How the Indianapolis Colts Must Build Around Defensive Playmakers

To put it bluntly, the Indianapolis Colts have a lot of needs. 

With holes, both short and long-term, at numerous positions, the direction that the Colts should go early in the draft is up for grabs. Lately, the trend has been to mock offensive linemen to the Colts.

ESPN's Mel Kiper mocked OT Ereck Flowers of Miami to Indianapolis in his latest effort. Charles Davis of NFL.com mocked OT D.J. Humphries to the Colts. Charlie Casserly of NFL.com mocked T.J. Clemmings to the Colts, while Lance Zierlein of NFL.com mocked OT La'El Collins of LSU.

The list goes on and on.

There's a defensible position to drafting an offensive lineman.

After all, the Colts' golden goose is Andrew Luck and the offense, which is protected by the offensive line. The team wants to get more balance on offense by running the ball, which is powered by the offensive line.

An offensive lineman would be a desirable asset and building block for a unit that needs them.

The defense needs building blocks even more. While the offense has those core players in Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton, Dwayne Allen and Anthony Castonzo, the defense lacks young core pieces to build around for years to come.

Position by position, the Colts need defensive playmakers.

Defensive Line

Average Age- 25.625

Current Starters- Arthur Jones (28), Kendall Langford (29), Josh Chapman (25)

While the defensive line is actually the youngest position group on the defense, it may be the group that most desperately needs impact talent.

Of course, it would help if Jones played up to his five-year, $33 million contract. Chapman is the defense's lone starter aged 25 or younger, but he doesn't add much in pass rush and has struggled in big games. The Colts signed Langford this offseason, but he's never been more than a complementary player.

The team does hope that some of its younger talent can step up, as Ryan Grigson told Kevin Bowen of Colts.com.

"

We have guys that are big, athletic guys that can run, but they’ve got to develop and they have to come through. I don’t think they have a choice. None of us have a choice. They have to be (ready).

"

Grigson particularly mentioned Montori Hughes (24), Zach Kerr (24) and Kelcy Quarles (23). The problem is, none of those players were thought particularly highly of by NFL teams coming out of college, and the potential for development is limited. Hughes was a fifth-round draft pick, while Kerr and Quarles were both undrafted.

They could develop into valuable role players for Indianapolis but getting an impact, core player from those spots is very rare.

If the Colts truly want a pillar for long-term production on the defensive line, they'll need to invest more serious draft capital.

Linebackers

Average Age- 27.333

Current Starters- Robert Mathis (34), Trent Cole (32), D'Qwell Jackson (31), Jerrell Freeman (28)

This one is tricky, namely at outside linebacker.

Clearly, the Colts could use youth at the position, that much is clear. Both Mathis and Cole don't have much left, while Erik Walden's Colts contract is up after this season. But, the team does have a few youngsters on the books, it's just a question of how effective they can be.

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Still, nobody is building around Jonathan Newsome (24) or Bjoern Werner (24) right now, although the former showed strong pass-rush potential as a rookie.

The inside linebacker position is a clearer need for an immediate infusion of talent. The addition of Nate Irving did give the Colts a bit of a buffer, but the Colts only have one inside linebacker under 25: Carlos Fields, who may not make the roster. Second-string linebackers Irving and Henoc Muamba are both 26, and they are no sure things as future starters.

With both Jackson and Freeman disappointing in various ways last year, the team needs to upgrade as soon as possible.

Cornerbacks

Average Age- 26.667

Current Starters- Vontae Davis (26), Greg Toler (30), Darius Butler (29)

Here we are. The one stud young player the Colts can build around for at least three more seasons. Vontae Davis' four-year, $36 million contract looks like a steal right now, and that value is only going to go up.

But while we're looking at age, here is where we get a subtle reminder of why age is important when looking at the draft. Davis, Toler and Butler were all drafted in the 2009 class, but Davis has a multiple-year advantage on them. Davis turns 27 next month, but he still is effectively three years younger than Toler.

Because of Toler's age, his contract ending after 2015 and the complete lack of depth behind the starters, the Colts would be well-pressed to add an early-round draft pick in the 2015 draft. The clear-cut starters would allow said draft pick to develop a bit before playing, and the Colts' record with cornerbacks is one of the upgrades of the Grigson era.

You can never have enough cornerbacks.

Safeties

Average Age- 28

Current Starters- Mike Adams (34), Dwight Lowery (29)

This is the oldest of the defensive positions. There's a reason why safety is seen as one of, if not the biggest need in the 2015 draft for Indianapolis.

The Colts' safeties generally fit into two categories. The first is an aging veteran that isn't much better than average on the field but does have experience and can start if need be. This is where both Adams and Lowery fit in, players that have bounced from team to team throughout their careers and are very temporary solutions.

The second category is special teamers, which may include young developmental safeties that have yet to sniff the playing field as Colts defenders for more than a few snaps. This is where Colt Anderson (29), Winston Guy (24) and Dewey McDonald (24) fit. McDonald and Guy could be classified as developmental as well, and it's hard to know exactly how much the Cols like each player as a long-term option.

Clearly neither is a player the team sees as a surefire option in 2015, as they went out and signed Lowery in free agency.

The Colts have had a missing safety problem for years, and now they really need two for the future, although one young cornerstone to pair with a veteran certainly would be something to work with.

Outside of Vontae Davis, the Colts' lack of defensive playmakers is so glaring. The Colts have to use this draft to infuse the defense with talent, particularly in the early rounds where the odds are better for finding studs. The team has used just one pick in the first three rounds on defense in the last three years, and this is the year where at least two more should be defensive additions in the early rounds.