Hooker is probably the best of the picks the Colts could've made there at this point given the scheme switch, I just hope he doesn't turn into Bob Sanders in terms of injuries. Reddick and Barnett getting taken the two picks ahead of the Colts didn't help, either.

From Peter King's MMQB quoting gil Brandt
I really don't want to drop down below 12th in a trade out situation.

CB Denzel Ward, Ohio State
SS Derwin James, Florida State
LB Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
LB Roquan Smith, Georgia
OT Connor Williams, Texas
CB Josh Jackson, Iowa
DE Marcus Davenport, UTSA
DE Harold Landry, Boston College
OT Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame

I want one of those guys on the Colts. Most are going to go between 7 - 20. I want our choice of them at #12 at worst.

Other quotes:
Walk Worthy,

if they have f-cked up and missed CHubb, this wouldn't suck and might keep Luck alive long enough to actually make the playoffs again in what ever is left of his career.

Trading back again

Round 1: 12th Overall Pick (from Bills)
Trading down with the Bills still allows the Colts to take one of the top offensive linemen in the draft, Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey.

Round 1: 22nd Overall Pick (from Bills)
Indianapolis doubles down on drafting offensive line talent in the first round by selecting UTEP guard Will Hernandez with their other first round pick.

That would be terrible. If you get Edmunds and LVE out of that trade, it's worth it, but that's a disaster.

I agree. I want Luck protected as much as anyone, but that wouldn’t be the best use of picks. There are other ways to protect Luck than using two first rounders on OL prospects. Scheme will help as Reich has suggested. And building a D that helps keep Luck from having to throw 40 times a game will help as well.

There is no reason to spend 1st round picks doing it, but they absolutely still need to upgrade the talent on the right side, scheme change or not. Scheme only helps so much, and then you need the talent to do the job well, and that needs to be addressed.

In a trade with the Bills scenario, I agree that I would want both 1st round picks to be on the defensive front 7.

1 or 2 of the 2nd round picks could then be O-Line as there are a lot of talented kids who should be available there. We need a right OT for sure and I would not be against drafting a talented OG as well.

But, as Dam said, drafting Edmunds / Smith at #12 and then either a DE or another LB at #22 improves that side of the ball MUCH more than replacing Mewhort/Slauson/Good/Haeg on the offensive line.

Those guys have shown they have at least a bare minimum of NFL talent when healthy.

The delta between them and a stud on the O-line, while probably measurable, is not as big as the gain at LB or DE from whom we have there.

Again, the only proven guys are Sheard and Simon at all 5 of those positions (DE, DE, SSLB, MLB, WSLB). Perhaps Basham progresses. Perhaps Autry shows he is ready for prime time. Perhaps Walker or George or Grace show that they can be the answer but they are all unknowns right now.

Massive Upgrades Needed

Walk Worthy,

Like you implied, "perhaps" is not good enough. We have to get defensive help from this draft, and we have to do it early.

I wouldn't be upset if they used all 4 (or 5 if they can get the Bills to trade 12 and 22 for 6) top 50 picks on the front 7. I'm probably in the minority there, but there's a lot of quality DL and LB talent in the top 50 of this draft.

Too bad we didn't do more for the OL in FA so they could've used all those picks for the defense.

If they sign Howard for right OT, I am then pretty good with then using all the 1st and 2nd round picks on other spots; mostly defense but I could see a RB or WR.

A starting O-Line of 'Stanzo / Mewhort / Kelly / Slauson / Howard with depth of Haeg / Good / Bond / Clark / Vujnovich is really pretty darn solid. That is replacing 3 of our "starters" from last year with upgrades and if they can stay healthy, represents a really solid potential line.

That said, the only potential long-term starter of the "new" group is Mewhort if he can stay healthy and get back to being a quality starter like he was early.

Both Slauson and Howard are 1 year rentals whom let the team get to next year's draft for long-term replacements or allows them to pick guys this year who need a year of maturity / seasoning in the 3rd / 4th rounds to hopefully slide into starting spots next year.

Walk Worthy,

As currently constituted if Luck tries to throw three times a game he won't last long. There aren't enough "schemes" to keep the complete dog shit we have in the O-line from letting Luck get killed.

