Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Draft: FINAL Surprises, Needs, and Predictions (w/ Stephen Holder)

Starting point is 00:00:00 Happy holidays to all who celebrate. It is draftsmas Eve my friends and we've got an awesome gift for you guys in our final preparations for the 2025 NFL draft. Let's get to it. You are locked on Colts your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. All right. Thanks for tuning in and making us your first listen of the day. This is your daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And today's show is brought to you by Fandool. Right now, new customers can get $250 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins.

Starting point is 00:00:51 What is up everybody? Welcome to the show. I am Jake Arthur. That is Zach Hicks of horseshoehuddle.com. And we are joined by a very special guest today. It's our annual Draftsmas Eve tradition. It's the one an of ESPN. He joins us for

Starting point is 00:01:10 the draft. I think we've like three or four years you guys kind of come to us. Uh, so we're ultimea what we think is going t round for the Colts. Uh, any surprises that may c it is the Colts after al're going to discuss any surprises that may come up because it is the Colts after all.

Starting point is 00:01:25 But first we need to take a final look at this roster and what position groups really need to be addressed to get this thing really moving in the right direction. So Stephen, welcome back to the show and what do you make of this team? I mean obviously they had a pretty a busier offseason than normal but still some kind of big boxes to check off. Yeah, you know, it's interesting. I was having a conversation with someone earlier this week, I think on a radio show, in fact, locally. And one of the things I don't know if I had an epiphany, and maybe I'm late to this, but I just I thought about what they've done this offseason. And I was like, you know what? It's not enough. Yeah, it really isn't. And I don't say that to say like, I'm down on the team per se.

Starting point is 00:02:08 I mean, I love what they did. Okay, let me be clear. I mean, Chris Ballard awoke from the dead and realized that secondary matters. Like, that's good. Yeah. Okay, let's celebrate that. Right. But offensively, let's talk about offense, right? Like, where are they at offensively? How are they better than last year? The answer is I don't think they are. And I asked Shane Steichen about that this week. Like how are you gonna take the next step offensively

Starting point is 00:02:35 outside of whatever you may get in the draft? How are you taking the next step offensively? You're gonna have to do it with the same players, I'm afraid. And I think that should give you pause if you're a fan because you're trying to change the results of what you got with the same guys last year. I think it can be done. Don't get me wrong. There is a path for that, but you're also projecting a little bit when you do that.

Starting point is 00:03:00 So that would be my, yeah, but I guess approach to the roster right now. So I think offensively they have some work to do, even though I think the defense last year was a bigger disappointment. Okay. But again, given the actions and free agency, I think it's left the defense with some, I'm sorry, with the offense, I should say, with some work to do. Yeah, no, I think if you're looking at the team right now, the defense obviously wanna add more to the defense right now, but it's kind of game ready in a lot of ways.

Starting point is 00:03:34 Like you have a lot of guys who can play football on Sundays. You know, you have this new defensive coach in here and you have two new big additions in Kam Bynum and Travarious Ward. So like your defense is almost ready for week one. Like you just need some more depth and pieces in there. Offense though, to your point, I think the offense has gotten worse.

Starting point is 00:03:54 If you're looking at the offense, they lost Wilfries, they lost Ryan Kelly and were high obviously on Tanner Bordellini and you know, maybe they put Consolves at right guard, but that's probably still a downgrade over what they just had this past season. There was no other additions outside of Daniel Jones and hopefully he doesn't have to touch the field. That would be the best case scenario here for this next season. So yeah, the offense does need a lot of help and that kind of does lean into where the needs are in the draft because as of right now we don't know who's going to be the right guard going into this next season and we certainly don't know who's going to be the tight

Starting point is 00:04:28 end going into next season because they haven't made any outside additions there so yeah I'm complete agreement there Steven I think you know on defense they could certainly add some more make this defense even better but if we're looking at the team right now the offense isn't the much bigger issue within the defense the defense has, offense, they arguably got worse from an offense that was already pretty bad last year. Yeah. Yeah. And I would also add to that.

