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A look at who Colts may target with their 3 second round picks

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IndyStar Colts Insider Stephen Holder breaks down the haul Chris Ballard and the Colts netted from Saturday's trade with the Jets. Matthew Glenesk/IndyStar

Prior to Saturday's trade that netted the Colts a haul nearly every fan is cheering, most of the mock draft and pre-draft process in Indianapolis focused on the No. 3 pick — and rightfully so. That's a potential impact and franchise cornerstone player. But now the second round just got a lot more interesting for Colts fans

After Saturday's deal with the New York Jets, Indianapolis now owns the Nos. 6, 36, 37 and 49 picks in April's NFL draft. And get this, some think the Colts will still get that cornerstone if teams 1-5 get QB happy, which they are bound to do.

Now, with three picks between Nos. 36-49, that's three potential starters. Here's a look at some of the potential targets for the Colts based on second-round projections and the team's needs. 

OL

Desmond Harrison, West Georgia

A 6-6, 288-lbs. left tackle, Harrison transferred to West Georgia after multiple suspensions while at Texas, where he played seven games as a reserve.

"You can see how athletic he is and all that, but he didn't play anyone and he's got some character issues that you better be sure on before you just draft the athlete. No doubt about his talent though." – NFC team director of scouting via NFL.com

Connor Williams, Texas

A 2016 consensus first team All-American, Williams struggled this past season with injuries, starting just five games. At 6-5 and 320 lbs., the left tackle was one of the Longhorns locker room leaders.

"I heard all about how good he was last year and then I turned on the tape and what I saw wasn't a first-rounder at all. I can go back to 2016, but who is he now? I have to know who he is and who he's going to be in three to five years. Scouting is projecting." — NFL team personnel executive via NFL.com 

Billy Price, Ohio State

One of the drafts top interior offensive linemen — an area of need for the Colts — Price won the Remington Trophy last season as the nation's top center and was a unanimous first team All-American. He's played plenty of guard, too, and offers versatility offensive line coaches crave.

"Man he is a different kind of guy altogether. Has a lot of edge for sure. Love his toughness and his grit and wait until you see him at the combine. He might hit 40 on the bench and he's going to run well too." — AFC team pro personnel director via NFL.com

Will Hernandez, UTEP

A 6-2, 348-lbs. left guard, Hernandez earned second team AP All-American honors in 2016, and started all 37 games he played at UTEP. From NFL.com's draft profile: "Once he digs his hands into an opponent's frame, they are done."

"He's exactly what you are looking for in terms of his work ethic and how much he loves the game. He will clique instantly in the offensive line room and he will be one of the strongest and toughest guys on the team as soon as he makes the roster. The only thing that scares me are those short arms." — NFC area scout via NFL.com

Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan

He has the prototypical size you're looking for in an offensive tackle at 6-6 and 330 lbs. Okorafor was a first-team All-MAC selection at left tackle.

"He got started in football a little late but I still think he should have some of these issues cleaned up by now. He's big and he has talent so he's probably going to play early on." — NFC team executive via NFL.com 

Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh

O'Neill arrived at Pitt as a tight end, but bulked up and made the switch to offensive tackle where he became an All-ACC performer at right tackle.

Per NFL.com's draft profile: "O'Neill has good length and is a terrific athlete, but his inconsistencies at the Senior Bowl practices will be hard for teams to get out of their minds. What might be even more troubling is the way he seemed to panic and lose technique in certain matchups. O'Neill is a classic zone scheme blocker, but teams may take a look at him as a move guard with tackle potential rather than locking in with him as a blind-side tackle. O'Neill needs to get thicker and stronger or swing tackle could be his ceiling." 

Braden Smith, Auburn

Smith can play either inside or out, but likely has a future at guard. A first team All-SEC and All-American last season, he is "built like a bank safe" at 6-6 and 303 lbs.

"He's really strong but he's not a consistent block finisher because defenders can pull him off-balance. I thought he was much better in the early and middle parts of the season than he was at the end when his team really needed him." — AFC team area scout via NFL.com

DE/LB

Harold Landry, Boston College

Considered one of the better pass rushers in this year's draft class, Landry had a breakthrough junior season with 16,5 racks and 22 tackles for loss. He played just eight games last season because of an ankle injury and finished with just five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.

"He's just like (Vic) Beasley coming out with the way he comes off the snap. You remember how Beasley struggled early because he had to learn to be a pass rusher and not just a sprinter? I think Landry might be the same early on. When he puts it together, he'll do what Beasley did." — NFC team pro personnel director via NFL.com

Dorance Armstrong, Kansas

More of a DE than OLB, Armstrong earned first-team All-Big 12 honors with a 10-sack sophomore season, which included 20 tackles for loss. He couldn't back up those numbers last season, finishing with just 1.5 sacks.

