INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts have the 21st-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Take a look at which players the various experts believe will land in Indy in the February 22nd edition of Mock Draft Monday.
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Selection: Azeez Ojulari, Edge, Georgia
Expert: Anthony Treash, Pro Football Focus
Date of mock draft: Feb. 22 (link)
Analysis: "Indianapolis' edge unit ranked 25th in pass-rush grade a season ago and has their two most productive players at the position, Justin Houston and Denico Autry, hitting free agency. Regardless of their future with the team, Indy needs to bolster its lackluster pass-rushing on the edge.
Ojulari is a true speed rusher who can get away with his lack of standout strength and power with his athleticism. He broke out in a big way in 2020, raising his 71.4 pass-rushing grade to 91.7, second in the FBS. Ojulari also forced three strip-sack fumbles and generated a 24.3% pass-rush, ranking top five at his position in the FBS."
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Selection: Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson
Expert: Charlie Campbell, WalterFootball.com
Date of mock draft: Feb. 22 (link)
Analysis: "Carman was a solid left tackle for Clemson in 2020, including putting together a good performance against Notre Dame. While he played left tackle for Clemson, Carman has the versatility to play left tackle, right tackle, and guard. The 6-foot-5, 345-pound Carman is a an easy mover with excellent size. He has some technical issues to fix that were put on full display in the playoff loss to Ohio State. Some team sources think Carman could sneak into the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft given his skill set of size, speed and athleticism."
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Selection: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Expert: Nate Davis, USA TODAY
Date of mock draft: Feb. 22 (link)
Analysis: "Anthony Castonzo's retirement leaves a void at left tackle for an otherwise stalwart line. Barring a free agent signing or shuffling All-Pro LG Quenton Nelson outside, the path of least resistance might be drafting steady Darrisaw and leaving the other four starters in place."
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Selection: Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan
Expert: Luke Easterling, Draft Wire
Date of mock draft: Feb.22 (link)
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Selection: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Expert: Brad Gagnon, Bleacher Report
Date of mock draft: Feb. 22 (link)
Analysis: "With longtime starting left tackle Anthony Castonzo retired, Indy should look for the best offensive lineman available.
In this case, it can get good value from Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw, who was a two-year starter in the left tackle spot for the Hokies. At, 6'5", 314 pounds, he has the size and strength to contribute right away for a team in win-now mode.
The Colts might also need a receiver if T.Y. Hilton departs, a corner if Xavier Rhodes gets away and an edge-defender if they can't keep Denico Autry or Justin Houston. But the defense is in much better shape in general, and they've invested plenty of draft capital in receivers Parris Campbell and Michael Pittman Jr. the last couple of years.
If Darrisaw is there, they have to pull the trigger."
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Selection: Christian Darrisaw, OL, Virginia Tech (#18, projected trade with Miami Dolphins)
Expert: Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports
Date of mock draft: Feb. 22 (link)
Analysis: "The Colts don't want to wait around to see if Darrisaw is still on the board at No. 21, so they trade up three spots. Darrisaw had an impressive season for the Hokies, and finding an offensive tackle becomes all the more urgent with the news that Anthony Castonzo has retired."
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Selection: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT, USC
Expert: Danny Kelly, The Ringer
Date of mock draft: Feb. 18 (link)
Analysis: "Everything the Colts do on offense starts with their top-tier offensive line, but Anthony Castonzo's retirement leaves the team with a hole at left tackle. Vera-Tucker may lack prototypical length but makes up for it with quick feet and easy movement skills. He'd be a nice plug-and-play option for Indy at the position."
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Selection: Christian Darrisaw, T, Virginia Tech
Expert: Dean Kindig, DraftTek
Date of mock draft: Feb. 18 (link)
Analysis: "Do the Colts need Christian Darrisaw as their RD1 pick? Well, I'd like you to watch the Colts' LT during this outside-zone run play. Now imagine you could have any OT from this draft whose specialty is outside zone. Well, you just drafted him. Read about Darrisaw here. You'll thank me later."
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Selection: Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
Expert: Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
Date of mock draft: Feb. 17 (link)
Analysis: "Moore is a twitched-up slot with soft hands and outstanding YAC abilities."
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Selection: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Expert: Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com
Date of mock draft: Feb. 16 (link)
Analysis: "The Colts have an outstanding cornerback in Xavier Rhodes, but they could use more talent on the other side of the field.