Starting point is 00:04:54 It's it's not as many. I mean, the offensive line, yes, they need some starters as well. But it's it's just one of those things where Ballard, you know says it's it's all about the trenches But we have seen them take big gambles going into the season before relying on youth but right now I think a Problem kind of arises at right guard because they do seem a little hesitant to put Gonzalves there Because they would have to remove him from those swing tackle duties So you almost have to say they got to come out of this draft with at least two offensive linemen. Yeah, I think it's probably what we're going to

Starting point is 00:05:31 see. Right. I mean, it's certainly like a guard pick is going to happen within that first like top 100 picks. And honestly, I'd say they probably want to grab another tackle on day three to develop behind eventually hope like hopefully can solve this as your right tackle the future. You can build a swing tackle behind that or just to compete with Blake Freeland I think yeah I think two offensive linemen and if we're talking trenches probably some defensive linemen as well in this class yeah I mean that that offensive line I mean I've said from the beginning of this offseason I think it's the most upheaval we were gonna see on this offensive line

Starting point is 00:06:02 in quite a few years I mean they had a lot of stability on this offensive line in quite a few years. I mean, they had a lot of stability on this offensive line for a very long time. I mean, it was a strength clearly, like by far, maybe their biggest strength for quite some time. And that now is not the case. I mean, we still really like Quinton Nelson. I don't know if you've heard of him. But Bernard Raymond, I think, has exceeded all expectations, certainly. But there are questions pretty much everywhere else on that line, up to and including Braden Smith, right? I mean, he,

Starting point is 00:06:32 I thought he acquitted himself really well last year. He's been through a lot. I thought I commend him for telling his story recently. Um, I've talked to him at length about it as well. So I'll address that story even further in the coming weeks. But yeah, he's got to go out there and stay healthy. His knee has been problematic, right? So I mean, you know, there's a lot there to still assess. So the Colts have not had this many questions on their offensive line, in my view, for quite some time. Yeah, since What the awful 2022 season or 2020? What was it? 2022 season? Yeah, right. And that had prior. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But they had to turn to guys

Starting point is 00:07:10 they just took in that last draft in Ryman, the third round, and Will fries the year before the seventh round. So at the end of the day, you got to keep adding on the line. And it might come as early as round one, honestly, in this draft, because they just need offensive linemen. We know the Colts love some offensive linemen. Well, when it comes down to it, I mean, you've got this quarterback competition

Starting point is 00:07:30 and it's not between two guys that you're so competent in both of them that you gotta pick a winner. It's two guys that you need to support as much as possible. So you gotta load up on the offensive line. We obviously know you need a tight end because Josh Downs can't be your only like kind of short intermediate security blanket. Like Pittman always had been that before. You never know what Pittman's role is going to be year to year.

Starting point is 00:07:53 Like he can do it all, but you never know how he's going to be used. I would say they kind of need to bolster the running game even further as well. I do like the upgrade of Khalil Herbert over Trey Sermon, but they still need that guy who can really step up and pass protection. Because Jonathan Taylor has had his gaps there and it's really not what Herbert's known for either. But when I look at the offense as well, it's got to be about supporting this quarterback, right, Stephen? Yeah, just to be just to go on a tangent. It's really nice of you to say that Jonathan, Jonathan Taylor's had his issues with past protection. He's terrible.

Starting point is 00:08:32 I've had to ask him about it in the locker room after games before, and you know he is a we got to study the tape kind of guy. He acts like it's not a problem. Look, I am a big Jonathan Taylor fan just as a football fan, right? I think he is a wonderful player. I don't know why he's so bad at that. It bugs the hell out of me. It's like you are too good of an athlete and too good of a player

Starting point is 00:08:54 to be that bad at anything. Yeah. But I digress. I am sorry. You know, the support of the quarterback. Sorry. I think that's exactly right. You know, in talking about, so, for example, offensive line, to take the quarterback, sorry. I think that's exactly right. You know, in talking about, so for example, offensive line to take it back to that. I thought that the pass protection got worse