"Don't read too much into that sack total this year. They didn't really cut him loose this year. I still like the talent and he will help himself at the Combine." — NFC Director of Scouting via NFL.com

Malik Jefferson, Texas

The Longhorns' leading tackler a season ago with 110 total stops, Jefferson earned All-American honors and was Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-3, 240 lbs. linebacker put up 13 career sacks in three seasons in Austin.

"He was better this year because Todd Orlando (defensive coordinator) had him attack and run instead of trying to process and react. I see him as a better tester (Combine) than player." — AFC regional scout via NFL.com 

Rasheem Green, USC

A defensive lineman who can play either end or inside, Green started all 14 games at defensive tackle for the Trojans and was named first team All-Pac 12 after posting 10 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.

"I wanted him to go back to school because he probably would have been a top-10 pick next year. He's not strong enough to handle NFL guys yet so this year may be a redshirt year for him. He's got some serious juice though. He's going to be a dude when it all comes together." -- AFC team regional scout

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma

The Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12 with Texas' Malik Jefferson, Okoronkwo finished this year with 17.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

"Okoronkwo doesn't possess the height, weight and length teams usually want on the edge and he doesn't have the bend or athletic traits to supersede his deficiencies. With that said, he's solidly built and plays with good aggression and motor. He lacks the physical and athletic traits that would make him a more dangerous NFL rusher, but he flashes some explosiveness and has enough room for improvement that he should develop into a solid NFL backup with eventual starter potential." — per NFL.com's Lance Zierlein

Sam Hubbard, Ohio State

A former lacrosse player turned defensive end, Hubbard took over when Joey Bosa left. He posted seven sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss last season, starting eight of 14 games for the Buckeyes.

"I think he's going to end up being a good pro. He plays hard all the time. He just needs to add a little more muscle and find a go-to move that he can win with as a rusher and he'll be a consistent starter for years." -- NFC team director of college scouting via NFL.com

RB

With any hopes of taking Saquon Barkley now gone with Indy's move down to No. 6, it's time to start paying more attention to the draft's other top backs. Frank Gore isn't coming back, and Marlon Mack might not be an every-down option. So looking at running back in the draft makes sense. Perhaps now with more early picks, Chris Ballard will be more willing to take one in the second round.

Nick Chubb, Georgia

Chubb rushed for 4,769 yards in his four-year career at Georgia and finished with 48 total touchdowns. A knee injury his sophomore season limited him to six games and sapped some of his explosiveness his junior season, but last year he answered any worries. He ran for 1,345 yards (6.0 per carry) and added 15 touchdowns as the Bulldogs reached the national title game.

"He was smart to go back to school because he got in better shape and looked a lot better than last year. I thought he was special before he tore up his knee. I don't see special anymore but I do see a solid runner." — AFC Director of College Scouting via NFL.com

Ronald Jones, USC

Having drawn comparisons to former Chiefs star RB Jamaal Charles, Jones may possess the skills Chris Ballard (formerly of the Chiefs) covets. He was a third-team AP All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 selection, finishing in the top 10 nationally in rushing yards (1,550) and touchdowns (19).

"I love his juice. You have to have some of that to become a good back in the pros and he has a lot of it. He may be a little too light to give it to him more than 12-14 times per game though. I worry if he can hold up." — NFC Personnel executive via NFL.com

Derrius Guice, LSU

One of the draft's more powerful runners, Guice has drawn comparisons to Marshawn Lynch. As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,387 yards (7.6 per carry) and 15 touchdowns, tag-teaming with Leonard Fournette for the Tigers. This past season, he ran for 1,251 yards and 11 scores, but played through some nagging injuries. 

"Don't waste your time on 2017 film because he wasn't even back up to his top speed until the bowl game. He will be the same player he was in 2016. If you had a grade on him after last year, you should use that." — LSU assistant coach via NFL.com

Kerryon Johnson, Auburn

A first-team All-SEC pick in a loaded conference for running backs, Johnson finished with 1,391 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns for the Tigers this past season. Compared to former IU standout Tevin Coleman, Johnson also has experience returning kicks and can be a dangerous pass catcher out of the backfield. 

"Sometimes he plays with that Le'Veon Bell style where he glides until he sees it and then 'bang'. I thought he was a really competitive runner this year and he can play on all three downs so he has early value." — NFC team regional scout via NFL.com

Sony Michel, Georgia

"Michel is a well-built, no-nonsense runner who is able to combine vision, burst, and physicality. While he can make open field cuts to find additional yardage, his running style is more angular in nature and he thrives when playing north-south. He's not the most creative runner and he lacks some finesse, but his size, pass protection and ability to create yardage make him a natural fit as a future NFL starter." — via NFL.com's Lance Zierlein

WR

Missing out on receivers in free agency and not retaining Donte Moncrief leaves the Colts particularly thin at receiver. Only T.Y. Hilton and Chester Rogers are under contract for next season. So expect, the Colts to take at least one pass catcher in the draft.

