COLTS

Colts mock drafts: Vibe at No. 29? Protect No. 12

Matthew Glenesk
matthew.glenesk@indystar.com
Colts and Stanford? Why not. Indy could be a potential landing spot for Andrus Peat.
  • NFL Draft first round%2C April 30
  • Colts own No. 29 pick

We live in a post-Combine world now. That means no more Wonderlic, less wait time at St. Elmo's and a more accurate sense of teams' needs and draft projections.

Life after the Combine also means updated mock drafts, which we can't get enough of. Running back. Safety. Pass rusher. Those are the positions you hear the Colts linked most with at pick No. 29.

It makes sense. They are legitimate needs and are sexier positions than say, the offensive line. But Indy's offensive line, a heavyweight version of musical chairs last season, could use some reinforcements. Anthony Castonzo is due a pay raise and looks like a fixture at left tackle. Jack Mewhort, the team's first selection a year ago, showed promise and started 14 games. Then it gets a bit murky. Gosder Cherilus' health is a concern, Hugh Thornton has been inconsistent and who knows what's happening at center.

We looked at 15 updated mock drafts and protection for Andrew Luck with pick No. 29 is by far the most popular choice.

Offensive tackle: 6

Running back: 2

Safety: 2

Linebacker: 2

Defensive line: 2

Wide receiver: 1

Here is a closer look at what some draftniks are predicting for the Colts:

• In NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah's latest mock draft he has Stanford OT Andrus Peat going to the Colts at No. 29. The rationale is simple: protect the franchise.

The Colts need to lower the number of hits Andrew Luck has suffered over the last few seasons. Peat has some rough moments on tape, but he has excellent size, quickness and intelligence.

USA TODAY's Nate Davis agrees with the Peat choice.

Running back will certainly be a priority. But assuming Gordon and Gurley are gone, never hurts to give QB Andrew Luck more protection from a promising fellow Stanford product.

NFL Network's Charles Davis is also on the offensive line train, but goes with Pittsburgh OT T.J. Clemmings instead.

Clemmings has left tackle talent despite playing right tackle in college. His best football is ahead of him after having played only two years on offensive line in college.

• Guess what? How about another offensive tackle? Sports Illustrated's Don Banks believes the Colts will take LSU tackle La'El Collins.

The Colts have to shore up their offensive line issues and keep Andrew Luck cleaner than they've been able to in the quarterback's first three difference-making NFL seasons. Collins has the versatility and the pedigree to handle an early starting role.

ESPN's Todd McShay also believes the Colts will take Collins in his latest mock draft.

The Colts will likely be hoping for one of the pass-rushers already off the board in this mock draft to drop to No. 29, as they need some youth at the perimeter rusher spots. Bjoern Werner hasn't shown enough promise for them to count on him emerging in 2015, and Robert Mathis turns 34 on Feb. 26. But in this scenario, the market on pass-rusher prospects has run dry, so I have them upgrading their offensive line with Collins, who could play either right tackle or right guard for Indianapolis. Georgia running back Todd Gurley is another possibility here.

NJ.com's Dom Consentino throws another name into the ring with Colorado State OT Ty Sambrailo.

Some have a second-round grade on Sambrailo, but the knock on him is that he needs to get stronger. The Colts, in need of O-line help, can fix that.
Former Oklahoma and Missouri WR Dorial Green-Beckham catches a pass during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium

• Moving away from the trenches, Fox Sports' Peter Schrager post-combine mock draft has the Colts making a splash with Oklahoma receiver Dorial Green-Beckham.

You better believe teams are doing their work, checking to see if "DGB" is worth the off-field gamble to get him on the field. At 29? It's worth the roll of the dice. Green-Beckham has been arrested twice for marijuana and was dismissed by Missouri after an incident with a woman in his last season there. But Green-Beckham had an outstanding week in Indianapolis. One thing is for sure: He can play wide receiver. At 6-foot-5, he's got Calvin Johnson measureables and he was open and honest about his decision-making in the past. He just needs the right landing spot. How about lining up alongside T.Y. Hilton and having Andrew Luck throwing him balls? He's the biggest wild card in this year's draft, and I love the thought of him in Indianapolis.

• The Colts don't currently have a safety under contract for 2015, though Mike Adams has stated a desire to return. Insider Stephen Holder wrote earlier this week about the team's need at safety and singled out Alabama's Landon Collins. Many mocks have Collins going higher than No. 29. But a few don't. And those mocks have the Colts gobbling up a player listed as the best at his position in the draft.

