2017 Draft Thread

[Puck]

Originally Posted by VeveJones007

They're both physical players, but Sanders ran a 4.35 compared to a 4.46 for Peppers. Bob was a freak of nature.

That tenth of a second doesn't matter much in the box, but it's a big deal when crashing down from a deep S position or covering the middle third.

And Peppers is that much faster than Clayton.... But I think we are good at Safety. No need to mess around there

[natagu23]

Originally Posted by VeveJones007

Problem is that the Colts already have a decent player who plays that role. They need to improve at that deep S spot much more than the in-the-box S.

Peppers can play slot as well.

In this league, you need a good nickel. If you're going to beat a team like the Patsies, if you don't have a good nickel or even a serviceable dime guy then it'll probably be a long day if they they want spread you out.

Plus, you can throw Peppers back there at safety in case Green bombs, or Butler perhaps....which ever you prefer.

[Indiana V2]

If Peppers is considered an impact player, and he's available when the Colts pick, then I say take him, and make it work position-wise. But if there's still questions over how his game may translate to the NFL, then he's not worth the risk, and we draft a need position.

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by Indiana V2

If Peppers is considered an impact player, and he's available when the Colts pick, then I say take him, and make it work position-wise. But if there's still questions over how his game may translate to the NFL, then he's not worth the risk, and we draft a need position.

Thanks, Pete

[Coltsalr]

Originally Posted by VeveJones007

Problem is that the Colts already have a decent player who plays that role. They need to improve at that deep S spot much more than the in-the-box S.

Yep, so if Hooker unexpectedly falls to us (which, no, I don't think he will), then sure, pull the trigger. I can't remember the last time a guy has come out of college already having that much range.

I don't think he will be, though. ILB/OLB.

[sherck]

5 round mock draft over on NFL.com by Chad Reuter

1-15 Haason Reddick - LB, Temple

Bottom Line Injuries limited Reddick to just four games over last two years of high school, forcing him to walk on at Temple. The Owls staff helped him unlock his explosive athletic traits on the field, which resulted in three forced fumbles, 9.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss in 2016. Reddick's speed and athleticism might give him a greater shot at impacting the game as a 3-4 inside linebacker or a 4-3 WILL rather than trying to bulk up and play the edge. An ascending prospect with a high-end potential if he can continue to hone his craft.

I love the concept of using him all over the field sort of like the Texans do with J.J. Watt. ILB on run downs and hand in the dirt pass rusher from anywhere on passing downs.

2-14 Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC

Sources Tell Us "I didn't expect him to have the year he did in coverage. I saw ball skills and coverage ability that I didn't see last year. Those interceptions and return touchdowns will push him into the early second. That's my guess." -- South area scout for AFC team

NFL Comparison Johnathan Joseph

Bottom Line There are two things teams love -- ball production from cornerbacks and return men who can play meaningful snaps on every down. Jackson fits those criteria. His lack of size and length are concerns, but he has the athleticism to step right in as a slot corner on the next level. His combination of coverage and return talent could make him an early impact player.

Lack of talent at CB would allow him to take whichever position he can earn on the field (CB2 or Slot) and he could impact the return game in positive ways. Good pick.

3-16 D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas

Sources Tell Us "I think he would have benefitted by staying in school another year. He's awful in pass protection. Our coaches won't put him out there if they think he'll get the quarterback killed. He has ability as a runner but I think it's going to take awhile for him to become a factor." - NFC Scouting Director

NFL Comparison Jonathan Stewart

Bottom Line Former three-star recruit who turned that a chip on his shoulder into a 2,000-yard junior season. Foreman has outstanding foot quickness and wiggle for a back his size, but will need to run behind his pads and with more aggression on the next level. Teams could be split on his draft value as some may covet his size and athleticism while others will be concerned about a lack of third down value. Ultimately he has the talent to be a good NFL starter, but he's still a work in progress.

Hate the pick. Not good in pass protection? Only had 7 pass receptions for the year? One trick pony which is NOT what the Colts offense needs. Don't mind picking a RB with the 3rd round pick if it is the RIGHT running back but I don't think Foreman is that guy.

