2018 Colts Draft Primer: What You Need To Know!

It’s finally here! After months of mock drafts, speculation, rumors, and stress, the 2018 NFL draft is tonight, and the FPC Colts team will be your one stop shop for all things Colts (Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @FPC_Colts).

Colts Picks (for now) with approximate NFL Draft trade value chart for each pick

• Round 1: 6 (1600)
• Round 2: 36 (540), 37 (530), 49 (410)
• Round 3: 67 (255)
• Round 4: 104 (86)
• Round 5: 131 (35.5)
• Round 6: 164 (19.8)
• Round 7: 195 (2.8)
  • Note: Future picks are usually valued as half that years pick or viewed as one pick down
  • Example: Colts first round pick is either worth half of 1600 or as much as their second-round pick 540. This valuation will vary slightly by each team, but the overall structure is still very similar

The Colts are set to have all seven picks in 2019 and possibly an extra fourth and seventh round pick as compensation for Donte Moncrief and Frank Gore leaving in free agency.

Draft Times and info

• Thursday, April 26^th, Round 1 8:00 PM EST (10 mins per pick)
• Friday, April 27^th, Round 2 and 3 7:00 PM EST (7 mins per pick/5 mins per pick)
• Saturday, April 28^th. Rounds 4-7 12:00 PM EST (5 mins per pick for rounds 4-6/4 mins per pick for round 7)

Where to watch:

• ESPN, NFL Network, FS1, CBS

Some teams to watch for trades:

• Buffalo Bills (12, 22)
• Miami Dolphins (11)
• Arizona Cardinals (15)
• Green Bay Packers (14)
• Chicago Bears (8)

Some players the Colts may take in round one

• Bradley Chubb DE NC St.
• Roquan Smith LB UGA
• Tremaine Edmunds LB VT
• Quenton Nelson G ND
• Saquan Barkley RB Penn St.
• Denzel Ward CB Ohio St.
• Derwin James S FSU

Sleeper picks throughout the draft

• Josh Jackson CB Iowa
• Marcus Davenport EDGE UTSA
• Maurice Hurst DL Michigan
• Antonio Callaway WR UF

Colts rumors and notes leading up to the draft:

• The Colts are switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense under DC Matt Eberflus and will run a much more uptempo offense under new head coach Frank Reich.
• Jason La Canfora reports the Colts may look to trade back into the first round
• Multiple Reports that the Colts are in love with Roquan Smith
• Jon Ledyard of Fanrag sports reports that Colts are one of a few teams very interested in WR Antonio Callaway
• Greg Doyle and Stephen Holder of the Indy Star noticed that Colts GM Chris Ballard mentioned LB Tremaine Edmunds as an all-around linebacker, even though the question was about Roquan Smith, leading them to believe Ballard’s “guy” is the former Hokie Edmunds
• Ballard has said he likes the depth at guard and running back on day two, and defensive line and cornerback in the later days as well.
• The Colts are reported to want several CBs and multiple LBs by the end of the offseason
• Colts new DC Matt Eberflus and Ballard have both profusely stated the priority for speed in the new defense. Both have also mentioned the need for size, so look for both in this upcoming draft
• Ballard last year mentioned that he wants players with one elite skill, things like speed, height, and others. He also mentioned his like for taller corners with good ball skills, as shown in Quincy Wilson and even Malik Hooker at safety
• Ballard has been known to take troubled players in the past, Tyreek Hill and Marcus Peters being the two hallmarks of this, and said if the players check out that he is open to taking players like that in the draft. He has also said he likes players from big-name schools due to the height of competition in those games.
• The Colts GM has preached competition to no end during his short tenure at the helm, so although the team may seem set at a position, don’t rule out Ballard taking a player anyways since he is the best player on the board.

Again the Colts Twitter and IG will be THE place to stay up to date with rumors, analysis, and picks during the draft process so follow us (@FPC_Colts)!

We could list all the other players the Colts could draft but instead, we will link a list of all the players the Colts have shown interest in courtesy of @fanofnuance https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kTZvuUSuno6bdvr_SVW6joxYGVdaw1D449Mm4Fe0Emo/edit#gid=0

• Note: Quincy Wilson and Malik Hooker did not officially meet with Chris Ballard’s staff before last years draft so use this as a guide, not a comprehensive pool of draftable players.

Teams picking ahead of the Colts

1. Cleveland Browns
2. New York Giants
3. New York Jets (from IND)
4. Cleveland Browns (from HOU)
5. Denver Broncos

Team Needs

• Pass Rusher 1 (EDGE/DE)
• Off the Ball LB (WILL/MIKE/SAM)
• Running Back 1/2
• Guard
• WR 2
• CB 2
• DT
• Tackle
• SS (if value presents itself, i.e. Derwin James)

Positions the Colts probably don’t need

• QB (stop it I’m serious)
• TE (Ebron, Doyle, Swoope, Travis)
• C (Kelly)
• FS (Malik Hooker)
• K
• P

This will be the most crucial Colts draft since 2012, and will likely set the tone for the remainder of Andrew Luck’s career. Chris Ballard took a huge risk not spending the close to $70,000,000 in cap space during free agency, placing the premium on the draft. The young GM admits he realizes the risks he is taking, but also knows this is the right way to build a championship roster for years to come. The Colts have one of the best group of front office minds in the game with Ballard, Ed Dobbs, and Rex Hogan leading the charge, so expectations are high. No matter what happens this weekend, it will be exciting to be a Colts fans, so stay tuned!

Article by: Maxx Hotton

Follow me @GetinHottonHere

Follow us @FPC_Colts