The NFL Draft is currently scheduled for April 23 to 25, 2020, and although the Indianapolis Colts do not have a first-round pick, they will look to build on the team’s strong offseason.
The Colts do have two second-round picks though, and they can use them to address their biggest needs.
The first of the two picks, which is No. 34 overall, came from the Washington Redskins in exchange for the No. 26 overall pick in 2019.
Frank Reich‘s team also has a pick in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds in addition to two sixth-round picks.
Let’s take a look at three areas of need heading into the draft for the Colts.
1. Future Quarterback
With the Philip Rivers signing and the Colts releasing Brian Hoyer, they have just two reputable quarterbacks on the roster.
Jacoby Brissett is the second quarterback on the team, but many experts have speculated that the Colts are looking for a quarterback of the future.
There are several players that the Colts can target in the second round, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
Jacob Eason of Washington, Jake Fromm of Georgia, and Jordan Love of Utah State are all strong quarterback candidates for the Colts.
I think the Colts would take this trade any day »» @dpbrugler predicts Indy’s QB depth chart come training camp
1. Rivers
2. Hoyer
3. **Jordan Love**https://t.co/1Qa9NpgJFQ— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) March 21, 2020
Although Zak Keefer’s tweet was written before the Colts released Hoyer, having the third spot in the quarterback depth chart be a second-rounder in the 2020 draft would be beneficial for the team’s future at the position.
2. Wide Receiver
In addition to finding a quarterback to improve the team’s future at that position, the Colts will have to secure a wide receiver to help the current offense and make up for Eric Ebron‘s absence.
There are many options at the wide receiver spot, such as Denzel Mims of Baylor, Justin Jefferson of LSU, or even either one of the following players late in the draft: Isaiah Hodgins of Oregon State or Marquez Callaway of Tennessee.
NFL Draft scout Matt Miller suggests that after taking quarterback Jalen Hurts with the No. 34 overall pick, the Colts should take Chase Claypool of Notre Dame to complete the team’s offensive upgrade.
#Colts find their new franchise QB and WR2 in @nfldraftscout’s latest mock draft:
34 – Jalen Hurts
44 – Chase Claypool pic.twitter.com/vD00dAcrEt— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) April 1, 2020
3. Kicker
Since Adam Vinatieri is undecided about his return in 2020, the Colts may need to find a kicker.
Vinatieri underwent season-ending knee surgery in 2019 and was one of the worst kickers in the NFL last season.
Although the team expressed confidence in Chase McLaughlin and signed him to a one-year extension for the 2020 season, he played just four games with Indianapolis last season.
McLaughlin spent 2019 with three different teams, and he made all of his extra points in his first NFL season, but made just 18 of his 23 field goal attempts.
There is a strong case for drafting Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, who grabbed the nation’s attention for his glasses, but he also kicked the longest field goal in Rose Bowl history.
During his 2019 senior season, he was named the nation’s top kicker and he was First-Team All-SEC, one year after being named Second-Team All-SEC.
His 440 points scored are the second-most in SEC history, and he owns the fourth-best all-time SEC field goal percentage.
Drafting Blankenship would create a preseason battle for kicker and allow the Colts to find their long-term player at the position.
NEXT: Frank Reich Believes Philip Rivers Can Still Be An Elite QB