Among those is NFLDraftScout.com's Dane Brugler:

Veteran safety Mike Adams had a better-than-expected 2014 season, but he is a 34-year-old free agent and might not be in the Colts' future plans. Collins has his limitations in coverage, but plays with range and a downhill demeanor that fits the NFL.

Eric Edholm of Yahoo!'s Shutdown Corner blog also pegs Collins for the Colts.

This would be another steal, and frankly we're assuming that he could go far earlier (Philadelphia? Cincinnati?) following a banner combine performance. Really, Collins is the only safety worth drafting before Round 3, but even with that we're not sure he'll be an instant hit in the NFL given the rash of bigger box safeties — even those with Collins' great athleticism — who have struggled to become impact starters early in their careers in recent years. Still, this appears an upgrade over LaRon Landry, and potentially a big one.

In the second round, an offensive tackle, go figure. This time it's Oregon's Jake Fisher.

The nimble-footed Fisher might not be an ideal-framed right tackle, but he's a better run blocker than he's credited to be and can help add athleticism up front on a patchy line.

CBS Sports' NFL Insider Pat Kirwan adds some defensive help with Washington S/LB Shaq Thompson.

LaRon Landry was released, Mike Adams is a free agent and Thompson is a hybrid athlete that gives this defense tremendous flexibility. He could fit the same roll that LaVonte David has in Tampa as an every-down player at OLB or safety.
Is Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon the Colts answer at RB?

• Ah, the running backs. It's been a while since one went in the first round. And there are some candidates this year to break that streak. And some believe the Colts, who are in need of running back help, may be tempted. Bleacher Report's draft analyst Matt Miller mocks Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon to Indy, three picks after predicting Georgia RB Todd Gurley to Baltimore.

Two running backs in the first round? What is this, 2012?
It's not, but this is the year for a run on running backs in the first round. Two reasons: (1) This isn't a great draft class for top-tier talent (especially on offense); and (2) there are legitimate needs at the position. That sets up well for Todd Gurley (No. 26, Baltimore) and 2,000-yard rusher Melvin Gordon.
I'm not completely sold on Gordon's ability to transition to the NFL (he doesn't show great burst or long speed, had six fumbles in his last five games and definitely benefited from the scheme), but he has unquestioned vision, patience and balance as a runner. The Colts need a bell cow, and Gordon is a much better option than Trent Richardson.

• Like the idea of Gordon in the Colts backfield? CBS Sports' Rob Rang echoes Miller's sentiment.

The 45-7 thumping by New England in the AFC Championship Game exposed Indianapolis' need for more playmakers to support Andrew Luck. The trade for Trent Richardson did not pay off and while the Colts have since received solid play from Dan Herron (among others), the opportunity to add a special runner like Gordon would have to be intriguing. The Heisman finalist, who rushed for a staggering 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2014, is an electric runner with breakaway speed.

After releasing Ricky Jean Francois, the Colts are a little light up front. So DraftTek has Indy selecting Oklahoma DT Jordan Phillips at No. 29. And with no safety under contract for 2015, safety is the logical choice in Round 2, with the website projecting TCU free safety Chris Hackett at pick No. 61.

• Keeping up with the need for defensive line reinforcements, WalterFootball.com thinks the Colts will look to Oregon DE/DT Arik Armstead in the first round and then go with a corner in Round 2 with Miami (Ohio)'s Quinten Rollins.

Cory Redding was a stud this past year, but he will be a 34-year-old free agent in March. A long-term pass-rusher on the defensive line is needed, and Arik Armstead, who has tremendous upside, is one of the top players available.
Greg Toler performed well in the playoffs, but the Colts could use a better No. 2 corner. Quinten Rollins is another player whose stock is rising.

The New NFL Draft's Tyler Lurkins taps Clemson middle linebacker Stephone Anthony, a new name, but possibly a replacement for D'Qwell Jackson or free agent Jerrell Freeman.

Anthony will be off of the board in the next 10-15 picks. With so little value in the ILB market, Indy will have no choice but to reach for Anthony here. Anthony's stock had been on the rise, but after his combine performance, he's the best ILB in the draft. Running back can be found later, and unfortunately Indy really has no great value picks here, with the exception of Anthony.

In the second round, perhaps a running back or safety? Nope, another linebacker. This time, Louisville's Lorenzo Mauldin.

Indy needs a warm body to consistently hunt down the QB. Mauldin is showing signs of improving at OLB, shows great character, and performed well at the combine.