-Round Mock Draft
Mar 1, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard speaks to the media during the 2017 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
The Indianapolis Colts' 2017 NFL Draft will be the first for new general manager Chris Ballard, and he needs to knock it out of the park.
In a quiet free agency period, the Indianapolis Colts have kept a steady eye on one target: the 2017 NFL Draft. The Colts, now separated from former general manager Ryan Grigson, are starting a new chapter under Chris Ballard. Chuck Pagano may still be the head coach, but the 2017 Colts will be decidedly different.
The 2017 NFL Draft is Ballard's chance to make his first big imprint on the organization. There has been uncertainty in the past and there will be continued uncertainty around the head coach position, at least according to the team's site, but it ultimately comes down to having the right pieces in place at the right time.
When that right time hits is unknown, but Ballard has hinted that it isn't right now. "I think we all want instant coffee right now, but that's not reality," he stated in his introductory press conference, per the Indy Star. To many fans, that may elicit a groan. It's about as close to declaring a rebuild without actually saying the words. It's an admission that no, the Colts aren't as close to being competitive as many believe them to be, even with Andrew Luck under center.
That alone is a tough pill to swallow. And while the words rebuild may be hidden in the shadows, watching close by, it is certainly still possible for the Colts to be competitive in the hum-drum AFC South, where going 8-8 twice in a row has almost been good enough.
Meanwhile, Ballard is preaching patience. In the 2017 NFL Draft, that is what the Colts will have to focus on and use to shape the future growth of the team. It won't be about winning immediately, it will be about winning the future.
With that in mind, let's take it pick by pick.
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Marlon Humphrey (26) reacts in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Marlon Humphrey
Cornerback, Alabama
A position that the Indianapolis Colts need to get right is cornerback. In a division that features quarterbacks Blake Bortles and Marcus Mariota as well as wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Allen Robinson, cornerbacks can be picked apart if they aren't good enough. Jim Irsay and the Colts know this and would be wise to spend the 2017 first-round pick to address the position.
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Humphrey has the fluid hips of a top corner and the overall athleticism to grow into his role as he develops in the NFL. He will still be learning after only two seasons of playing time with Alabama, but he has the right physical traits to make him worthy of early consideration. His five interceptions, 18 passes defensed, and three fumbles forced in those seasons help, too.
Pro Football Focus called Humphrey one of the best athletes in the nation in 2016 and noted that he will be a starting cornerback in the NFL because of his athleticism and ability to limit plays (allowing just 50 percent of passes thrown his way to be caught). This makes him a high-ceiling prospect that the Colts can groom into being a top player on defense.
Bringing in a top cornerback will help turn the Colts defense into the speedy unit that owner Jim Irsay wants. It may not be the team's absolute, No. 1 need, but it is a position that is rightly coveted by the team and needs to be addressed.
Sep 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive end DeMarcus Walker (44) during the second half at Camping World Stadium. Florida State Seminoles defeated the Mississippi Rebels 45-34. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Demarcus Walker
Defensive End, Florida State
The Indianapolis Colts know the team needs to build its pass rush. Team owner Jim Irsay, ever good for a comment, told the Colts team site that "We'd love obviously to deal with our lack of pass rush and get some real edge rushers that can make a difference."
While 46th overall may not yield the top edge rushers in the 2017 NFL Draft class like Solomon Thomas and Myles Garrett, there still will be top-flight players on the board with a history of production. Demarcus Walkter may be the most solid of the bunch.
Walker's junior-year production could have been good enough to get a first-round look in the 2016 NFL Draft. He posted an impressive nine sacks, 14 tackles for a loss, three fumbles forced, five batted passes and an interception that year. That is all-around production that is rare for a defensive lineman. But Walker didn't come out in the 2016 draft. Instead, he honed his skills and waited. And it was worth it.
His senior season was even better than his junior year for the Seminoles. Boasting 16 sacks, 19.5 tackles for a loss, three fumbles forced, two fumbles recovered and three batted passes, Walker looked like a juggernaut at times for Florida State. He looked like he could be a juggernaut on the field as a professional. Rushing from a 3-4 outside linebacker spot under Ted Monachino's tutelage could make him a terror for opposing offensive lines to deal with.
While there are concerns about Walker's motor and his ability to translate his game to the NFL, he does have the kind of pass rushing productivity that makes a team desperate for rushers drool. The Colts are one of those teams and will need to pull the trigger on someone in the 2017 NFL Draft. The team could do a lot worse than Walker if they wait too long.
Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Joe Mixon (25) celebrates his touchdown against the Houston Cougars at NRG Stadium. Houston Cougars won 33 to 23. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Mixon
Running Back, Oklahoma
In the 2017 NFL Draft, the question won't be about if Joe Mixon falls, but how far. The young running back has to face the fallout over his domestic violence, punching a woman in the face in the middle of a restaurant. Plenty of teams, including the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins have already flat out rejected him (per CBS Sports).
The Indianapolis Colts don't have that luxury. The team is currently riding future Hall of Fame, 33-year old running back Frank Gore into the ground. He'll be 34 years old in the 2017 season and there are legitimate concerns that he cannot keep up his 1,000-yard pace for much longer.
