The Indianapolis Colts have several ways to go about using their current crop of nine selections in the 2019 NFL Draft with most expecting them to add to the cornerback room.
Needing depth and future building blocks in the secondary, the Colts could wind up addressing the need using an early round pick on Day 1 or 2 or they could target a player with desirable traits on Day 3 in hopes to develop them without investing too heavily.
Regardless, here is a cornerback prospect for the Colts in each round of the upcoming draft:
Round 1: Byron Murphy, Washington
There isn’t a consensus No. 1 cornerback in this year’s class. Some believe it is LSU’s Greedy Williams while another third believe it could be Georgia’s Deandre Baker to go along with Murphy.
If the Colts wanted to add a blue-chip prospect to the cornerback room with their first-round pick, Murphy is likely the best bet. Despite his lack of length, Murphy checks all of the boxes and would work extremely well in the Colts’ zone-heavy scheme.
He’s a sticky man coverage cornerback that stays on the hips of receivers while flashing ball skills that would make Chris Ballard’s eyes widen. He’s shown great short area quickness and run defense to be a perfect Round 1 pick. Murphy is also just 21 years old.
Round 2
Deandre Baker, Georgia
Baker’s stock is somewhere between the late first round and early second round, which is why he could be available for the Colts at No. 34 overall. If he is, it would be a difficult decision to pass up on a player that perfectly fits what the Colts like to do.
Baker excels in press coverage while his ball skills and aggressiveness at the catch point make him a perfect match for the Colts defensively. His speed might concern some teams, but he’s a highly intelligent cornerback that would compete for a starting role immediately.
Julian Love, Notre Dame
Because the Colts have two second-round picks, another cornerback is listed. There is so much depth in the early in middle rounds that it can be difficult to peg simply one or two players for the Colts. However, Love is a very intriguing fit for Indy.
The Notre Dame product works extremely well in a two-high zone, which is what the Colts primarily run. His ball skills, football IQ and savvy footwork make him an intriguing option for the cornerback room with one of their second-round picks.
Round 3: Isaiah Johnson, Houston
Because the Colts don’t have a need for a starting cornerback right away, Johnson would be an ideal late Day 2 pick to solidify the secondary. He’s an elite athlete that could wind up turning into a strong starter with some development.
However, he does have some concerns on tape that show some struggles after converting to defensive back just a few years ago. His biggest issue comes with his footwork while the technical parts of being a cornerback also need development, which likely is due to a lack of reps.
Johnson has a really high ceiling and one the Colts might feel they can tap into with enough development to go along with his elite size, length and athleticism.
Round 4
Mark Fields, Clemson
Though he had some issues at Syracuse, Fields showed at Clemson he has the athletic traits to be a starting cornerback in the NFL with some development. He’s likely heading for a role primarily working in the slot given his frame, but he’s aggressive in run support and has enough quickness to be successful.
Fields would be a solid Day 3 pick for the Colts given that he wouldn’t have to start right away but would benefit from working as a depth piece early while developing the rest of his game.
Mike Jackson, Miami
There are legitimate concerns about Jackson’s true athleticism, which might make him a better fit working in a Colts defensive scheme that would maximize his size and strength while keeping his eyes in the backfield.
Jackson has enough tackling ability and aggressiveness to work well against the run but likely would be relegated to role as a depth piece while contributing heavily on special teams given his size and speed.
Round 5: Jimmy Moreland, James Madison
As with all Day 3 picks, there are concerns throughout Moreland’s game. The biggest concern presents itself with his size and play strength as he will likely get moved inside to the slot.
However, there are also traits to like about Moreland’s game, especially when it comes to making plays on the ball. His 18 career interceptions show he’s excellent at making plays at the catch point, which might be enough for Chris Ballard to pull the trigger in the middle of Day 3.
Moreland wouldn’t start right away, but he would see special teams work. This would allow him to add some size while refining certain parts of his game.
Round 6: Derrick Baity, Kentucky
There’s a chance a team takes Baity earlier than the sixth round of the draft given his size, but it isn’t clear how well he will fit into a man coverage scheme. Regardless, he’d be worth the flier for the Colts in the sixth round if they haven’t already addressed the position.
Baity brings great size to work on the boundary, but his length leaves much to be desired. He would benefit from working with his eyes in the backfield while making plays on the ball, which was one of his better traits at Kentucky.
With a need in depth of boundary corners, Baity would be a nice value in the sixth round where he could continue to develop his game while working on special teams.
Round 7: Ka’dar Hollman, Toledo
Despite being extremely raw at the position, Hollman is certainly worth a flier in the seventh round as a developmental project. He had 27 passes defended in 41 games at Toledo while proving to have versatility.
Hollman has the size to work both on the boundary and in the slot while possessing admirable speed, agility and explosiveness. He needs further development, but as a seventh-round pick, Hollman is an intriguing prospect as an athlete that could work his way into the rotation.
