Colts Draft Stock Watch: 5 Players Rising and Falling on Indianapolis' Board
Free agency is largely over, and the NFL draft is fast approaching.
That means the season of rising and falling, overthinking and overanalyzing is upon us.
For the Indianapolis Colts, the board has already moved quite a bit since free agency started. As pro days occur and more news comes out about the Colts' interest in potential draft picks, we may be able to narrow down Indianapolis' draft strategy.
The free-agency period helped round out the Colts roster a bit more, but there are still a few key holes that need to be filled. NFL draft, here we come.
Rising: CB Quinten Rollins, Miami (OH)
1 of 5
Earlier this week, Miami (OH) cornerback Quinten Rollins went through positional drills at the university's pro day, standing on his combine numbers. After the pro day, NFL.com's Gil Brandt reported that Rollins has already worked out for the Colts.
Rollins has shot up draft boards in recent months, with raw talent but an unrefined technique. The former Red Hawk has incredibly quick feet, a well-developed sense of timing and could be a very good starting cornerback with some development.
Fortunately for the Colts, they have the personnel to let Rollins develop. Vontae Davis is a stud and is locked into a multiyear contract. Greg Toler will start on the outside for 2015, and slot corner Darius Butler was recently signed to a two-year deal. Rollins can come in and develop for a year or two before taking on full-time duties.
With the potential to move to safety as well, given his stellar instincts and good size, Rollins fits what the Colts need.
Scout's Take
"Miami (OH) DB Quinten Rollins would be best suited to playing Safety to take advantage of his physicality, athleticism and rare ball skills.
— Jordan Plocher (@StarvingScout) March 17, 2015"
Falling: DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska
2 of 5
Former Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory is one of the top pass-rushing threats in this draft, but his off-field issues may cause a free fall on draft day.
Gregory failed his combine drug test, he told Kimberly Jones of NFL.com, testing positive for marijuana. It's Gregory's third failed drug test since January of 2014; had he failed another at Nebraska he would have been kicked off the team.
The concern with Gregory isn't necessarily that he smokes marijuana, but that he didn't have the discipline to lay off long enough to pass a drug test he knew was coming at the NFL combine. Every NFL team is worried about drafting the next Josh Gordon, and Gregory could see a major fall. He was once thought to be way out of the Colts' reach, but now may be available at the end of the first round.
So, really, Gregory's falling may end up making him a more plausible first-round selection for Indianapolis. But for as high-quality a talent as Gregory is, he does present a risk. With the Colts' off-field struggles in recent months, they may have more reservations about Gregory than fans do.
But Gregory also may be the only chance the Colts get at a potentially elite pass-rusher in this class, and with Robert Mathis and Trent Cole aging, it's something at which they must take a long look.
Scout's Take
"Issue with Randy Gregory failing drug test at combine: Enters NFL at Stage 1 of sub. abuse policy. Two more pos. tests results in suspension
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyedNESN) March 26, 2015"
Rising: OT T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
3 of 5
It seems like every day I see another person mock an offensive lineman to the Colts in the first round.
In general, most see that defensive playmakers are the biggest need for the Colts, and want to see Indianapolis attempt to fix the defense with early picks this year. But for some, the offensive line is still a significant weakness, especially with recent reports from Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star that the Colts are still concerned about right tackle Gosder Cherilus' recovery.
The Colts have been connected to multiple linemen in the predraft process, multiple times with Pittsburgh tackle T.J. Clemmings. Clemmings penned an "NFL draft diary" for USA Today in which he named the Colts as one of five teams to have worked him out thus far. The Colts were also interested in Clemmings at the Senior Bowl, according to Walter Football.
A strong but raw tackle prospect, Clemmings would be a project. However, he wouldn't be asked to start right away in Indianapolis. He has one of the highest ceilings among all offensive linemen in the draft.
Scout's Take
"T.J. Clemmings is a perfect example of how you don't need perfect technique as an O-lineman if you have the ability to recover
— Ryan McCrystal (@Ryan_McCrystal) March 21, 2015"
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Falling: FS Gerod Holliman, Louisville
4 of 5
The Colts are in the market for a safety in the 2015 draft, and Louisville's Gerod Holliman is one of the most well-known free safeties in this draft. Holliman led the country with 14 interceptions in 2015, and his ball skills have some salivating.
But with poor pro day numbers, along with a more concentrated look at his film, Holliman is quickly trending down.
Holliman is a terrible tackler, which is a poor sign for future safeties, and his coverage skills aren't as impressive as the 14 interceptions make it seem. I'll let Jeff Risdon of Detroit Lions Draft explain:
"The point here is that while Holliman demonstrated great ball skills, much of his prodigious success came as a result of the Cardinals tailoring the defense to his particular set of skills. NFL teams can do that to some degree, but NFL offensive coordinators are smarter than their collegiate counterparts. So are the quarterbacks. They will look him off. They will attack him, forcing him to commit to a role instead of roaming free to simply read the QB’s eyes and play the ball.
"
The Colts need a solid coverage safety, but they shouldn't reach on a safety just because of the position label in the 2015 draft.
Scout's Take
"One year of production, bad shoulder, tackling problems, and these pro day results? Buyer beware Gerod Holliman pic.twitter.com/Kag69DWZ6b
— Justin Higdon (@afc2nfc) March 18, 2015"
Rising: DT Malcom Brown, Texas
5 of 5
The most pressing need for Indianapolis is finding a playmaker on the interior defensive line, the one area where the Colts really don't have any potential studs. That defensive line got pushed around by New England in 2014 and could use an infusion of talent.
If Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown drops to No. 29, expect the Colts to give him a long, hard look.
Brown is an athletic, strong tackle with the ability to play both the 3-tech and nose tackle. He would give the Colts a run-stuffer who could also move around on the line and help the Colts vary their looks on the front line.
In order to more fully explore this possibility, Colts defensive line coach Gary Emanuel attended the Texas pro day earlier this week and put Brown through a number of positional workouts, according to ESPN.com's Max Olson. Brown reportedly was impressive in drills, and the Colts would be lucky if he fell to the bottom of the first round.
Scout's Take
"Malcom Brown has an incredible skillset to be coached.. His athleticism/agility/quickness is impressive for 315lbs. More athletic than stout
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 12, 2015"
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