Starting point is 00:09:12 over the course of last season. And I think that did have an effect on Anthony Richardson over time. I mean, here he is this very week talking about how he's gotta be better at playing off schedule and off platform and things like that. And while he had to do a lot of that at times last year, he just, it doesn't look the same as it looks with a lot of other players because he handles

Starting point is 00:09:34 the pressure really well. Now he doesn't throw well when under pressure, but he eludes pressure, right? He's got to regroup and reset and do those things. But Anthony Richardson doesn't break a sweat, breaking a tackle, right? He's got to regroup and reset and do those things. But Anthony Richardson, you know, doesn't break a sweat, you know, breaking a tackle, right? So it looks maybe like it's not as big a factor for him. But he's under, he was under quite a bit of pressure. And some of that is on him holding the ball and all that works together, granted. But I agree, everything has to revolve around this quarterback. Look, if they don't get that right, the people in charge now will no longer be in charge. So that's where we are. You might as well pour all of your resources into getting that right because that's what's going to determine everybody's future in my mind. Yeah, and so we know what they ought to do in the draft or what they really need

Starting point is 00:10:24 to focus on. But as we know, when it comes to what they ought to do in the draft or what they really need to focus on. But as we know, when it comes to draft, you got to expect the unexpected. So that's what we're going to talk about next. The NBA playoffs are here. I don't have to tell you guys that Pacers fans and fangirls giving new customers an incredible way to get in on the action. Right now, when you join fangirl and place your first $5 bet, you're going to get in on the action. Right now, when you join Fandle and place your first $5 bet, you're going to get 250 back and bonus bets. If that first $5 bet wins.

Starting point is 00:10:51 I personally love Fandle right now because I can bet on how bad the Pacers are going to stomp the bucks in this series. How many shots that Halley's going to land on Dame. Kidding. Maybe, maybe you're more of a traditional player prop person like three pointers assist, whatever. Fandle has got so many ways to bet on those favorite player props. Plus after the game tips off, you can even combine all those live prop bets into a Sam game parlay for a chance to win big. Don't miss out. Head to Fandle.com and claim your $250 and bonus bets today All right fellas

Starting point is 00:11:30 So we talked about the Colts being more aggressive this offseason and that's been a great start to the offseason, but it's not done I mean the most players you're about to add is right now between you know, the draft and the undrafted for agent market So it would it would be a little unnerving to see them kind of take their foot off the gas here. So in the spirit of continuing to be aggressive and close deals and go and get the guys you want, let's talk about surprises. I mean, what's the likelihood that they perhaps trade up a little bit to get anyone that they covet? I mean, I'll start. I think if you would have asked me this question last year, at this time, I would have said 0% chance.

Starting point is 00:12:19 And then they tried to trade up the next day. Um, we probably talked about the likelihood of this last year on this show, right? And I'm sure we talked about it in a very unrealistic way. And then again, we don't know who they were targeting, you know, per se, but we know they tried to trade up. What I'd say is that particular precedent is one thing. Then you have Chris Ballard, I think, really changing gears in free agency this year, what he's done so far. And the fact that they have gotten out of character in a couple of other ways

Starting point is 00:12:54 makes me think, okay, look, I mean, maybe some things could be on the table here. And then also the reality that, look, they have to win. It's been made clear. I thought we heard a much more humble version of Chris Ballard because of the situation in his post-season press conference. So that tells me that's a guy who says, I gotta do what I gotta do. And he is less, at least it seems, less concerned with his core beliefs, not completely like

Starting point is 00:13:27 the eradicated them. He's not going to walk away from them, but he's not as tied down to them maybe as he has been in the past and is willing to maybe think outside the box. So we'll see. I'm here for it if they do it. Yeah. I think when it comes down to it for me is like you said, they've kind of changed a lot this off season.

