The Colts went 11-5 in the regular season last year and looked quite good in the process. Andrew Luck solidified his position among the best quarterbacks in the league and T.Y. Hilton was his most productive target. The offensive line continued to improve overall, and tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen combined for a total of 16 touchdowns (eight each).
On defense, linebacker D’Quell Jackson led the team with 138 total tackles but struggled in pass coverage. Jonathan Newsome and Erik Walden achieved 6.5 and 6 sacks, respectively. While they had some notable breakdowns, the defense looked more composed throughout 2014.
Free agency actually treated the team well, as they signed some players who will bolster their lineup in terms of experience. In particular, Andre Johnson was picked up from the Houston Texans. The 34-year-old wide receiver is still a legitimate threat who can open up opportunities for the other receivers. Another offensive acquisition, Frank Gore, still packs a great punch out of the backfield and if he stays as consistent and durable as he was in San Francisco, he will be exactly what the Colts need.
Despite the fact that the team already looks good, they lost some key names on both defense and offense, and will need a few draft picks to step up and fill some spots. Here are the three most pressing needs for the Colts going into the 2015 NFL draft.
Indianapolis Colts 2015 NFL Draft: Top 3 Needs
Safety
This is plain and simple, as the Colts only have two mediocre starters at safety right now. Mike Adams and Dwight Lowery could make a decent pair. Unfortunately, Adams is now 34 and Lowery is among the most concussion-prone safeties in the league. It’s not a joke; he’s a hit away from retirement. Even if the two of them form a decent pair, it is very unlikely to last.
If they choose a safety in the first round, they would take Landon Collins (Alabama), but in all likelihood he’ll be gone before their first pick will come up. Damarious Randall (Arizona State) would be a good option in the second round if Collins in unavailable by the end of the first.
Nose Tackle
Stopping the running game was something the Colts defense did not do well in 2014. That trouble started with the defensive line, which just didn’t plug the gaps. That starts with the nose tackle, and right now the Colts lack a consistent two-down big man in the middle of their line.
If they choose to pursue this option in round one, Eddie Goldman (Florida State) would be ideal and Jordan Phillips (Oklahoma) would be up to the task. Unfortunately, it is very possible that these two will be long gone by the time the 29th pick rolls around. Ohio State’s Michael Bennett seems like a promising option in the second round.
Running Back
So they picked up Frank Gore, which is great. As I said, if he can stay healthy and his age doesn’t show, he’ll do well. Unfortunately, while the team may be able to rely on him this year, he is definitely a short-term option only. They don’t possess a legitimate starter for the future, so if Gore declines, the running game is in big trouble. While Dan Herron had his moments last season, he’s solely a decent option as a backup. There is no reason to believe he will develop into a top-tier talent.
It’s hard to pin down where the Colts will draft up a running back because the first three rounds have some significant depth at the position. If Melvin Gordon (won’t even bother to list Todd Gurley) somehow slips to the Colts, don’t be surprised if they address this need in the first round. However, they could definitely afford to wait and pick up a solid running back later on.
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