INDIANAPOLIS —The Fab Four of the NFL Draft have had their final say.
With just hours remaining until the start of the first round of the NFL Draft — the action begins at 8 p.m. ET, by the way — four of the top draft experts have each squeezed in one final mock draft, as the buzz starts really building.
The Indianapolis Colts, of course, have a premium pick in the first round this year, as they pick sixth overall. There has been all sorts of names attached to the Colts in various mock drafts over the last couple months, but there's no doubting the fact that Indy's pick depends heavily upon how the draft's top-four rated quarterbacks fall off the board.
Depending on how that goes, Colts general manager Chris Ballard could very well entertain trade offers from quarterback-needy teams with lower picks who are willing to part ways with multiple early-round selections just for the opportunity to move up to No. 6.
So what's going to happen? Well, outside of waiting until tonight to get that answer, here are ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay and the NFL Network's Mike Mayock and Daniel Jeremiah with their best guesses in their last-minute mock drafts — and all four of them have different names coming to Indy:
• Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN has the Colts selecting Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith at No. 6 overall. Kiper writes: "Smith would be an impact defender for new coach Frank Reich. If (defensive end Bradley) Chubb falls, this could be the spot for him." (See Kiper's entire mock draft by clicking here; ESPN Insider subscription required.)
• Todd McShay of ESPN has the Colts selecting Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson at No. 6 overall. McShay writes: "If the Colts can't get a deal done to move out, I think it's Nelson or Roquan Smith here. I'll lean Nelson to give Andrew Luck some much-needed protection on the offensive line. Nelson is a plug-and-play starter." (See McShay's entire mock draft by clicking here; ESPN Insider subscription required.)
• Mike Mayock of the NFL Networkbelieves the Colts will trade the No. 6-overall pick to the Buffalo Bills, and with the No. 12 pick, he has Indy taking Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. Mayock writes: "The Colts have multiple needs. Give general manager Chris Ballard kudos for coming up with a bunch of players, starting with Fitzpatrick. Pair him with Malik Hooker, and you've got two of the best young safeties in the league." (See Mayock's entire mock draft by clicking here.)
• Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Networkhas the Colts selecting N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb at No. 6 overall. Jeremiah writes: "There have been whispers about the Colts potentially moving up for Chubb. There's a chance he could fall to them at No. 6." (See Jeremiah's entire mock draft by clicking here.)
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Who else is projected to go to the Colts? Be sure to check out our final edition of "Mock Draft Monday" by **clicking here*.*