Starting point is 00:13:47 It's kind of been an off season of rectifying last year's mistakes. You know, they close the deal on several big free agents rather than missing on them like they did last off season with the deal hunter this year. They got Charvarius Ward this year. They got Cam Bynum, so they closed the deal there. They didn't just bring back the exact same team. There are still several Colts players sitting out there in free agency where last year they would have all been resigned already at this point and they even got in a more quality

Starting point is 00:14:12 competition player for Anthony Richardson rather than just handing him the job with Joe Flacco. So everything feels like that they have geared up for a different offseason. The one more thing they have to rectify is that they didn't get their trade up done last year. I'm not saying that you just trade up for the sake of trading up, but what we'll kind of talk about in our final segment today when we make our predictions is there is a guy at a position of need

Starting point is 00:14:35 who's probably gonna go in that top 10. Plenty of teams in this top 10 wanna trade back and he kind of makes a lot of sense for this team that values traits above all else, values, values you know what these unicorns can do and guys who are basically the whole offense in college so I do think if they're ever going to do it if Chris was ever going to do it in round one I do think this is kind of the year where a lot of reports are saying you can get 70 cents on the dollar for trade ups because it's not that strong of a draft that you can go up and maybe get up, get up there without giving up

Starting point is 00:15:06 like next year's first. And you can go get that guy that you're kind of targeting. And again, we don't know who exactly they were trying to trade up for. But say last year, they were trying to go get Brock Bowers. You can really rectify that mistake this year by going up and getting the top tight end in this class. So I do think again, in the offseason where we're seeing Chris Ballard change so much, I do think that's like the off season where we're seeing Chris Ballard change so much,

Starting point is 00:15:26 I do think that's like the final piece. I'm not saying it's for sure happening, but if he's ever gonna do it, it does feel like a little bit this off season. Yeah, I would also say with last year, the attempt to trade up didn't exactly go to plan, but in an unprecedented draft unfolding in front of them, they got the pick of the litter of whatever defensive player they wanted there at 15,

Starting point is 00:15:51 I think it was so this year, I don't think I count as many like what would be considered the elite players in this draft that could fall. But you know, if that happens, I mean, Tyler Warren is pretty much considered among those. But if another player like that, or if Warren's gone, happens to fall in their lap, like who do you think is most likely? Or what position do you think it would be?

Starting point is 00:16:19 Zach, we'll go ahead and start with you. I know you're really plugged into the top guys now. Okay, yeah, we'll see if I can get this I don't know if there's layout to lot to type of fall because the lot to one was weird where everyone kind of thought there he Was going to the Falcons and he was essentially gonna go to the Falcons until like two weeks prior to the draft and then they Pivoted to quarterback and then it left lot to without a team in that top 14 picks I don't know if there's really that case this year, especially like you said in this weird top end draft where it's like not that many true first round guys.

Starting point is 00:16:51 But I do wonder where the value becomes too good for the Colts. If one of these offensive linemen falls, say in the crazy scenario that a Will Campbell or an Armand Membo somehow is there at 14. Do they look at it and say like, yeah, we could get like a top tight end, but Membo is like, you know, a blue on our board. Like this is our guy, we have to take him. And it could be like that with Lahtu last year where like, yes, they needed a defensive end, but they were clearly trying to get a playmaker early in that draft. Last year they got A.D. Mitchell in round two, so they could have just taken Brian Thomas at 15, but they had lot two is that like difference maker level prospect. So they went with that trench player.

Starting point is 00:17:30 So I'm looking like trenches with Ballard, obviously offensive line, maybe like a Mason Graham somehow falls to 14 just because we see a run of quarterbacks and we see a run of offensive linemen. But yeah, I don't think it's as clear as like lot twou last year. But I think we could see a defensive player or a trench player kind of fall back a little bit because we see Genti go, we see receivers go, we see cornerbacks go too high like they usually do. So maybe we could see one of those guys slip a little bit.

Starting point is 00:17:59 It only takes a couple of surprises for something like that to happen. I mean, take Shadr Sandus, for example, not in relation to the Colts, but I'm just saying in generally, I think he's an interesting case because like we've all done well participated like in mock drafts. Right. And so like ESPN, we did one with all of our reporters and there was a there's a stretch there between like, I don't know what the numbers are, but like seven and 12 words like, all right, if he doesn't go there, he's gonna slide like a long way.

