The Indianapolis Colts may have their starting offensive line intact for the 2019 season, but having depth in the trenches will always be a priority for the front office.
Even when looking at the depth chart, the Colts do have a need to add depth and young talent to the offensive line, both on in the interior and at the tackle positions.
Here, we take a look at seven offensive line prospects the Colts should consider in the 2019 NFL Draft:
Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
One of the most popular offensive line prospects in this year’s class, Lindstrom is likely to have interest from just about every team. The Colts, who could use some depth on the interior, could certainly be one of those teams.
At 6-foot-4 and 304 pounds with 34 1/8-inch arms, Lindstrom is an athletic guard that has great quickness off the ball. His hand placement is among the best in the class as he’s constantly controlling the chest plate of defenders.
Lindstrom has scheme flexibility, which helps with the Colts’ interest because they run both man and zone blocking schemes. If Indy wants to invest early in the offensive line, Lindstrom is a possibility.
Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
Continuing with the trend of interior offensive linemen, McCoy is an intriguing prospect for the Colts if they wanted to wait until the end of Day 2 to add some depth.
McCoy is the type of offensive linemen the Colts love to draft. He was a team captain for the Aggies while being a starter for 38 games throughout his collegiate career. He anchors well and has no problem playing with strength.
While McCoy might need some technical improvements to add to his game, he would be an intriguing option for the Colts and their third-round pick.
Dalton Risner, Kansas State
Some draft pundits and analysts have Risner as their top overall offensive linemen. He’s athletic, strong and has the ability to play at every position on the offensive line.
Another team captain that the Colts would love to add to the offensive line, Risner is extremely effective when run blocking and while he would need some development in pass protection, he would be a high-end depth piece to become an eventual starter.
The Colts would have to pay up likely in the first round to get him, which wouldn’t appease fans too much, but Ballard emphasizes the trenches, which always makes it a possibility.
Andre Dillard, Washington State
If the Colts are actively searching for Anthony Castonzo’s successor at left tackle, Dillard could certainly be a prospect they consider with one of their early picks. However, the likely means a first-round selection would be the way.
Dillard has experience as a four-year starter at left tackle. His athleticism and footwork allows him to immediately be a successful left tackle in the NFL, but his run blocking does need improvement. Luckily for the Colts, he wouldn’t have to start right away.
A high character prospect, Dillard could be what the Colts are looking for if they wanted to invest early in an offensive lineman.
Yodny Cajuste, West Virginia
Cajuste was expected to be among some of the top offensive tackles taken in the draft. There was even some talk about him being a potential first-round prospect. However, a torn quad this offseason shot down any notion of that happening.
Still, the Colts could look to Cajuste as a potential successor to Castonzo whenever they feel the latter is finished. Cajuste is an exceptional athlete that knows how to play with strength and length.
Cajuste struggled with injuries throughout his collegiate career, which is a major red flag, but if the Colts are looking to find a potential starter at left tackle at a discount there is a chance they do so on Day 2 with Cajuste.
Tytus Howard, Alabama State
Howard brings an NFL ready frame to be an immediate contributor at the tackle position, and his 34-inch arms give him enough length to stay there. However, he appears to be more of a project rather than an immediate contributor.
The biggest knock on Howard will be consistent technique. When it comes to both hand placement and footwork in pass protection, there are many issues Howard will need to overcome to be a starter. Luckily, the Colts have a new staff in place just for that.
Howard is likely a Day 3 pick given his current technical issues and play strength. However, he has the physical tools for the Colts to take a chance on him.
Alex Bars, Notre Dame
Though the Colts would have to be confident with his injury history, Bars is an ideal Day 3 pick for Indy if they are looking to add depth to the interior offensive line.
Bars has the size and ability to work perfectly in the Colts’ blocking schemes, which feature a solid amount of both zone and man looks. Bars was also a team captain in 2018, which goes a long way in the eyes of Ballard.
Making sure his knee can hold up will be on the checklist for any team that drafts Bars, but his name could be called on Day 3 given his traits an ability to work in multiple run-blocking schemes.
