Indianapolis Colts: Latest Combine News and Rumors

The NFL Scouting Combine starts this week, with the events officially kicking off on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

The on-field workouts, generally the most anticipated events, will begin on Friday.

While the Indianapolis Colts have generally stayed out of the news when it comes to draft rumors, fan and media interest in the draft has continued to rise nonetheless. We'll continue to see mock drafts and speculation for the next two months as the draft approaches.

Part of the issue is that the Colts are picking so late in the draft that it's a complete mystery who will even be available. Two years ago, Bjoern Werner wasn't even a target most talked about for Indianapolis before he was selected in the first round.

Still, with a few notable recent events and the ever-increasing number of draft analysts continuing to discuss potential picks, there will always be something to watch for as teams head to Indianapolis for the combine. With that in mind, here are five Colts storylines to watch for this week.

Could the Colts Select an Offensive Lineman in the 1st Round?

ESPN's Mel Kiper had the Colts selecting LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins in his most recent mock draft, and he's not alone in seeing the offensive line as a primary need for the Colts. 

Charles Davis of NFL.com has the colts selecting tackle T.J. Clemmings of Pittsburgh, and Dan Kadar of SB Nation projected guard A.J. Cann of South Carolina at No. 29.

But how likely is it that the Colts actually go that route in April? Sure, the offensive line is a need for Indianapolis, but the running back position and situational play-calling was the bigger issue for the Colts running game in 2014, not the line. You couldn't call Indianapolis' line a strength, but it wasn't much worse than average last season.

With the Colts' desperate need for defensive playmakers, there are some Colts fans that would be furious with an offensive lineman in the first round. It's understandable, considering the money invested in Anthony Castonzo and Gosder Cherilus on the outsides with a group of young, high-ceiling projects on the interior.

At the same time, the Colts need to be planning ahead at offensive tackle, with Castonzo's contract ending after 2015 and Cherilus being a serious injury risk. They could be planning on moving Jack Mewhort to tackle eventually, and they have 2014 seventh-round pick Ulrick John in development, but there are certainly no guarantees waiting in the wings.

Need for a Running Back Grows with Bradshaw's Marijuana Bust

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The Colts just can't stay out of trouble.

Last week, running back Ahmad Bradshaw was cited for marijuana possession following a traffic stop in Ohio. Bradshaw is set to become a free agent in March, and wasn't a lock to return to Indianapolis with his injury issues. Bradshaw has played in just 13 of a possible 37 games over the last two seasons in Indianapolis.

But the Colts have an image problem with a number of recent off-field issues, so Bradshaw's return took a big hit with that headline.

Fortunately, one of the biggest strengths of the 2015 draft is the running back position. Not only are there top names like Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon, guys who could go in the first round, but there is real depth to the class as well. NFL Network's Mike Mayock told Jim Corbett of USA Today that this draft class is the best of the last 10 years because of said talent and depth.

Watch for the Colts to be paying a close attention to the running backs in the NFL Scouting Combine—not necessarily to set their board, but to get an idea of how high certain backs' stocks are around the league.

LaRon Landry's Release Highlights Hole at Safety

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With the Colts' recent release of safety LaRon Landry, Colts.com's Steve Andress speculated that we could start seeing more safeties on the Colts' radar early in the draft.

The problem for Indianapolis is that the safety class in this year's draft is particularly weak. Landon Collins of Alabama will likely go in the top half of the first round, and one of the top free safeties like Gerod Holliman of Louisville could go early in the second round. But those are the only two players in Bleacher Report NFL Draft Analyst Matt Miller's top 50, and the rest of the class is unimpressive.

Outside of moving a player from linebacker or cornerback to safety, it's hard to imagine the Colts drafting anybody else to come in and start immediately.

But the team needs depth at the position as well.

With Landry's release, only Winston Guy and Dewey McDonald are on the roster for next season, and the team will need at least four safeties entering the 2015 season. Bringing back Mike Adams and Sergio Brown is certainly an option, but the team needs to get long-term potential in the building.

If Ryan Grigson sees a player he likes fall into the later rounds because of a poor combine showing, he won't be afraid to snatch him up.

Character Concerns Can't Be Dismissed by the Colts

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One of the big names that has often been associated with Indianapolis in mock drafts is former Washington cornerback Marcus Peters, such as in this mock draft from Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke:

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Peters' standing heading into the draft will be fascinating to track. The one-time Washington star, kicked off the team midseason, is at least on par with Waynes -- and probably above him -- in terms of pure talent. Is that enough to offset the other issues? The Colts might gamble. Few teams could rival a Vontae Davis-Peters CB duo (with Greg Toler as a steady No. 3).

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The logic behind drafting a talented corner like Peters is more than sound. Peters is considered by many to be the top press-man corner in the draft, and the Colts need a corner to pair with Davis long-term.

But the discussion about Peters brings up a bigger conversation that has to be had: How much should character concerns play into the Colts' drafting?

The team has had clear, resounding problems off the field in recent months, which has hurt their public perception and could cause them to exercise caution in this year's draft. Drafting troubled players has had mixed results.

Safety LaVon Brazill ended up being cut after getting suspended multiple times for substance abuse violations. Defensive tackle Montori Hughes has responded extremely well to the Colts coaches and has been a model citizen. Undrafted players the Colts took a chance on have been disappointing, with both Da'Rick Rogers and Loucheiz Purifoy being released this year.

The Colts must take those concerns seriously in 2015, doing the due diligence on each player. That part of the combine process will be key for players like Peters. Can he portray a positive, hard-working image in his player interviews, or will immaturity still be a problem?

Defense, Defense, Defense

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As Matthew Glenesk of the Indianapolis Star points out, the majority of mock drafts have the Colts selecting defenders with their first-round pick:

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... there's no real consensus as to what position Ryan Grigson will address in Round 1. That could be a good or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. Good, meaning the Colts don't have any glaring needs that scream out "PICK THIS HERE!" Or you could look at it as the Colts have just too many holes to fill, so there's no telling where they'll look first.

However, one theme did prevail among the mock drafts: The Colts may get defensive. With 10 of the 14 mocks having Indianapolis addressing that side of the ball, it's clear many see the "D" as what's holding this team back.

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The Colts have plenty of options with needs at every position on the defense. They desperately need a playmaker who they can build around alongside Vontae Davis and Jonathan Newsome.

They could go inside linebacker, with players like Eric Kendricks, Paul Dawson or Benardrick McKinney potentially being available. They could go with a pass-rusher like Vic Beasley or Eli Harold, or a defensive lineman like Arik Armstead or Jordan Phillips.

It's difficult to establish a clear hierarchy of needs before the free-agency period, and knowing who will be available that late in the first round is impossible to predict prior to the draft. But using most of the team's draft picks on defense seems to be unavoidable at this point, and most would be shocked if the team didn't go defense with at least one of their top two picks, if not both.