And some run blocking will keep the other O off the field.

If the plan is to rebuild around Luck, you best invest in his well being, plus with the D they've built in Jackoffville you best get some offense on the field.

I am a big fan of improving the front 7. Mostly edge and LB with the current roster.

If Chubb is not there at #6, I am hoping that Ballard can do one more trade down to #8, #9 or #10, pick up one more 2nd round pick for the compensation and then pick one of (in order of preference):

LB Termaine Edmunds
LB RoquanSmith
CB Denzel Ward
SS Derwin James

That would give us, say we traded with CHI, the following picks in the 2nd round:

#36 overall (4th in 2nd round)
#37 overall (5th in 2nd round)
#39 overall (7th in 2nd round)
#49 overall (17th in 2nd round)

5 guys in the top 50, if picked well, would definantely give a jump start to our youth re-build.

Chubb is worth the #6 pick but otherwise? I would love to trade down one more time for one of these "2nd tier" guys (i.e. not Chubb, Nelson or Barkley).

Walk Worthy

I'm fully on board with this, but remember that it takes two to tango. I'm not sure Chicago, SF, Oakland, or Miami would be willing to send a 2 to move up to #6 (unless a QB is there for Miami). I had recently held out hope that Chicago would do something silly to get Nelson, but they wouldn't have a 2nd or 3rd rounder in this situation.

Rather see Ballard trade down w/Buffalo, there is a lot of value in 12 & 22. Of course, I would be asking for more than 12 & 22.

That would be pretty nice, I would want at least a future 2 and some change.

From an NFL.com article published on the 16th written by Daniel Jeremaih and Bucky Brooks (located here):
Put that all together and it could mean that:

A. The only one of the "elite 3" non-QBs left on the board after pick 5 is Nelson.
B. If Colts trade out and someone picks up the last of the 4 big QBs with the #6 pick, then Nelson, Edmunds and Smith could be the next 3 picks off the board at 7/8/9.
C. Secondary should then go from 10 to the early teens with Fitzpatrick, James, and Ward probably being the best defensive players left on the board.
D. OT McGlincy should be somewhere in the mess of the top 15.
E. DT Vea should be somewhere in the mess of the top 15.

I think this all means that dropping to #12 means we will be "settling" for a Tier 1B players like Vea, McGlincey, Davenport, Alexander, Payne or LVE.

After Barkley, I don't feel like there are any offensive skill players in high demand until the late teens. I think it will be QB and defense in the top 15 except for Nelson (and Barkley).

Walk Worthy,

Seems crazy to me that two MLB/ILBs could go in the top 10. Especially in a draft with so many QB prospects. I was ok trading w/Buffalo because I figured then we'd get at least a top defensive front 7 player and then a good starter prospect in the 20s. But we can't devalue talent for quantity. We need difference-makers.

Keep in mind that TB, CHI, and OAK all desperately need help in the secondary. While the LBs are in play, I expect at least two of those teams to go DB.

Yeah, I don't think Smith or Edmunds will make it to 12. I see TB/CHI/SF/OAK splitting two LBs and two DBs unless Barkley and Nelson are still on the board.

It will depend on how the first 5 go, but I could easily see Ballard deciding to stay at 6 and make sure he gets his choice. That being said, some scouts are grading LVE and Evans very close to Smith/Edmunds, so you still might be able to move down with BUF and get two very good players in the front 7.

I just can't see how 4 QBs don't go Top 5. You have 4 of the QB neediest teams in the league in the Top 5, with Cleveland picking twice. NYJ moved up specifically for a QB, and I can't see Gettleman or Elway being dumb enough to pass on their chance at a franchise QB. That leaves Cleveland to pick one of Barkley or Chubb, and I can't see them not picking Barkley. Further, I can't see Elway picking Chubb with Allen or Mayfield sitting there. He doesn't believe in Case Keenum enough to learn his name for his introductory press conference. There's no way he'll take Chubb over a QB.

agree, I think in the end it will be 4 QBs and barkley gone before we pick. Ballard takes chubb at 6.

