NFL Draft Mock 5.0: Two-round mock, post-free agency
By Ian Cummings
The Indianapolis Colts are an interesting team to study in the lead-up to the 2019 NFL Draft. Many thought their roster wasn’t strong enough to contend in the offseason last year, but they came out and surprised everyone, with the help of some breakout campaigns from less-heralded players.
At some prospective positions of need for the Colts, there sit players who could be cheap fixes, if coached up. On the defensive line, Margus Hunt will return for two years after his career season earned him an extension. On the edge, Kemoko Turay could develop into a solid starter with another year, and recent signing Justin Houston still has enough in the tank to hold down the fort.
Still, the defensive line could use an addition or two, but it isn’t in dire need. The Colts have shown that they can make more with less. So imagine what they could do with an athlete like Michigan’s Rashan Gary.
Gary is a popular early pick in many mocks, but he could ultimately slip; he’s unrefined as a rusher, in terms of understanding and using leverage, and he’s a positional “tweener”. Standing at 6-foot-4, 281, he could function as either an edge or a defensive tackle. He played both positions at Michigan, and he’s not confirmed to fall into either category.
The positional confusion might scare some teams away, but the Colts could relish at the opportunity to mold a superbly athletic talent such as Gary. Chris Ballard likes high-character guys, and Gary fits the bill. Combine that with solid power and hand strength, immense athletic potential, and a high motor? There’s some work to do for the position coaches with this pick, but in the long run, it could be more than worth it.