With the 2019 NFL Draft just days away, analysts and pundits alike are projecting how teams will spend their picks. For the Indianapolis Colts, the options are aplenty.
General manager Chris Ballard noted that there are roughly eight players they consider realistic for the No. 26 overall pick. It’s impossible to know who they are, but it could include some unconventional options.
Here we take a look at some potential outside-the-box options for the Colts in the first round of the draft:
RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama
If the Colts select a running back with their first-round pick, droves of fans will express their displeasure. However, it seems Jacobs is at least on the team’s radar at No. 26, per the multiple reports over the past few days.
Could it be smoke? Absolutely. Still, the Colts have shown they are pretty active in the running back market despite their continued praise of the current backfield being led by third-year back Marlon Mack.
Jacobs is considered to be one of the top options in the draft at the running back position and if the Colts feel he can help elevate the offense, it’s a possibility.
TE Noah Fant, Iowa
Another position Colts fans would most likely disapprove of, Fant is arguably the top tight end in the class. Seeing how the Colts use the tight end position in various ways in the offense, it’s a possibility they could consider him.
A dual-threat tight end that has found success both blocking and receiving, Fant can be used both in-line and as the move. He would instantly add another reliable and versatile target for quarterback Andrew Luck.
A selection of Fant would give the Colts stability in the tight end room for years to come, which might be intriguing given how often Frank Reich uses multiple tight end sets.
LB Devin Bush, Michigan
It’s unlikely the Colts address the linebacker position with their first-round pick given that they have an All-Pro in Darius Leonard and an underrated contributor in the form of Anthony Walker. Not to mention, the entire group is very young.
Still, if the Colts feel Bush is a strong enough talent to elevate the defense, it’s a possibility. Bush may be undersized at 5-foot-11 and 234 pounds, but he has the speed and cover talent to work as a WILL. Seeing as that’s Leonard’s position, it can be understood why it’s unlikely.
Still, the Colts had trouble covering tight ends during the 2018 season, and Bush could be an intriguing target given his fit within the defensive scheme.
OT Dalton Risner, Kansas State
If you thought the Colts are against adding an offensive lineman to the roster with their first-round pick was off the board, think again. There is a chance the Colts use an early pick to add depth to either the tackle spots or the interior.
Risner might be best suited to kick inside, but he has the ability to anchor the left tackle spot if and when Anthony Castonzo is done holding the position. Risner is aggressive, technically sound with his hands and would fit perfectly next to Quenton Nelson.
Ballard’s emphasis on building the offensive line continues to be an underrated aspect of his strategy. Fans wouldn’t be all that excited about it, but Risner could be a nice long-term fit.
DL Charles Omenihu, Texas
The consensus is that Omenihu isn’t a first-round pick and that his availability in the second round is much more likely. However, the Colts believe the talent in the back end of the first round is close to that of the beginning of the third round.
If the Colts feel Omenihu is a perfect fit, which he is, it could be plausible that he’s the one selected at No. 26. Is it likely? Probably not. Still, his length and ability to work both on the edge and kicking inside make him a perfect fit early in the draft.
There’s a good chance Omenihu is one of the top pass rushers still available in the first round, which makes him a candidate for the Colts.
WR D.K. Metcalf, Ole Miss
Metcalf is an outside-the-box option for the Colts given the fact that it is highly unlikely the wide receiver position is at the top of the list for a first-round pick. Given that combined with Ballard’s preference of waiting in the draft to add to the position, it’s unlikely Metcalf is considered.
However, no one outside the draft room knows what the big board looks like. Metcalf could have a high grade from the Colts given his freakish traits and incredibly high ceiling.
The Colts selecting a wide receiver is unlikely, but Metcalf is likely the one that makes the best case for a first-round pick if he falls.
