Hopefully he'll draft Chubb and we'll never know who that is.

the most likely guy I could think of would be Fitzpatrick, who resembles Ronnie Lott in his potential to be All-Pro at BOTH cornerback and safety. Maybe Edmunds, although I don't regard his youth as a potential plus so much as a negative that would have to be addressed. Some people get excited about what he might be in 3-4 years, but I'm more interested in who can contribute to the team NOW, while Luck is still in his (potential) prime.

Could also just be scheming from the Colts to tell teams they are more likely to pick at 6 in order to drive up potential trade offers.

You may be right. I don't see Hooker being ready for TC, and even if he his I doubt that he's going to be as effective as he was in the past.

Fitzpatrick could fill that FS hole for the time being and then move to slot corner when Hooker is 100%.

Edmunds will be the pick

That’s who I’d assume as well. Ballard is rebuilding the roster and is looking at a long term plan. I don’t think his age will override his potential for the Colts.

Maybe the mystery guy is Isaiah Oliver. I just saw Kollman's film room on him and was pretty impressed. Never heard of him but he looks impressive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_stSvqc4gMk&t=490s

from everything I've seen and read, Oliver would still be available later in the 1st round. Sounds like Ward may go before Oliver, FWIW.

No doubt Edmunds is a physical freak who comes from a program that prepares defensive players for the NFL about as well as anyone in the FBS. But he won't even turn 20 until after the draft and to me that's a factor for consideration. It means he likely won't mature physically OR mentally for a few years. But when he does, he might well turn into his generation's Lawrence Taylor.

If he's Ballard's pick at #6, that's legit (just like Chubb, Nelson or Fitzpatrick would be IMO). But it would tell me the Colts may not be 100% confident Luck is back, or ever will be, to the level he played at when he first came into the League and, as a result, the team's immediate future will have to take a back seat to more long-range plans, whether that's with Luck or even with Brissett.

This is so wrong about Luck, many said that the Colts trading back to #6 shows they are confident Luck will be back.

I'm not sure the one has that much to do with the other: my impression is that the Colts trading to #6 says they think Luck will probably be back BUT they are willing to go with Brissett if he isn't, and they thus don't really have a "QB problem" that's anywhere near as urgent as their problems with the offensive line and the overall defense.