4-15 John Johnson, S, Boston College

Sources Tell Us "He's really caught my eye out here. Had to go look him up with one of our scouts to find out more about the kid. Way more athletic than a lot of the safeties you see out at this game." -- NFC secondary coach

NFL Comparison Aaron Williams

Bottom Line Ascending defender with the experience, athleticism and ball skills to play as a high safety or in man coverage. Johnson is well above average as a ball-tracker and has the soft hands to finish at the catch-point against receivers. He has decent size but won't be a banger as a tackler, however, his ability in coverage has NFL personnel men buzzing as a potential early starter in the league.

Love that he has experience playing FS and Nickel CB. Sounds like a young Darius Butler honestly. Mix and match where to play him based on package; young players with that type of versatility are worthwhile.

4-31 Sean Harlow, G, Oregon State

Bottom Line Lacks the length and athletic ability to play tackle at the next level and will have to kick inside. Shows some power at the point of attack, but needs to play with better bend after initial contact. Will be a little limited in space and his anchor problems as a left tackle will have to be vetted in pre-draft workouts after he kicks inside. Could be a serviceable backup with swing ability between center and guard.

Not positive where he fits in the thinking of the guy making the draft. We already have A LOT of "acceptable" options at OG including Schwenke, Haeg, Good and Blythe. If we were going to add someone to the interior of the O-Line, we need a "GOOD" option and not another acceptable option. I guess he is thinking that any additional O-Lineman is an improvement but I would have rather seen this pick at TE than O-line to get just another body.

4-38 Deatrich Wise, DE, Arkansas

Bottom Line Slow-twitch power player with rare physical attributes but a lack of functional athleticism to chalk up a stat sheet. Might have been miscast as a 4-3 defensive end considering his lack of quickness and rush talent. But his length and power at the point of attack could make him an attractive Day 3 (Rounds 4-7) draft option for 3-4 teams looking for a two-gapping defensive end with the traits to bounce back from a disappointing senior season.

At the DE position, the Colts currently have Anderson, Langford, Ridgeway, Hunt and McGill. We have room for another young body whom can help close down run gaps and force an opposing offense into passing the ball.

5-14 Elijah Lee, OLB, Kansas State
No NFL.com Draft Profile to pull from. I pulled this from a pretty good video draft profile from a Washington Redskins fan (located here).

Elijah Lee was one of the best defenders in the BIG-12 this past season. He’s an athletic rangy linebacker with sideline to sideline ability. Lee was used as both an inside and outside linebacker while as Kansas State and the answer as to whether he should be used inside or outside will likely differ on the team evaluating him. Lee can make plays from either position. I hesitate to project him as an edge rushing LB in the NFL because his strengths don’t really lie in beating offensive tackles off the edge with his speed or pass rush moves. Lee does excel as a run defender plugging gaps and using his athleticism to shoot through them and make a play. Lee didn’t get a combine invite but he has said his offseason focus is to put on weight and show his athletic ability.

Elijah Lee is an intriguing player that you could play outside or inside but as I’m noticing with most of this year’s mid-round linebackers he has some issues that need to be corrected before he can be thrust out into a starting role. For Lee, it starts with filling out his frame as much as he can without affecting his athleticism (he is 6'3", 228 pounds). Not only does Lee need to add muscle mass he needs to add strength. I think a lot of Lee’s subsequent issues actually stem from that physical standpoint.

Sounds like a poor man's Hasson Reddick. Sounds like a kid whom you can get to play different assignments depending on how you need him (inside on run downs, pass rush on passing downs). Needs to bulk up without slowing down but could see a lot of snaps as a rookie on ST.


In the end, the Colts end up with 2 picks in the secondary, 2 picks at LB, a RB, an OG and a D-Lineman. I don't like the RB or OG picks but I like everyone else.

If Ballard ends up with this type of haul, I would not be disappointed.

Cheers,

[Coltsalr]

Derek Barnett runs an unofficial 4.89 40 time at his Pro Day.

He supposedly has a strained hamstring right now and is "toughing it out", but that's a pretty bad time and a pretty common excuse and mounts concerns upon a guy whose biggest concern is his conditioning.

I'm still not opposed to bringing in a guy that's been that productive at rushing the passer in the SEC and I'd be hard-pressed to pass on him in the 1st round, but more and more, I like the idea of going ILB in the 1st round (Foster/Davis/Cunningham/Reddick) and then edge rusher in the 2nd (Barnett/Williams/Lawson/Harris).

