INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts have the No. 26-overall pick in April's 2019 NFL Draft. Here's your first weekly compilation taking a look at which players the various experts believe will land in Indianapolis:
- Charlie Campbell, WalterFootball.com
- Vinny Iyer, Sporting News
- Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
- Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
- Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com
- Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
- DraftTek.com
- Dan Kadar, SB Nation
- Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports
- Nick Klopsis, Newsday
- Mel Kiper, ESPN
- Luke Easterling, DraftWire
- R.J. White, CBS Sports
- Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus
- Matt Miller, Bleacher Report
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Expert: Charlie Campbell, WalterFootball.com
Date of mock draft: Jan. 28 (link)
Selection: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
Analysis: "The Colts could use a linebacker upgrade next to Darius Leonard. The 5-foot-11, 233-pound Bush is a very short linebacker by NFL standards, but he has received a lot of media hype as a first-round prospect. In 2018, Bush recorded 78 tackles with nine tackles for a loss, five sacks and six passes batted. As a sophomore, he totaled 101 tackles with 9.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, eight passes batted and one interception. Bush is a bit of a tweener linebacker/safety who might have to be used in a hybrid role in his NFL defense. He could fit as a Will - weak side - linebacker, which would let him use his speed and athleticism to defend sideline to sideline and cover in the passing game."
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Expert: Vinny Iyer, Sporting News
Date of mock draft: Jan. 28 (link)
Selection: N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
Analysis: "Andrew Luck had a big season despite limited pop at receiver beyond T.Y. Hilton. Harry would complement Hilton as a big (6-4, 216 pounds) matchup nightmare through the red zone who also can provide another strong intermediate-to-deep threat. Harry's stock has the potential to shoot up, a la Mike Evans, so Stanford's J.J. Arcega-Whiteside also must remain on the Colts' radar."
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Expert: Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
Date of mock draft: Jan. 25 (link)
Selection: A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss
Analysis: "The Colts could use another threatening receiver outside of T.Y. Hilton. Brown is a muscular wideout who thrives after the catch."
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Expert: Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
Date of mock draft: Jan. 25 (link)
Selection: N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
Analysis: "The big-bodied pass catcher from Arizona State would be an ideal fit as a WR2 opposite T.Y. Hilton."
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Expert: Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com
Date of mock draft: Jan. 24 (link)
Selection: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
Analysis: "The Colts had 19 drops in a span of three games when T.Y. Hilton was out of the lineup. They really need a second option at receiver. Charlie Campbell reported that D.K. Metcalf is a love/hate prospect. Some teams believe he'll be a top-15 pick, while others have him graded in the fourth round."
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Expert: Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
Date of mock draft: Jan. 23 (link)
Selection: Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
Analysis: "Abram is one of my favorite players in the draft. He fits what the Colts are building on defense."
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Expert: DraftTek.com
Date of mock draft: Jan. 23 (link)
Selection: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford
Analysis: "One week removed from the thud that ended the 2018 season for the Colts, this week's CMD will once again feature J.J. Arcega-Whiteside as the Colts' first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Indy offense sputtered in the playoff loss against Kansas City --as it did in a few other games during the regular season (remember that 6-0 debacle against the Jags?), and much of that centered on a lack of downfield passing production.This Colts' offense passed the ball 2 out of every 3 plays (61.9% vs 38.9 %) and ran the 3rd-most offensive plays (1,070) in the NFL. However, out of their first 9 possessions against the Chiefs, the Colts punted seven times, fumbled twice, and missed a FG. Just two passes the entire game traveled more than 20 yards (one went for 20 and the other for 21). Andrew Luck threw 36 total passes in the AFC Divisional game, with 20 of those attempts split nearly evenly between T.Y. Hilton (Ranked #31 in the NFL for receiving) and TE Eric Ebron (#39 overall in receiving for 2018).The Colts have solid depth at WR for their 3rd and 4th option (Chester Rogers, Ryan Grant, Dontrelle Inman, Zach Pascal), but no clear-cut "go-to" guy that can complement Hilton on the opposite side. They need someone that can force defenses to pick their poison when considering a double-team. Arcega-Whiteside gives Indy a physical receiver that can body up and not be over-powered by some of the top CB's in the NFL. At the same time, he can accelerate off the LOS and get downfield in an instant, particularly when facing press coverage. The fact that he wore Cardinal red and white in Santa Clara County should make for an instant bond with QB Andrew Luck. Indy will likely be faced with a decision at this selection of going with a skill position wideout like Arcega-Whiteside, N'Keal Harry, Kelvin Harmon, or a difference-maker in the front of their defense with a Montez Sweat, Jerry Tillery, or Mississipi State's Jeffery Simmons."
