Indianapolis Colts Mock Draft for 2021

Not every NFL organization is blessed with a GM who’s as proficient as Chris Ballard.

From drafting All-Pros like Quenton Nelson and Darius Leonard to hitting a home run last season with Jonathan Taylor, the Colts general manager has a strong eye for NFL talent.

Indy’s roster is unquestionably built to contend in the upcoming season, but they’ll have just two selections inside the top 125 to fill in the voids.

First up on the agenda is finding a franchise tackle to take over for Anthony Castonzo (retired). Starting there, let’s run through some Colts draft predictions.

It’s no secret that the Colts are looking to draft an offensive tackle early in 2021.

Being that Ballard and Frank Reich were there first-hand to watch Liam Eichenberg turn heads at Notre Dame’s pro day, we can start putting two and two together.

Arriving in South Bend in 2016 allowed Eichenberg to be groomed by Ronnie Stanley and Quenton Nelson. It’s only natural that Liam matured into a three-year starter and was ultimately honored as the ACC’s Top-Blocker in 2020.

After combing through the Fighting Irish tape, NFL Network’s Ben Fennell summed up Eichenberg’s impact quite plainly.

Plugging Eichenberg in for a departed Castonzo means the Colts offensive line won’t miss a beat.

That sound you are hearing is music to Carson Wentz’s ears.

Just three Colts players amassed more than four sacks in 2020. Two of those guys (Justin Houston, Denico Autry) are no longer with the team.

Matt Eberflus’ 4-3 scheme is dependent on having a couple of proficient edge rushers; he can find one of them with the 54^th pick in the 2021 Draft.

Joe Tryon flashed a ferocious pass rusher as a sophomore (2019) before opting in 2020 to focus on filling out his frame. And that is exactly what he did.

According to teammate and fellow draft prospect Levi Onwuzurike, Tryon “got big as sh*t.”

After putting work in at the gym and focusing on a healthy diet, the UDub pass rusher is flying up draft boards left and right.

Placed in the right situation – such as lining up next to DeForest Bucker on the edge of the Colts defensive front – it should not take Tryon long to become a force to be reckoned with.

Moving along with this Colts mock draft, let’s start peering into Indy’s four day 3 selections.

Tommy Tremble isn’t a flashy tight end who’s going to be running a ton of seam routes, but his ability to be a dominant blocker on the edge makes him a worthwhile selection. Tremble’s 83.7 run-blocking grade (PFF) was the highest of any tight end in America.

As an undersized linebacker who converted from safety, Garret Wallow has the versatility to play multiple roles on the Colts defense.

TCU’s leading tackler from a year ago will need some work in pass coverage, but his fluid motions and good instincts should help him earn playing time as a rookie.

Jacoby Stevens is another flexible defender and trusted tackler, but his lack of speed and range in coverage has him slipping into the 6^th round.

On the other hand, the LSU safety dropped 14 pounds (from 230 to 216) by the time he arrived at the Senior Bowl. Being a little lighter on his feet should make him more attractive as an NFL prospect.

Late in the 7^th round is what I call “flier territory.” Playing just an hour south of Indianapolis in Bloomington, Whop Philyor is a hard-nosed competitor who could work his way up the Colts WR depth chart in a hurry.

The former Hoosier wideout doesn’t possess measurables that jump off the page, but his tenacity and adaptability caught the attention of Jim Mora Jr.

At the very least, Philyor provides some insurance given Parris Campbell’s injury history. Also worth noting, T.Y. Hilton becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2021.

Of all these Colts draft predictions, you may be thinking it’s a bit naïve for me to pencil Tommy Tremble in as a day 4 pick.

Then again, Tremble is not the only tight end in the 2021 class receiving mixed reviews.

Brevin Jordan also has massive discrepancies on when he will get selected depending on whose NFL mock draft you’re reading.

The point here is the Colts will be looking to add a tight end to their repertoire on day 2 or day 3 – but not until they care of business in the trenches.

Satisfying the needs on offensive and defensive lines reigns supreme over everything.

For a dive into some other NFL team’s seven-round mocks, check out the links below.