Jaycee Horn is a fast, fluid athlete. Team sources have told Charlie Campbell that Horn is a better prospect than his teammate, Israel Mukuamu."
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Selection: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
Expert: Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
Date of mock draft: Feb. 16 (link)
Analysis: "Free agency could create a void at the position for Indy, and teams are very high on Newsome, a height-weight-speed corner."
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Selection: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Expert: Austin Gayle, Pro Football Focus
Date of mock draft: Feb. 15 (link)
Analysis: "Moore is largely a projection at the next level considering how few snaps we saw him fully healthy at Purdue, but his record-breaking 2018 season and jaw-dropping speed, strength and athleticism combination is enough to feel confident in him as a first-round pick."
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Selection: Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan
Expert: Kevin Hanson, EDS Football
Analysis: "Justin Houston has 19.0 sacks in his two seasons in Indianapolis, but the 32-year-old edge rusher is set to become a free agent next month. Among available players here in this mock, Paye is my top-ranked prospect (16th), which would match best player available and a team need. Not only is Paye an outstanding run defender, but his elite athletic profile (previously topping Bruce Feldman's freaks list) gives him enormous upside as a pass-rusher."
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Selection: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida (#26, projected trade with Cleveland Browns)
Expert: Chad Reuter, NFL.com
Date of mock draft: Feb. 8 (link)
Analysis: "If T.Y. Hilton hits the open market, Toney's quickness off the line of scrimmage and elusiveness with the ball in his hands will make him a solid replacement."
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Selection: Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas
Expert: Nick Klopsis, Newsday
Date of mock draft: Feb. 8 (link)
Analysis: "Joseph Ossai is great at getting to the quarterback from a stand-up linebacker position, and what he lacks in polish he makes up for in athleticism and relentlessness."
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Selection: Gregory Rousseau, Edge, Miami (FL)
Expert: Michael Renner, Pro Football Focus
Date of mock draft: Feb. 8 (link)
Analysis: "On the defensive side of the ball, the Colts have coveted length every year of the Chris Ballard era. There may not be a longer edge defender in the draft class than Rousseau. We haven't seen him put it all together on the edge, though, and that may drop him down the draft board."
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Selection: Jayson Oweh, Edge, Penn State
Expert: Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Date of mock draft: Feb. 4 (link)
Analysis: "The Colts could go with a cornerback here, but they covet elite length and explosiveness off the edge. Oweh might be too tempting to pass on despite his need for pass-rush polish."
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Selection: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas
Expert: Joe Marino, The Draft Network
Date of mock draft: Feb. 4 (link)
Analysis: "With the retirement of Anthony Castonzo comes the creation of a hole at left tackle for the Colts, who otherwise have an outstanding offensive line. Cosmi is a long and athletic blocker that has good range and all the traits needed to be the new blindside protector in Indianapolis."
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Selection: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
Expert: Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
Date of mock draft: Feb. 1 (link)
Analysis: "The recent retirement of Anthony Castonzo prompts GM Chris Ballard to fill the left tackle spot with a nimble, big-bodied edge blocker."
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Selection: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
Expert: Ben Linsey, Pro Football Focus
Date of mock draft: Feb. 1 (link)
Analysis: "He isn't a finished product at wide receiver after serving primarily as a gadget player earlier in his Florida career, but he has all the traits that lead you to believe that he can develop into a polished route-runner. However, you're drafting Toney for how freakishly elusive he is in the open field, which is highlighted by his 32 broken tackles on 80 catches since 2019. He would give the Colts' receiving corps some extra juice in an offseason where 31-year-old T.Y. Hilton is scheduled to hit free agency."
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Selection: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Expert: Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY
Date of mock draft: Jan. 5 (link)
Analysis: "Unless Indianapolis opts to move on from Philip Rivers in favor of a long-term option at quarterback, the Colts can instead bolster their already formidable defense with the pesky Horn."
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Selection: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Expert: James Dator, SBNation.com
Date of mock draft: Jan. 4 (link)
Analysis: "Rondale Moore definitely doesn't have ideal size, but the Colts are used to working around that with T.Y. Hilton. This pick hinges entirely on whether Indianapolis brings back their top receiver, but even if they do, I think Moore is a solid pick."
Ahead of the 2021 NFL draft, get a look at NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah's top draft 50 prospects.