Starting point is 00:18:28 And that's exactly what happened, right? It's just an exercise, okay, right? But that's what can happen, right? So it depends on what dominoes fall and when. One thing I'd say is that you talked about the scenario where an offensive lineman falls, I don't think we anticipate those guys falling, certainly. But here's the thing. One thing I'd say is that you talked about the scenario where an offensive lineman falls. I don't think we anticipate those guys falling, certainly, but here's the thing. If that did happen, look, I think you do it and you run the card.

Starting point is 00:18:53 Because one thing I will say is that generally, teams are usually right about that position. The interior offensive lineman tackles less so, but usually, I mean, the Ryan Kelly pick, for example. You look at that position. The interior offense alignment tackles less so, but usually, I mean, the Ryan Kelly pick, for example, you look at that here. I mean, you, what was that number? 15 or 16? 16. 16, right? In 2016, right? So what could you possibly say negative about that pick, right? I mean, this guy has a nine-year colt, started the whole time, right? I mean, this guy's a 10 year, nine year colt started the whole time, right? I mean, there's a lot of value in pics like that. You solve a problem. You basically can just, you know, put it on autopilot, right? So if you can do something like that, that is a win for you. But I know, will they have that luxury? I don't know that

Starting point is 00:19:39 they will. But but I think there is a lot of value in something like that, where if you can do it without having to go get a guy, great. I mean, you're solving a problem, checking a box, you can go on with your life. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I think this is just such a weird draft class though because I think every team wants to move back and there's not many teams that want to move up right now.

Starting point is 00:19:58 So, you know, also going back to like the Colts moving up for like a Warren or just these guys falling and stuff like that. I think in this class compared to last year is where there were so many quality quarterbacks in terms of just draft picks that they all went in that top 15. Plus you had the crazy wide receiver class. The Colts were just given this gift to get the top defender in the draft at 15. It's so hard to project that happening ever again, because not most drafts are like that where this one's a little bit weaker up top. And I think there's not going to be many teams trying to get up there for players.

Starting point is 00:20:30 So I think it might be more of a normal selection there. But again, the draft is so crazy. Like Stephen said, all it takes is one guy going to a wrong spot and then whoever's picking at nines like, well, I didn't even think that guy was going to be there. I already talked myself into this other guy. So I'm just going to keep the guy that I talked myself into instead of taking that, that guy who slipped a little bit, you know? And we've seen it here, by the way.

Starting point is 00:20:51 I mean, uh, I can think back to, I don't know, uh, 2017, right? They had no intention of taking a safety. Right. Then what happens, right? Um, a safety falls to you at that. And remember, um, they hadn't brought Malik in until the week before the draft for I think it was a top 30 they brought him in or worked him out I can't remember but they they weren't he wasn't even on their radar. They were like well just in case

Starting point is 00:21:16 We'll work him out or we'll bring him in for a visit. See what happens and boom. He's there, right? So the draft is weird, you know, who knows? Yeah, that right. So coming up guys, we're going to give our final thoughts. What is going to? Did you know that your Amazon Fire TV is also an Xbox? Turn any TV into your gaming and entertainment hub with Fire TV stick 4K devices. No console is required. Just grab your paired controller, subscribers signed into Xbox game pass ultimate

Starting point is 00:21:48 with EA play included and you're ready to play. Dive into hundreds of premium titles from EA sports college football 25, the Call of Duty black ops six and avowed as easily as you stream your favorite TV shows. It's gaming made simple and it is all on your fire TV. Fire TV provides endless entertainment with 4K streaming. Watch more than one and a half million movies and TV episodes

Starting point is 00:22:12 from your favorite subscribe services like Netflix Prime Video, Disney Plus, Max and so much more. My household has personally had Fire TV access for years now because they were one of the first ones in the game and they have been top-not in the game industry. The game industry has been a huge hit in the game industry. The game industry has been a huge hit in the game industry. The game industry has

Starting point is 00:22:34 been a huge hit in the game industry. The game industry has been a huge hit in the game industry. The game industry has been a huge hit in the game industry. The game industry has been a huge hit in the game Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and compatible controller is required. Available on select devices including Fire TV Stick 4K 2nd Gen, Fire TV Stick 4K Max 1st and 2nd Gen, and Fire TV Cube 3rd Gen.

