As the Indianapolis Colts prepare for the 2019 NFL Draft, they will be making contingency plans for just about every scenario that can happen. That includes what happens if they face situations in which no easy decision can be made.
For the most part, general manager Chris Ballard has made sure his front office is prepared for just about everything coming their way. It’s impossible to be ready to exactly everything, but preparation has always been one of his strong suits.
Readying for the worst is never fun, but it is necessary. Here are four nightmare scenarios the Colts will hopefully avoid in the draft:
Unable to trade out from No. 26
There will likely come a time during the first round that some team will be looking to trade up to where the Colts currently sit with the No. 26 overall pick. Ballard will happily answer the calls to gauge the offer sent his way.
But what happens if the board falls in such a way that no team wants to move up? That would be one of the difficult decisions Ballard would have to make. This isn’t to say making a trade is necessary in the first round but having the option to do so always makes things easier, especially when there is no clear prospect on the board.
Chances are some team will be calling Ballard. Where they sit, the lines can be blurred between late first-round talent and early second-round talent. Some team will likely be looking to grab a player early in exchange for more picks…hopefully.
Exiting the draft without adding a wide receiver
There are maybe two positions the Indianapolis Colts absolutely must address in the draft. The wide receiver position is one of them. Given the current state of question marks facing the room, the Colts must add more talent to that area of the roster.
With nine selections, the chances are the Colts use at least one of them to add to the room. Even then, there are no guarantees. This isn’t to say the Colts should reach for a wide receiver simply to do so but outside of T.Y. Hilton, the rest of the room is extremely unproven.
Of course, there is upside to the room. But there are plenty of intriguing prospects for the Colts throughout the three-day event that should keep them from avoiding the position altogether during the draft. Doing so would be making the wide receiver room an extreme liability.
Taking DT Dexter Lawrence in the first round
This isn’t a knock on Lawrence or what he brings to the field. However, there are several draft pundits and mock drafts that have pegged the Colts taking the Clemson defensive tackle at No. 26 overall.
The Colts certainly have a need to add to the interior defensive line, but Lawrence shouldn’t be among their targets in the first round. Simply given how he fits in their scheme, Lawrence should be best suited for working a two-gap front while using his strength and athleticism to read and react against the run.
Given that Indy features an attacking front that emphasizes getting upfield, Lawrence wouldn’t be an ideal first-round pick, especially with concerns about his consistency as a pass rusher.
Failing to add potential starter to the safety position
If wide receiver was one of the two positions the Colts absolutely must address during the draft, the other position is at safety where the depth is remarkably thin.
The biggest problem with the Colts’ safety room isn’t the talent. It is that the entire group has dealt with injuries in a tremendous fashion. Malik Hooker wound up starting 14 games last season, but Clayton Geathers was often banged up and Matthias Farley spent the majority of the season on the injured reserve list.
There is great depth in this draft during the second and third rounds, which is where the Colts likely address the position. But they must do something to find ways to counteract the potential injury issues that may befall the position. Grabbing a starting caliber prospect is one way to do so.
