Analyzing Indianapolis Colts' Best Trade Options with 29th Pick in NFL Draft
One option that shakes up drafts every year is draft-day trades.
The Indianapolis Colts have not been shy about trading picks under Ryan Grigson. In addition to trading picks for players during the season, including a first-round pick for Trent Richardson in 2013, the Colts haven't been afraid to move around on draft day.
In 2012, the Colts traded up into the late third round to draft wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. In 2013, the Colts traded a 2014 pick to draft defensive tackle Montori Hughes.
In 2015, the Colts actually have a first-round pick for the first time since drafting outside linebacker Bjoern Werner in 2013. It's a large piece of capital that the team can use in a number of different ways.
Today, we'll explore trade possibilities with that pick.
All contract information comes from Spotrac.com.
Trade Up for a Pass-Rusher
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The 2015 draft has a few high-quality pass-rushers in the top 20, from 3-4 outside linebackers to interior defensive linemen.
One of the Colts' biggest needs is pass-rusher, as the team has very few individuals that excel in one-on-one situations. While Greg Manusky and Chuck Pagano were able to scheme some well-timed blitzes to keep the team afloat last season, the team's pass rush largely disappeared against better teams (and better quarterbacks).
Robert Mathis returning next season fully healthy would be a big boost, but the likelihood of him returning at an elite level after an Achilles tear in 2014 is low. Jonathan Newsome flashed ability in his rookie year and led the team in sacks, but he's still raw. With Bjoern Werner's pass rush disappointing and the rest of the Colts front seven being run-stoppers if anything, the Colts need more dynamic players pursuing opposing quarterbacks.
Pass-rushers are the most important non-QB personnel on a team, and if the player worked out, it would be the best value move for Indianapolis.
This move would likely be into the teens or low 20s for Vic Beasley, Alvin Dupree, Donte Fowler or Shaq Thompson (who could play a number of positions).
Trade Up for a Tackle
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While the Colts' biggest holes on the team are on the defensive side of the ball, there is one offensive position that seems like a possibility in the first round: Tackle.
After Anthony Castonzo, whose contract is up after 2015, the bookends of the Colts line are extremely questionable. Gosder Cherilus is the league's highest-paid right tackle, but nobody knows how his knees will hold up in 2015 and beyond. He's no lock to stay on the team post-2015, as the Colts can save over $3 million by cutting him and $7.5 million in 2016.
Behind those two, the Colts are bare. There's 2014 seventh-round draft pick Ulrick John, who is a completely developmental pick that spent his entire rookie year on the injured reserve list. The Colts also signed CFL standout Ben Heenan last week, but he'll start as a guard and isn't a sure thing in any sense of the word.
If the Colts want to shore up one tackle position, they could look at trading up and drafting Brandon Scherff of Iowa or La'el Collins of LSU. Both are extremely powerful run-blockers who would instantly add toughness to the Colts line, something that the AFC Championship Game reminded us is desperately needed.
But neither Collins or Scherff are guaranteed as pass protectors, and may end up moving inside in a power-run scheme as a guard. While that still has value, it may not be enough for a team to use resources to trade up, especially a team that relies on the passing game as much as the Colts.
Trade Up for Marcus Peters
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If the Colts aren't going to trade up for a pass-rusher or tackle, the only other player that would be worth trading up for would be Washington's Marcus Peters.
Although the Colts have Vontae Davis locked up for three more years, there is a big drop-off behind him and a complete void behind the starters. Greg Toler's contract is up after 2015, and the Colts lack developmental cornerbacks to even consider starting after his potential departure.
The Colts could re-sign Darius Butler or Josh Gordy this offseason, but even they wouldn't slide into a starting outside role well. The Colts need to start planning for the future, and Peters is the best option in this year's draft.
Peters fits the Colts' profile for a starting cornerback at 6'0", 198 pounds with a physical playing style. He has experience excelling in press-man coverage and seems like a perfect option to develop for a year before taking a starting position.
However, Peters was dismissed from the Washington football program in November for one too many run-ins with the coaching staff, and he has a history of incidents. The Colts have had a problem with off-field issues over the last year and a half and may not want to spend extra resources on a prospect who is a psychological risk.
Trade Down for Picks
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While trading up to get a top-end talent wouldn't be out of the question for Indianapolis, the most popular option among Colts fans is trading down.
With the Colts' wealth of holes to fill throughout the roster, this may be the best way to address as many of those voids as possible. If the team can drop down into the middle of the second round and pick up an extra mid-round pick, it would be very beneficial for the team's long-term potential.
But trading down isn't always feasible, especially this year.
The 2015 draft has more than adequate depth, especially at a few key positions. But the top-end talent is lacking, and the window to grab a blue-chip talent may be smaller. There will likely be more teams looking to move down than there will be trade partners.
The other issue is that the Colts need quality more than they need quantity. That is, while they do have a number of holes to fill, if they fill them all with average players, they'll be right back where they were this season: a good team, but not particularly close to championship level.
The team needs to add "blue-chippers," especially on the defensive end, and the potential to do that drops dramatically by dropping into the second round.
Stay Put
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In the end, the Colts and Ryan Grigson may be better off just staying put, at least in the first round.
As mentioned previously, the Colts desperately need to add a few stud individuals on both sides of the ball. The opportunity to do so drops if the team trades down. And with the wealth of holes on the team, especially regarding the team's long-term potential, spending too much draft capital to jump up could be detrimental moving forward.
If there was a high-end scheme fit that was just out of reach, it may be worth exploring, but nobody really jumps out as a perfect, no-risk pick in this year's draft. At least, nobody sticks out for the Colts, in my opinion.
The Colts have played fast and loose with draft picks in the past, with varying results. There's not just one way to nail a draft.
But for a team that needs high quality and developmental players at a plethora of positions, taking it slow might be the way to go this season.
Kyle Rodriguez is Bleacher Report's lead featured columnist for the Indianapolis Colts. He is also the editor-in-chief of Colts Authority and Colts Academy and a PFWA Dick Connor Writing Award recipient. Follow him on Twitter for year-round Colts and NFL analysis.
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