In a vacuum, yes, but do you really think Elway will take Rosen? I don't see any way that happens.

I doubt Chicago trades up this year after doing the same last year. They'll take what falls to them since there's not much value for them to get to 6 over staying where they are. They also have a ton of needs and wouldn't give up their 2nd.

I can easily see them passing on Barkley. Myles Garrett & Chubb would be a defensive force.

I agree.

I know it has been a while now but Denver used to be known as the king of getting great RB production out of no name guys running back by committee. That tradition still lives on in their minds, I have little doubt.

I also have little doubt that Elway, as a former HOF QB, suscribes to the Bill Polian school of thought that the 3 most important positions on an NFL team ar:

1. The QB
2. The QB blind side protector
3. The guys who the QB needs protection from.

Denver needs a QB.
Denver needs pass rush.
There are no OTs worth a top 5 in this year's draft.

I could easily see them picking Chubb if he is still on the board over Barkley.

Walk Worthy,

Elway also never won a SB until Terrell Davis came along. The days of artificially manufactured RB production left with Mike Shanahan.

So, trade rumor....

Colts trade #6 overall to NYG.

NYG trade #34 overall and Odel Beckham Jr to Colts.



71.8 catches per season / 1,138 yards per season / 56.9% catch rate / 5.7 TD per season / T.Y. Hilton
78.1 catches per season / 1,106 yards per season / 61.5% catch rate / 9.5 TD per season / OBJ (with 1 season being only 4 games)



Hilton / OBJ / Rogers / Doyle / Ebron / Mack with Luck directing that?

Good golly!

Add a a rookie right OT with one of our now 4 2nd round picks and let the Mewhort / Slauson / Haeg / Good / Bond duke it out for OG starters and our offense would be set.

All other draft picks then used on defense. All of them.

Yeah, OBJ is going to want lots of wack at the end of the season but we have the cap space. OBJ will turn 26 in November of this season.

I don't know for sure that I would take it but I also don't know that there are any playmakers of his talent available in this year's draft.

Want a known difference maker with the #6 pick? OBJ is one of the choices.

Walk Worthy,

I think they'll be more concerned with having a good run game to protect their newly drafted franchise QB, plus they already have Garrett. Everything I read and heard from the combine was that they were the most impressed by him.

Denver absolutely would pick Chubb over Barkley. I just don'tthink they'll pick him over a QB.

If Ballard didn't hang up the phone laughing, I have concerns.

Don’t waste any more energy contemplating this. 0% chance.

^^^ yeah, no thanks.

Hell no. I’d rather draft Barkley. And I’d consider that pretty damn stupid.

McShay says the Giants want to be a run-first team and are likely to draft Barkley at 2.

If Barkley goes 2 and the Browns don't trade out of 4, Ballard's phone will be ringing off the hook at 6. I still say take Chubb if he's there. Negotiate for the biggest package from MIA/BUF/ARI if Chubb is gone.

1.01 - QB1
1.02 - Barkley
1.03 - QB2
1.04 - Chubb/Nelson
1.05 - QB3

I think the Giants are throwing out tons of shit and no one reporting on what they "want" actually knows.

agree, they were reported to be all in on chubb a while back. now its barkley. I think if "their QB" is there then they take him. Should be an interesting draft to see how this all shakes out.

also hearing more and more that allen will go #1

He probably has the most upside of any of the "big 4" QBs....


...AND the most downside.

All the QBs in that divsion are reaching their shelf life. Browns will be the first to re-load and they need to pick one that will help them for a decade.

Walk Worthy,

Dam if you were a Cleveland fan you would still want Chubb.

I think Cleveland goes Barkley with their 1st and Chubb at 4 if th Giants dont pick him.

Chubb wont be there at 6. If Ballard was all in on Chubb he wouldnt have traded out of 3.

He knows there are more needs than just one player.

If Chubb is on the board and he gets an offer to move down and pick up a couple of 1st (Buffalo) and 2nd and a 3rd in the process He will do it. It's the smart thing to do.

No one player in this draft is going to change this team. But multiple 1st 2nd and 3rd rounders will.

Huh?