That seems feasible to me, I think.

[VeveJones007]

Originally Posted by Coltsalr

Derek Barnett runs an unofficial 4.89 40 time at his Pro Day.

He supposedly has a strained hamstring right now and is "toughing it out", but that's a pretty bad time and a pretty common excuse and mounts concerns upon a guy whose biggest concern is his conditioning.

I'm still not opposed to bringing in a guy that's been that productive at rushing the passer in the SEC and I'd be hard-pressed to pass on him in the 1st round, but more and more, I like the idea of going ILB in the 1st round (Foster/Davis/Cunningham/Reddick) and then edge rusher in the 2nd (Barnett/Williams/Lawson/Harris).

That seems feasible to me, I think.

The more concerning this for me when I watch any film on Barnett is his lack of rush moves. The guy is a one-trick pony right now. Unless he gets coached up (which I don't trust from this staff), teams will be able to scheme him out pretty easily.

That's why I'm much higher on Reddick and Harris. Both have eyes for the football and multiple pass rush moves.

[VeveJones007]

Originally Posted by sherck

5 round mock draft over on NFL.com by Chad Reuter

1-15 Haason Reddick - LB, Temple


I love the concept of using him all over the field sort of like the Texans do with J.J. Watt. ILB on run downs and hand in the dirt pass rusher from anywhere on passing downs.

2-14 Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC


Lack of talent at CB would allow him to take whichever position he can earn on the field (CB2 or Slot) and he could impact the return game in positive ways. Good pick.

3-16 D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas

Hate the pick. Not good in pass protection? Only had 7 pass receptions for the year? One trick pony which is NOT what the Colts offense needs. Don't mind picking a RB with the 3rd round pick if it is the RIGHT running back but I don't think Foreman is that guy.

4-15 John Johnson, S, Boston College

Love that he has experience playing FS and Nickel CB. Sounds like a young Darius Butler honestly. Mix and match where to play him based on package; young players with that type of versatility are worthwhile.

4-31 Sean Harlow, G, Oregon State

Not positive where he fits in the thinking of the guy making the draft. We already have A LOT of "acceptable" options at OG including Schwenke, Haeg, Good and Blythe. If we were going to add someone to the interior of the O-Line, we need a "GOOD" option and not another acceptable option. I guess he is thinking that any additional O-Lineman is an improvement but I would have rather seen this pick at TE than O-line to get just another body.

4-38 Deatrich Wise, DE, Arkansas

At the DE position, the Colts currently have Anderson, Langford, Ridgeway, Hunt and McGill. We have room for another young body whom can help close down run gaps and force an opposing offense into passing the ball.

5-14 Elijah Lee, OLB, Kansas State
No NFL.com Draft Profile to pull from. I pulled this from a pretty good video draft profile from a Washington Redskins fan (located here).

Sounds like a poor man's Hasson Reddick. Sounds like a kid whom you can get to play different assignments depending on how you need him (inside on run downs, pass rush on passing downs). Needs to bulk up without slowing down but could see a lot of snaps as a rookie on ST.


In the end, the Colts end up with 2 picks in the secondary, 2 picks at LB, a RB, an OG and a D-Lineman. I don't like the RB or OG picks but I like everyone else.

If Ballard ends up with this type of haul, I would not be disappointed.

Cheers,

Regarding Foreman, it depends on what Ballard envisions for the RB position moving forward. If they are sticking with a power scheme, Foreman is a solid pick--no player has ever run as fast as Foreman at his size in pre-draft work.

However, I agree that they need multi-dimensionality from the RB position. Get guys who are a threat out of the backfield and create matchup problems for opposing defenses.

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by VeveJones007

The more concerning this for me when I watch any film on Barnett is his lack of rush moves. The guy is a one-trick pony right now. Unless he gets coached up (which I don't trust from this staff), teams will be able to scheme him out pretty easily.

That's why I'm much higher on Reddick and Harris. Both have eyes for the football and multiple pass rush moves.

I agree. I was solidly in the Barnett camp until I watched some tape on Harris. He has decent spin move, a good rip move and uses the bull rush at times.