Starting point is 00:23:10 All right, fellas. So I don't know if you remember, but we have gotten pretty good at picking this thing on the final show before the draft each year. Steven, I think you might. Steven's pretty good. Not even you might be under luck. So two years ago, all three of us said it was going to be Anthony at number four. And last year, Steven, I think you said if it wasn't like Thomas or Bowers or someone that it might be a defensive end, lo and behold. So all three of us, I think in our latest projections, Zach's mock came out yesterday, mine came out this morning. Stephen, you guys did the ESPN NFL reporter mock as well. I think we all went with Colston Loveland, am I wrong? I went with Colston Loveland, yeah.

Starting point is 00:23:43 All right, so Stephen, the floor is yours. Explain how you landed on Colston Loveland, am I wrong? I went with Coles in Loveland, yeah. All right, so Stephen, the floor is yours. Explain how you landed on Coles to Loveland. Well, I watched the Coles Titans last year, first of all. There we go. End of the story, OK. I mean, go ahead, I'm done. Wrap the show. I mean, look, I would say obviously that,

Starting point is 00:24:01 but there's more to it. I think we talked about this, I think, Jake, the other day during some of the Colts interviews. I think if you give Shane Stiken a piece like that, a multi-dimensional tight end, I have a lot of hope for what he can do with that type of guy. Just coming from the Philadelphia ecosystem

Starting point is 00:24:24 and what they do with their tight ends. He's had success with tight ends everywhere he's been. He did it in LA as well, the Chargers. So it's not just an Eagles thing, I would say. It's no coincidence that this is really the first time in his time as a play caller, he has not really had measurable success with tight ends. It has a lot to do with the personnel. So I think this gives your offense another dimension. It's not just a piece. It is the piece for sure, but

Starting point is 00:24:52 it's really the additional dimension it can give their offense. And then frankly, just in service of helping the quarterback, be it Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones, whatever it might be. This is another piece that you need around the quarterback. So yeah, the other thing I would say lastly is, I went back and I looked at like a lot of first round tight ends who have been picked, particularly like top 10, top 15. They usually pan out. They pan out pretty well, generally speaking, because tight ends are not a real big value position for most people. So generally, if they go high, teams are really, they really feel strongly about them. And they usually turn out to be pretty

Starting point is 00:25:36 good and at least by a pretty good percentage. So those are my thoughts. And I think that's the way it'll go more than likely or maybe not. Yeah, I think people quickly rushed to bust on first round tight ends because they don't turn into like superstar tight ends with a lot of these guys. But a lot of them do become pretty solid players like we can sit here and say, like, yeah, Noah Fant was probably a reach or T.J. Hawkinson was probably a reach, but that's still a pretty good tight end. In the NFL, like Hawkinson's the top five to six tight end in the league.

Starting point is 00:26:05 Fans of top 15 tight end and we can we can go down the list. Even Kyle Pitts has been disappointing at a thousand yards his rookie season. You know, like we would kill for a thousand yard tight end this next season. I haven't seen one in Indy before. I don't think since what Dallas Clark, I guess, back in the day. But yeah, no, I think when I'm looking at it, I feel comfortable about the position the Colts are going with in round one. I still go back and forth if they're going to move up for Warren, if Warren's going to

Starting point is 00:26:29 fall to them, or if they're going to stick and take Loveland, maybe move up for Loveland, maybe move back and take Taylor. Like, I do think there's a lot of different avenues at tight end. I just can't see another position being this. It's, you know, people always say like, oh, don't reach for a knee, take the best player available. But when it comes to the NFL draft, it's a perfect marriage of those two ideas. It's never just best player available.

