Hey there Colts’ fans! Here are my thoughts on the Colts very active draft weekend on which they added 11 new players including 5 in the first two rounds.

The biggest haul was obviously landing both of the All-American guards in this year’s draft with Notre Dame OG Quentin Nelson with the 6^th overall selection and Auburn OG Braden Smith early in round two. Clearly they have finally invested in protecting QB Andrew Luck and they likely have selected both interior starters for week 1. Both are absolute road graders with a ton of starting experience, and each has a bit of a nasty streak which was sorely lacking in this unit. Nelson was considered the 3^rd best player in this draft and one of the best O-line prospects in years – many consider him a lock to be an All-Pro eventually. Smith went a bit under the radar, but has an excellent motor and work ethic. These were two winning picks, as I see it – picks that will pay both immediate and long-term dividends.

However the rest of the draft has a lot of "wait and see" feel to it. With five picks in the first two rounds, I would have hoped that the team would have got a little more of an explosive "difference maker" somewhere along the way instead of filling out depth across the board. High 2^nd rounder LB Darius Leonard plays fast and will likely start for this underwhelming unit, but is not a guy that screams "really high ceiling" to me. I will say that he does have great physical tools, including great speed and a high motor, and that kind of energy can’t be taught. The other two second round picks were defensive linemen; pass rusher DE Kemoko Turay of Rutgers and run stopper DE Tyquan Lewis of Ohio State. Both of these guys have potential to be solid situational or rotation players but again, neither looks like a solid indisputable starter to me. All three of these defenders graded out as later picks in rounds 3 or so, so maybe the Colts reached a bit as well with these two.

Throughout the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th rounds ,they addressed the lack of playmakers in the offensive backfield and the shortage of wideouts on the roster. Both of the receivers will stick and contribute as rookies, I believe. Clemson’s WR Deon Cain might be the steal of the draft in the middle of round 6 as he was pegged as a 3^rd rounder and has ridiculous measurable and solid intangibles; Northern Iowa’s WR Daurice Fountain is virtually unknown (wasn’t invited to the combine) and a raw prospect, but definitely has physical tools. Both of these guys have good size at 6’2", which also was lacking in the receiving corps. Both have some dynasty value, with Cain possessing the potential to actually be a #1 guy someday if they eventually move on from WR TY Hilton. The running backs are niche players at best, each with specific roles. 4^th rounder RB Nyheim Hines was the fastest running back at the combine and likely will show his skills as a return man initially. 5^th rounder Jordan Wilkins is solid but unspectacular and is not going to outrun anyone, so he better be very efficient as an interior runner to find a way to stay on the roster.

The last two rounds saw them draft a pair of interior linebackers, LB Matthew Adams of Houston and LB Zaire Franklin of Syracuse. Each of them are physically underwhelming but have very high football and personal character; Franklin is only the second ever 3-time captain at Syracuse, and Adams is a typical "lead by example" guy that everyone wants to follow into battle. Because of this (and the short depth at linebacker on the roster) each have a chance to stick as special teams contributors and solid "glue guys" despite their physical limitations on the field.

As of this week, all but two of the draft picks are already signed – only 2^nd rounders Smith and Turay remain unsigned as of this writing. I don’t expect a holdout for either, especially Smith who will want to compete for the starting spot at right guard (his natural position). As far as the still-undefined right tackler spot on the line, this week the Colts signed veteran OT Austin Howard who filled in admirably last season, starting all 16 games while battling a knee injury. The 31-year old Howard has started 88 of 92 games for four different teams in his 7-year career, and has the inside track be the short term starter at right tackle if healthy. They also signed Texas A&M-Commerce OT Jared Machorro as an undrafted free agent. The 6’6", 305 lb. Machorro is one of the most decorated D2 linemen in history, and is an intriguing prospect to me if his play and experience translates against better competition. If the rookies step in to flank the center, OC Ryan Kelly stays healthy and Howard or even the youngster Machorro can stabilize the right tackle slot… this line could get markedly better, very quickly.

Finally, congratulations to DE Dwight Freeney who signed a one-day contract with the Colts on the eve of the draft so as to retire with the horseshoes. Despite being undersized and underappreciated from a lesser program, his speed and patented spin move made him one of the most feared pass rushers of his generation. Rest well, good sir – you have earned it!

That is all for now from the Crossroads of America. For the month of May, this is auto racing country instead of Colts’ country, so I will just say VROOOOOOOOOM!!!! And see ya next month!

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