ceeray1970

Okay, I didn't intend to think about the 2009 draft yet, but I read some message board posts that opine that a WR in the 1st round is a foregone conclusion.  I vehemently disagree with that notion, so I started thinking about what would be a better bet...and before I knew I had assembled a three-round mock draft for the Colts.  It evinces a good deal of original thinking that might appear a bit far-fetched to some, but I like it.  Here goes:

1) CB Victor "Macho" Harris, Va. Tech.  The Colts are in the unique position that they are very well set for the present and can draft key players for two years down the line.  After the 2008 season the team should lose Kelvin Hayden to free agency, which will still leave Marlin Jackson and Tim Jennings as starters and Dante Hughes, Michael Coe, and T.J. Rushing as back-ups/nickel backs.  That's great depth already.  However, Jackson and Jennings will be in the final years of their respective five- and four-year deals.  Meaning: our team will potentially lose both of those CB starters after the 2009 season.  So, unless they feel they unquestionably have two starters and a nickel guy amongst Hughes, Coe, and Rushing, the Colts better be drafting CBs next year.  A corner like Harris could easily start in a Cover-two in his second season.

2) OT Xavier Fulton, Illinois.  This is where it may get a little chimerical for Colt fans.  This 2nd round pick is a compensatory pick from an unnamed team for signing away Antoine Bethea.  Stick with me here.  Our team originally used a 6th round pick for Bethea, and after this upcoming season would have received three essentially Pro-Bowl quality seasons from him at the NFL minimum.  What could make Bethea more of a coup?  Here's what: tender him at the 2nd round level and see who bites.  I think some team would take the opportunity to sign a young Pro-Bowl player without him being bid up by Unrestricted Free Agency.  The thing that makes the whole thing work is that we can probably sign Matt Giordano to relatively cheap starter money after this season, and I don't think he's much a a step down from Bethea at all.  Some may say, "I'd rather have Bethea."  And I'd agree, except the choice isn't simply Bethea or Giordano.  The choice is Bethea for one year only..or Giordano (relatively cheaply) and a 2nd round draft choice for four years.  I think that would be a better long-term decision.  As far as the pick here: I believe we need to draft a RT of the future.  Diem's body isn't wearing all that well, and he's paid a ton of money.  After one year this pick could allow us to unload Diem's high salary.

2) WR Jarrett Dillard, Rice.  I'm not one who believes that Harrison's departure will leave a dire hole in the line-up; however, keeping Manning loaded with weapons is in the best interest of this team.  We've taken a couple of late round shots at developing the next productive receiver (Roy Hall and Pierre Garcon).  But with Marvin one step closer to retirement and Reggie Wayne in his prime, it may be time to step it up and use an early pick.  Dillard has been a TD machine.  While he doesn't have eye-popping first round speed, he's fast enough and a hard worker.

3) CB Lydell Sargeant, Penn State.  Under-rated corner who, along with Hughes, Coe, and first-rounder Macho Harris, should eventually round out a decent four-deep CB corps. (I'm talking about 2010 -see Harris rationale above.)

So that's my 2009 draft.  After Round 3 I'd expect it to go all defensive, starting with our mandatory annual LB draftee.  A couple of late-round DLs to replace Thomas and Reid who should be FA losses will figure in there somewhere.  Maybe a mid- to late-round safety.  All of this is too early to say - just be glad I don't have an entry on the 2010 draft yet!

It would be a rarity for me to be displeased with the Colts' draft.  This year, however, I am particularly elated by our selections.  As I revised my mock draft over and over, it occurred to me that unlike last year, I couldn't imagine all nine draft picks surviving to the active roster.  There simply did not appear to be enough roster slots up for grabs for all nine picks to land on the active roster for a second straight year.  But as I examine the selections a posteriori, I could easily see all the sections making the team.  Rather than examining every pick (which others have already graciously done), I think I'll comment on just a few:

• The only selecton that had me nonplussed was Phillip Wheeler.  From a need standpoint, I felt that the third round was a little higher than the position warrented.  However, I played out several scenarios prior to the draft where I would have selected a LB that high.  No, it wasn't the position that vexed me, it was my belief that Phillip Wheeler was utterly unsuited to play LB in the Colts' system.  Why?  First, I had never seen a forty time better than 4.72 for Wheeler, whereas the Colts seem to require a 4.65 or better for all three of their LB positions.  B) No matter what scouting report you read, his strength seems to be rushing the passer.  The Colts VERY rarely ask their LBs to rush the passer.  And 3) the majority of scouting reports indicate that Wheeler is a serious liability in coverage.  The Colts' system seems to demand LBs who can cover.  Once Polian and Dungy nixed my initial thought (that the Colts would move him to DE), I was left scratching my head.  With the benefit of a few weeks to mull it over I've come to this: Wheeler was selected because he can give the Colts quality depth at four or five different positions.  While his speed is not ideal for the weakside or middle LB positions, he is athletic enough to provide quality depth at all three LB spots in the event of injuries.  And with his college pass rushing prowess, he could be emergency depth at either DE position.  If, God forbid, we end up with Freeney and Mathis going down again, Wheeler could be moved to DE and provide regular pressure on the QB from Day 1.  As far as the question about his coverage ability, either the Colts believe he can devel