We’re now in Day 2 of the 2020 NFL draft and this is the time for the Indianapolis Colts to build their roster. As many fans know, Chris Ballard has hit on his fair share of second-round draft picks, he has had eight in his first three drafts with the Colts, and tonight he has two—picks No. 34 and 44.
With how the board has fallen, there are a lot of good safeties and wide receivers still available for the Colts. There could be a possibility they trade out of either their No. 34 or 44 picks and even if they do, the Colts will be making selections on Friday.
Here are a five prospects the Colts must target on Day 2 of the draft:
Michael Pittman Jr. | WR | USC
A lot of chatter leading up to the draft has had the Colts selecting Pittman Jr. out of USC with the 34th overall pick. After a slew of wide receivers were taken in the late first round, Pittman slipped through the cracks and will be there for the Colts to select at No. 34 if they want a wide receiver at that pick.
Pittman is that big body wide receiver (6’4″ 223 pounds) that Philip Rivers will enjoy throwing to. He exploded at the combine running a 4.52 forty, as well as jumping a 36.5 vertical jump. Big, smart, and reliable, Pittman falls into the “possession receiver” bin but has top-notch ball skills that allow him to bully and best cornerbacks down the field.
Xavier McKinney | SAF | Alabama
Rumors have started swirling that the Colts have had trade talks involving Malik Hooker and while they aren’t openly shopping him, with some hesitation on picking up his fifth-year option, the Colts could look to move Hooker for more draft picks. But at this point, it is more speculation than it is a reality.
With a big run on offensive tackles, six to be exact, that lead to a slide for the safety group, and arguably the best safety in this 2020 class will be available for the Colts at 34 in McKinney. A projected mid-first round pick, McKinney would fill a somewhat need for the Colts as they don’t have a long-term answer at safety alongside Khari Willis yet.
Jacob Eason | QB | Washington
Rivers isn’t the long-term answer at quarterback for the Colts, so Indianapolis could be looking for the predecessor here on Day 2. Eason could be a guy the Colts get at either pick 34 or 44 in the second round. There were already four quarterbacks taken in the first round—Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and Jordan Love—so there aren’t any teams pressing for quarterbacks now on Day 2.
His elite size and arm talent are reminiscent of Carson Palmer, but issues with pocket poise and getting through progressions cleanly are more reminiscent of Brock Osweiler. Eason is fun to watch when he’s ripping throws around the field and taking deep play-action shots, but a lack of mobility inside and outside the pocket is troubling, considering his ineffectiveness when pressured.
Denzel Mims | WR | Baylor
While there was a run on wide receivers in the first round, Mims wasn’t drafted and is still on the board going into Day 2. Like Pittman, Mims can come in right away and make an immediate impact with the Colts, it might be a bad idea for the Colts to pass on Mims at No. 34—let alone 44 as well.
Mims is a long-striding outside target with excellent height, weight speed and an insane catch-radius. He’s a touchdown threat anytime he’s near the red zone, with the focus and body control to finesse and finish catches above the rim. He struggles to release and separate from physical press corners, and he doesn’t consistently compete and outwork opponents for positioning on contested catches.
That said, Mims is the top wide receiver on the board with the Colts on the clock, which means he’s certainly on their radar.
Jalen Hurts | QB | Oklahoma
It’s hard to gauge where quarterbacks go in the draft because teams will reach on them. Look at Green Bay. They traded up four spots to make sure they can get Jordan Love, even though they have Aaron Rodgers. The same can be said for Hurts, the multi-faceted QB coming out of Oklahoma.
While Hurts is interesting, he’s more of a project than guys they can get on Day 2 like Eason or Jake Fromm, but Hurts has the highest upside. Hurts should be available at 44 or 75 for the Colts on Day 2, but if the select is made, he will need at least a year or two to learn the Reich scheme and develop as an NFL passer.