D.J. Chark, LSU

Chark didn't catch a pass his first two seasons in Baton Rouge, but has caught 66 passes for 1,351 yards and six touchdowns the past two years in an offense that doesn't exactly air it out. At 6-3 and 200 lbs., Chark ran a combine-best 4.34 seconds in the 40-yard dash earlier this month.

"He has his moments where you see it, but he just hasn't been consistent and he hasn't really gotten a lot better. He's tall and can run but I'm still torn on whether he is going to make the improvements he needs to bo be an NFL factor." — NFC team personnel director via NFL.com

Christian Kirk, Texas A&M

Productive in each of his three seasons in College Station, Kirk caught 234 passes for 2,856 yards and 26 touchdowns in his Aggies career. He has experience returning kicks and possesses open-field elusiveness at 5-11 and 200 lbs.

"Kirk is a well-built, mentally tough slot target whose game is built around pace more than explosiveness. His lack of speed and length make him less likely to impact games down the field, but his footwork, route tempo and hands should give him an opportunity to find catches underneath. Kirk's ability to help in the return game is a plus, but the difference between average and good as a receiver could depend on finding the right fit." — via NFL.com's Lance Zierlein

D.J. Moore, Maryland

An explosive playmaker was the Big Ten Receiver of the Year this past season. His 80 receptions this season were a school record and he finished the season with 1,033 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Elusive in the open field, he projects as a dangerous catch-and-run option.

"Moore is bigger than former Terrapin wideout Stefon Diggs, but their playing style and athletic ability while at Maryland are similar. Moore doesn't have the height and length teams look for outside and may become a full-time option from the slot. He clearly has the short-area quickness and talent after the catch to handle those duties, but his route-running needs to become more focused and fast to unlock his potential. He has Day 2 talent and could become an early contributor as a receiver and punt returner." — via NFL.com's Lance Zierlein

James Washington, Oklahoma State

An All-American and finalist for the Blietnikoff Award (given to nation's top receiver), Washington was among the nation's leaders in receiving yards (1,549), averaging 20.9 yards on his 74 catches (tops nationally among WRs with 50 or more catches). He also added 13 touchdowns in Oklahoma State's pass-happy offense.

"He doesn't look a receiver and he doesn't run routes like a receiver but then you see him get open deep and make all those explosive plays and you know exactly what he does for an offense." — Big 12 assistant coach via NFL.com

CB

With Vontae Davis, and now Rashaan Melvin, gone, cornerback becomes more of an area of need for the Colts. Last year's draft picks Quincy Wilson and Nate Hairston showed glimpses last season, but you can never have too many defensive backs. The draft's top corners aren't projected as high as the Colts' No. 6 pick, though that can change. But if the Colts don't go CB in Round 1, there's depth at the position to wait.

Carlton Davis, Auburn

He's got the size scouts cover (6-1, 205 lbs.) and was first-team All-SEC last season. He only had one interception this past season, but led Auburn in pass breakups (11) despite most opponents shying away from him. 

"His own quarterback (Jarrett Stidham) stayed away from throwing to his side in practice from what a scout told me. I need to find out if he can catch it because he just knocks them down and doesn't take them away. You've got to take them away." — NFC defensive back coach via NFL.com

Isaiah Oliver, Colorado 

Another big corner (6-1, 190 lbs.), Oliver was first-team All-Pac 12 and led the Buffaloes with 13 pass breakups, despite missing some time with a leg injury.

"Oliver possesses an outstanding combination of size, speed and length and those traits are highly coveted by NFL general managers. There are coverage holes in Oliver's game and he needs to play with increased toughness, but he's just scratching the surface of what his talent could allow him to do on the next level with more experience and technique work. Oliver has a high ceiling as a bump-and-run, lockdown corner, but might benefit from a limited role his rookie season." — via NFL.com's Lance Zierlein

Mike Hughes, Central Florida

Hughes transferred to UCF from North Carolina and led the undefeated Golden Knights with 11 pass breakups this season. He added four interceptions and 44 tackles and has returned one interception, two kick returns and one punt return for touchdowns this past season.

"I wish he would have stayed. I don't see him as a 'one' and I think he could have been with another year. He's just raw right now but he's got the ability to become a really tough ball challenger." — NFC regional scout via NFL.com

Insider: Colts' rebuild gets major boost with draft picks trade with Jets

Doyel: Chris Ballard cashes in on trade, now must make it pay off in draft

More: People absolutely love Chris Ballard after Colts trade with Jets

Surprise: Colts cut last year's prized free agent Johnathan Hankins

 

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