INDIANAPOLIS – The mocks are all but history for the 2016 NFL Draft.
We are now just hours away from knowing the 31 picks coming in Round One.
As we've done all offseason, Colts.com has brought together various mocks from around the media world and some popular names continue to appear at No. 18.
Here's the latest compilation of Mock Drafts:
Analysis: I have offensive line as a need if I'm the GM here, and Decker makes sense at No. 18. He played both left tackle and right tackle for Ohio State, and while you don't assume he's going to simply come in and lock down the left side, I'm drafting with idea that I can't go wrong by adding O-line help. It's all about getting better in front of my franchise player both in the running game and in pass protection.
Analysis: After failing to protect Andrew Luck last season, the Colts must come out of this draft with a more solidified offensive line. Decker would be a great place to start. He's a perfect fit at right tackle, Indy's biggest need, and has one of the highest floors of anyone in this draft.
Analysis: The Colts have tried a number of options on the edge in recent years, but Lawson may be the answer. Their hybrid scheme will make it look like a defensive end or an outside linebacker at times, but regardless of name, Lawson is a stout run defender (second-best grade vs. run in nation) and his +25.9 pass rush grade ranked ninth in the draft class.
Analysis: They need to improve on their pass rush.
Analysis: This is the range in the draft where there will be interest in Alabama center Ryan Kelly. But what offers more impact for a team, a center or a pass rusher? If the answer is the latter, Spence is the easy choice for the Colts.
Analysis: The top priority in Indianapolis must be protecting Andrew Luck, and that starts up the middle. New offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski and offensive line coach Joe Philbin are looking for more athletic offensive linemen and Kelly possesses the strength, agility and pro-ready game to boost the Colts' play at any of the three interior positions.
Analysis: Boring pick? Maybe. But the right one. Decker could work with Anthony Castanzo and the two of them could protect the most important asset in the league, Mr. Andrew Luck.
Analysis: A fairly quiet off-season means that the Colts could head into training camp with Denzelle Good penciled in at right tackle. They're high on Good, but this would be a clear upgrade.
MOCK DRAFT TOTALS
In each installment of the mock draft looks we will total up all the positions pundits have pegged for the Colts throughout the draft process.
Totals:
OT: 21
OLB: 6
OG: 4
DE: 3
C-3
DT: 3
RB: 3
ILB: 2
S-1
Bowen's Analysis: Even though the Colts have mentioned they like what they have on the edges of their offensive line, draft pundits seem to just be sending the "best offensive lineman (regardless of position)" to them at No. 18. When you see the names Taylor Decker and Jack Conklin show up, the Colts have to answer the question on if their evaluations indicate those guys can play guard at the next level. If one of those guys came to Indy, there's a good chance the initial NFL look for them would come at guard. A couple of Noah Spence choices to end our Mock Draft looks. Ryan Grigson mentioned last week that the Colts have cleaned up some background checks on players that they now feel comfortable drafting. Is Spence, one of the top pure edge rushers in this draft, one of those guys? With Shaq Lawson, it's a question of will he even still be around at No. 18 and is he a better fit for a 4-3 defense?
P.S. I wanted to again include this awesome pie chart from SB Nation, compiling virtually every Mock Draft from around the NFL media world. This is a great resource for seeing which specific players are appearing most for the Colts. Taylor Decker has a big lead on this group. After Decker (27.7%), the next names most pegged for the Colts are Noah Spence (16.9%), Ryan Kelly (12.3%), Reggie Ragland (9.2%), Jack Conklin (7.7%), Leonard Floyd (6.2%) and A'Shawn Richardson (6.2%).
