INDIANAPOLIS —Lots can change between now and the start of the 2018 NFL Draft on April 26, but one thing's for sure: there is going to be plenty of talent available for the pickin' when the Indianapolis Colts go on the clock with the No. 3-overall selection.
And to start to sort through all that talent, we bring you NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah, who recently released his Top 50 Prospects for this upcoming draft, in which he provides a good amount of insight on each player.
You can see Jeremiah's entire piece by clicking here, but what we've done for you below is provide the entire list of 50 players, and then the analysis by Jeremiah if it's a player that's been linked to the Colts in various experts' mock drafts over the past few weeks.
You can, of course, get a weekly update at the Colts' draft buzz here with our "Mock Draft Monday" series, but let's take a look at Jeremiah's top 50 prospects:
1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Barkley is one of the most dynamic running backs to enter the NFL in the last decade. He's built like a brick house, with an extremely thick/muscular lower body. On inside runs, he's quick to press the line of scrimmage before stopping, sorting and then exploding through the hole. When he decides to bounce the ball outside, Barkley has an incredible lateral burst. He's at his best on stretch runs. When he puts his foot in the ground and drives upfield, his suddenness is exceptional. He rarely drops his shoulder on contact, but his lower-body strength allows him to power through tacklers, and he also possesses a violent stiff arm. He has elite home-run speed and can make defenders miss at the second and third level without gearing down. Barkley's a versatile weapon in the passing game, capable of splitting out wide and running receiver routes with ease. He has natural hands. He's also reliable in pass protection, displaying both awareness and willingness. Overall, Barkley is capable of becoming the best player at his position very early in his NFL career.
- Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
- Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
4. Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State
Chubb has ideal size, strength and instincts. He primarily lines up with his hand down, but did stand up at times for the Wolfpack. As a pass rusher, he has a good get-off, but he is an outstanding technician with his hands. He wins with rip moves, swipe moves and a powerful bull rush. He can bend and wrap the edge. Chubb's motor never stops. His ability to finish is outstanding and it's reflected in his production. He was asked to drop into coverage some, and while he's serviceable in this capacity, he's best served moving forward, not backward. Against the run, he shocks blockers with his hands. He can locate the ball and close ground quickly. He dominates tight ends. Overall, Chubb has a natural feel as a pass rusher and should be a double-digit sack artist very early in his career.
5. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
Fitzpatrick is an outstanding playmaker who possesses the versatility to play every position in the secondary. He primarily lined up as the nickel this past season, but he played cornerback as well as safety in previous campaigns. He's at his best when allowed to float and keep his eyes on the quarterback. He has outstanding instincts, anticipation and ball skills. In man coverage, he has the size and speed to match up with both the big/physical pass-catchers as well as the smaller/quicker wideouts. He does have some hip tightness when he changes direction, but he recovers quickly because of his explosiveness. Against the run, he's aggressive to attack the line of scrimmage and is a very dependable tackler in space. He's an outstanding blitzer, displaying timing and burst. I love the energy and enthusiasm he brings to the defense. Overall, I see Fitzpatrick as a dynamic safety on run downs and a playmaking nickel on passing downs. He's a bigger version of Tyrann Mathieu and I think he will make a similar impact in the league.
- Sam Darnold, QB, USC
- Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
- Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
- Vita Vea, DT, Washington
- Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
- Derwin James, S, Florida State
- Ronald Jones II, RB, USC
- Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
- Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
- Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
- Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
17. Connor Williams, OT, Texas
Williams lined up at left tackle for the Longhorns and that is where I'm projecting him to play at the next level. He has excellent height/bulk for the position and average length. In the passing game, he's fluid out of his stance. He possesses the foot quickness to kick out and cover up speed rushers. He's a very easy mover and plays with excellent knee bend. He has a sharp punch, but occasionally, he is late to shoot his hands and allows defenders to get into his chest. In the run game, he can latch and generate movement at the point of attack. However, he gets overaggressive at times, lunging and whiffing. He is very athletic working up to the second level. Overall, Williams didn't play as well last fall (he also missed significant time with injury) as he did the previous season, but I still view him as a quality starting NFL tackle.
- Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
- Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
- Donte Jackson, CB, LSU
21. Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
Hurst is an undersized defensive tackle with exceptional quickness and awareness. Against the pass, he has elite get-off. He explodes off the snap and has a collection of effective hand moves to generate pressure. His bread-and-butter move is a quick swipe before wrapping around the blocker and exploding toward the quarterback. Against the run, he relies on his quickness to beat cut-off blocks and disrupt. Occasionally, he'll get stuck on blocks and is moved out of the hole. His effort is excellent. Overall, Hurst is an ideal 3-technique and could emerge as one of the best interior pass rushers in the league.
- Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
- Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
- Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
- James Daniels, C, Iowa
- Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
- Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
- Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
- Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
- Billy Price, C, Ohio State
- Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
- Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford
- Arden Key, LB, LSU
- Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina
- Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
- Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
- Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
- Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama
- Harold Landry, Edge, Boston College
- Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
- Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State
- Tyrell Crosby, OT, Oregon
- Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
- Brian O'Neill, OT, Pitt
- Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
- Dante Pettis, WR, Washington
- Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
- Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State
- Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
- Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn