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Expert: Dan Kadar, SB Nation
Date of mock draft: Jan. 21 (link)
Selection: Dre'Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State
Analysis: "The Colts need an interior defensive lineman who is capable of getting through gaps and creating pressure up the middle. Considering that is Jones' specialty, it's hard not to like this fit in the first round. The Indianapolis defense under Matt Eberflus has bits of the old Tampa-2 mixed into it, and that scheme was reliant on defensive tackles who could split gaps. Jones can be that player for the Colts' defensive coordinator."
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Expert: Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports
Date of mock draft: Jan. 21 (link)
Selection: N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
Analysis: "A new-and-improved Andrew Luck, an offensive line that allowed just 18 sacks during the regular season, and now another downfield playmaker to pair with T.Y. Hilton and Eric Ebron. Harry had 73 receptions for 1,088 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and he reminds us of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Anquan Boldin."
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Expert: Nick Klopsis, Newsday
Date of mock draft: Jan. 20 (link)
Selection: Kelvin Harmon, WR, North Carolina State
Analysis: "The Colts don't have too many glaring needs, so they can afford to make a luxury pick here and bolster an already strong receiving corps. Kelvin Harmon is a well-rounded receiver with the size (6-3, 214), speed, hands and route-running ability to eventually become a No. 1 receiver."
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Expert: Mel Kiper, ESPN
Date of mock draft: Jan. 17 (link; ESPN Insider access required)
Selection: Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
Analysis: "Lawrence is higher on my Big Board -- No. 17 -- but he won't fit every NFL team. At 6-foot-5, 340 pounds, he's the top nose tackle in this class, so he needs to find a team looking for a plugger in the middle. With Margus Hunt -- who had a stellar 2018 -- a free agent, the Colts could have a need along the interior of the line. Lawrence can disrupt a pocket and hold up against the run, but he's never going to be an elite penetrator like Quinnen Williams."
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Expert: Luke Easterling, DraftWire
Date of mock draft: Jan. 17 (link)
Selection: Kelvin Harmon, WR, North Carolina State
Analysis: "Andrew Luck looks to be back to his old self, and while his offensive line is strong, and he has a deep-threat playmaker in T.Y. Hilton, something's still missing from the offense. Harmon's big frame and complete skill set would fill that void and take this talented group to the next level."
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Expert: R.J. White, CBS Sports
Date of mock draft: Jan. 17 (link)
Selection: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
Analysis: "The Colts surprised some people with their run in 2018 behind a healthy Andrew Luck and an outstanding 2018 draft class. But one place they need to get better is at receiver, where it's T.Y. Hilton followed by not much else in terms of reliable options. Metcalf's season was ended early by a neck injury, but his upside as an outside receiver makes him one to watch during the predraft process."
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Expert: Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus
Date of mock draft: Jan. 15 (link)
Selection: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
Analysis: "Brown brings a speed element to the Colts' offense after averaging 19.2 yards per reception in 2017 and 17.6 yards/reception last season. He ranked sixth in the nation with 592 yards on deep passes last year."
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Expert: Matt Miller, Bleacher Report
Date of mock draft: Jan. 15 (link)
Selection: N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
Analysis: "The Indianapolis Colts made a fantastic turnaround in 2018 en route to a playoff berth and Wild Card Round victory. They are close, but general manager Chris Ballard needs one more draft to get them into serious contention. Ballard and his excellent team of scouts will be looking to improve the offense and could do so by adding a marquee target for Andrew Luck in the first round. N'Keal Harry has excellent size (6'4", 213 lbs) and has dominated after the catch at Arizona State. The Colts do have needs on defense, especially a pass-rusher, but the free-agent class this year is rich at the edge. Paying for a pass rush and drafting wide receivers is the better move this offseason."