Starting point is 00:26:52 You know, you're not gonna take an offensive tackle when you have two guys locked up for the next couple of years. So you don't just take best player available. You take what's the best player available at a position of need that we have. And the Colts need a tight end. They need a tight end. They also need a right guard. Don't get me wrong, but there's way more to be had at right guard in rounds two, three, and four in this draft than there

Starting point is 00:27:12 is a tight end. So yeah, I keep hearing people say like, yeah, the Colts could go trenches. I think they need trenches. Ballard always values trenches. Very much agree. But when I look at this draft, there's two to three tight ends that really are difference makers for this upcoming season and there's like 15 offensive linemen 15 defensive linemen the smart money is get your tight end early and then address your trenches after that I just can't see them going a separate way like there's like last year a lot to surprise me it surprised me he wasn't their type of pass rusher but the character and the production made sense and I was like okay that's a Colts player there's no other player me. It surprised me he wasn't their type of pass rusher but the character and the production

Starting point is 00:27:45 made sense and I was like okay that's a Colts player. There's no other player besides these tight ends in round one where I feel like I can sit here and say that makes sense. Like maybe Banks, maybe Tyler Booker because he's just a fun person and good player on the field but like I can't talk myself into these defensive linemen. I can't talk myself into these like, you know, safeties and corners. I think it's gonna be a tight end. And I, maybe I'm being too like crazy about, yes, it's going to be a tight end, but I just can't see it going another way.

Starting point is 00:28:14 I don't know. Yeah, I think they have a great opportunity here. Like they just can't keep passing up this golden opportunity to fill their most barren position on the roster. I mean, last year, if it was Bowers, they were trying to get and they struck out like, sure, that makes sense. It didn't work out. And no one expected the Raiders to take him. They had just taken Michael Mayer the year before.

Starting point is 00:28:33 Oh, I thought we were so lucky last year. I thought he was following there. It looked like it was going to happen. But I mean, this year, I think there's a good chance Warren goes in the top 10. Anytime I've tinkered with a mock, I always have him going in the top 10. And if I didn't, it's only for the sole purpose of getting him to the Colts, basically. Right. But with Colston Loveland, he is very much deserving of the 14th pick. So the value meets the need there. And when Ballard and Steichen have spoken recently about getting a receiving tight end, you know, Ballard gushed about Jack Doyle the need there. And when Ballard and Stikin have spoken recently about getting a receiving

Starting point is 00:29:05 tight end, you know, Ballard gushed about Jack Doyle the other day. And while Loveland isn't really Jack Doyle, they're not the same kind of tight end. He talked about, you know, getting a good receiving tight end who can work well over the middle, someone who doesn't have to leave the field because they're they're blocking is a detriment. I think Tyler Warren is more like ready made to contribute immediately. He's like more well rounded right now. But I don't watch Loveland and think his blocking is a problem. I think he could stay on the field and the ease at which his huge frame moves.

Starting point is 00:29:38 He's so like he's so fluid in how he moves. He gets great separation dominating over the middle of the field, I don't think would be a problem for him. Like, I mean, maybe not right away, cause like he's a rookie, he deserves a little grace for some time in development. But this like awesome pass catching tight end

Starting point is 00:29:57 that can win at all levels of the field that they're envisioning. I see Loveland there instantly. Like I think Warren could do it as well, but that's, it's different. Like they both are very good pass catchers, but like the way they do it is different. Like Loveland looks like an enormous receiver out there,

Starting point is 00:30:15 the way he moves, but he's just able to kind of check off most of the boxes that Titans need to check off. Yeah. And you guys were there for Shane Steichen's press conference, right? Didn't he say obviously want to get a pass catching tight end, probably possibly or something, which he doesn't, which he doesn't ever give us anything. He's like, I heard tight ends can catch fast.