Nabbing a top-talent running back like Joe Mixon, therefore, would be a steal in the third round. While there will be concerns for the team to deal with in making the selection, Mixon's talent will be tough to turn away for a team starved at the position.
A rehab option like Mixon may be what general manager Chris Ballard considers good value, though. As noted by Conrad Brunner of 1070 The Fan, "Ballard has shown the willingness to take a chance on red-flag prospects before, including Peters and Tyreek Hill, who both worked out nicely for the Chiefs."
If Ballard thinks he can turn Mixon into a reputable man and professional, then Mixon becomes a much easier choice in the third round.
December 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Sidney Jones (26) before the Pac-12 championship against the Colorado Buffaloes at Levi's Stadium. The Huskies defeated the Buffaloes 41-10. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Sidney Jones
Cornerback, Washington
Another drop that the Indianapolis Colts can take advantage of, Sidney Jones and his torn Achilles tendon will be great value as he shifts down draft boards. First-round talent for a fourth-round price in this mock draft.
For the Colts, it's important to note that the team can afford to take this risk while others may not be able to. General manager Chris Ballard is preaching patience to his team and will back it up with a player that may not make much of a contribution—if any—in the 2017 season. This pick is based entirely on future potential and future growth for the team. Not many other teams will be willing to gamble on that, but the Colts can and should.
With eight interceptions, 21 passes defensed, six fumbles forced and three fumbles recovered over the last three seasons, Jones is a bonafide play-maker. Whenever he sees the field, he will instantly improve the Colts defense.
Comparing Jones to 2016 linebackers Jaylon Smith and Myles Jack is apt. Both players were considered top-five or top-10 picks before falling to the second round. Jones was climbing draft boards before his injury at his Pro Day but he wasn't considered a lock in that range. If he falls, he could fall far. That opens things up in the fourth round here.
Jan 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys defensive tackle Vincent Taylor (96) celebrates after a sack on Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (not pictured) during the first quarter in the 2016 Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Vincent Taylor
Defensive End, Oklahoma State
Hopefully Vincent Taylor can be the 3-4 defensive end sleeper that some say he is. He flashed in 2016 as a junior, racking up 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss in his junior year with Oklahoma State. He tacked on two fumbles forced, one recovered and a batter pass for good measure.
Taylor may not be expected to be a starter, and that's a good thing. He should be expected to be a rotational player until he can prove that his burst off the line can deliver in the NFL. There's room for growth in his game and he could develop nicely to complement pieces already on the Indianapolis Colts roster. With what the Colts did in free agency, they have veterans to fill holes right now ahead of these rookies to let them start to realize their potential.
Taylor has some upside to him that makes a team like the Colts interested. He will need to take coaching and become more than just an early-step player at his position if he wants to be effective in the NFL. Fortunately, that could all change in the right situation where he is allowed to grow and get some playing time. The Colts offer that, which makes the fit for the player almost as good as it is for the team.
Sep 1, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Charlotte 49ers running back Robert Washington (20) runs the ball against Louisville Cardinals linebacker Devonte Fields (92) during the first second at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Devonte Fields
Outside Linebacker, Louisville
Injuries took their toll on Devonte Fields, forcing him to miss most of 2013 and all of 2014 in his collegiate career. The injuries, coupled with concerning off-field incidents, also forced him to transfer from TCU to Louisville.
But those injuries can't mask what Fields is: a fast outside linebacker who can get after the quarterback. With 26.5 sacks in, effectively, three seasons to go with 51.5 tackles for a loss, Fields is one of the more productive mid-round picks in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Indianapolis Colts, featuring one of the worst front-sevens in the NFL will need someone like him to spark the defense.
Finding value in the mid to late rounds is what separates good teams from bad teams. The Colts want to find that kind of value and may have to look at a reclamation project like Fields. The talent is there but, like Joe Mixon, Chris Ballard will have to work to make Fields fit in and grow as a man and a professional. If he can make that happen, however, they'll get a great player that will help their biggest weakness on the roster.
Sep 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State Aztecs running back Donnel Pumphrey (19) runs the ball as California Golden Bears linebacker Raymond Davison (31) defends during the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Donnel Pumphrey
Running Back, San Diego State
The Indianapolis Colts may dip back into the running back well in such a deep class, especially after gambling on a player like Joe Mixon in the third round. Taking a late-round back like Donnel Pumphrey with high upside from a smaller program is a great way to find value.
Pumphrey rushed for an eye-popping 6.1 yards per carry in 2016 en route to 2,133 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. It was his third-straight season with at least 17 rushing touchdowns and at least 1,600 yards on the ground.
To say that Pumphrey was superb may be an understatement. He finished his collegiate career as the all-time leading rusher in NCAA history, completely dominating the opposition.
If it's all about looking for that next great running back, all options need to be considered. When massive production comes out of a small package like Pumphrey (5-8, 176 pounds) there is bound to be some concern, but production can't be ignored. Pumphrey would be able to learn behind one of the best in the business in Frank Gore and develop in tandem with Mixon.