Starting point is 00:30:33 And sometimes in the NFL that might, you could maybe do that with us. I don't know. Yeah, no, I mean, I think they have really not hid from it. And I was at the owners meetings with Chris Ballard in Palm Beach a few weeks ago. We grilled him hard on tight ends and he didn't hide from it. I mean, of course he gave us the usual line like, you can't force anything. But no one has tried to talk us out of the idea that it's an issue. I mean, he of course also gave the lip service about, well, we like some of our young guys.

Starting point is 00:31:04 Uh-huh, Yeah, I know. But there's, I think, an honesty from everybody that, yeah, we don't have a threat there. We really don't have a threat. And it's a void. It is a void in their offense. I mean, look at what they've amassed at wide receiver. And so to have such a drop off at tight end and to just really have just that missing void in your offense, just, I don't know, it just doesn't have to be that way. Yeah, and to your point there,

Starting point is 00:31:33 when they talk about other positions that people have mocked commonly at 14, like linebacker Chris keeps bringing up their success on day three and their success in undraft. He's like, we've had success late. And I'm like, okay, cool. So you can take those late offensive line. He talked about the depth in this class, like rounds three to five.

Starting point is 00:31:48 He said the combine are awesome for offensive line. He thinks you can get a real good starter there. Tight end. The most we've gotten is like, yeah, we kind of like the depth that tight end in this class. But, you know, we want to all throw you guys can do all three things, you know, block, catch and run after the catch and do all this. I'm like, well, you're not getting that after the top three guys. So it's like you said, like you get the lip service.

Starting point is 00:32:08 But to me, every time we've heard them talk, the lip service has been pretty obvious to me that like tight end is high on their mind early in this draft. I have one other thing to throw out there. And I probably shouldn't even say this because I have no idea how much validity this has. But one person, one player that was thrown out to me that I was told maybe we should talk a little bit more about was Jihad Campbell. I don't know if I buy it. I don't know.

Starting point is 00:32:37 I'm just saying. But I would say this. If they were to do something like that, I give them the benefit of the doubt at linebackers on linebackers to some degree, right? Again, I'm not predicting that I don'tiled up our people on here over the whole off season talking about Jahad Campbell. So they actually get upset sometimes when we stopped talking about Jahad Campbell to talk about these tight ends. So we're doing good. This is a great place to talk about Jahad Campbell. This was perfect then.

Starting point is 00:33:16 So here I was thinking I was going out on a limb. We have top 10 grades on him, right, Jake? That's our guy. I was I was it was described to me like this guy is Darius Leonard 2.0. And oh, yeah, I'm sure others have made that connection. But look, if that is even close to true, sign me up. Oh, yeah. I look if they had a playable tight end on the roster.

Starting point is 00:33:42 Give me John Campbell at 14 all day long. I like and there's a scenario. I don't think this is what happened, but there's a scenario where like both titans are gone or something. You know, I don't know. I don't anticipate it. But I've seen mocks that have had that happen. So who knows? Right. Yeah, for sure.

Starting point is 00:33:58 Yeah. Yeah. We didn't even discuss. I mean, we can't get into it now. We didn't even discuss trading back and getting into the Mason tailors of the world, which is essentially their last shot at a reasonable three down tight end in here. But guys, you heard it here first, no one else has been talking about tight end. But we said, obviously, like if Tyler Warren's on the board, it makes things a little bit interesting. But otherwise otherwise Colson Weldon is a fantastic fit for them. So that's it guys. You know, this time tomorrow, we're all going to be getting ready for the draft. First round is eight o'clock. Um, Steven and I basically will live at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center for the next few days. Uh, but we're all going to have, you know, round the clock wall to wall coverage for you guys about this draft. Thanks again for making us your first listen of the day. Now for your next listen,

Starting point is 00:34:49 check out the Locked on NFL Draft show with Damian Parson and Keith Sanchez. The draft again, almost here. So get the latest rankings, rumors and news every day. Find Locked on NFL Draft on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. And with that guys, it's Draftmas Eve. We will see you tomorrow.

Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Draft: FINAL Surprises, Needs, and Predictions (w/ Stephen Holder)

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.