Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: What if Tyler Warren, Malaki Starks are Gone in Round 1 of NFL Draft?

Episode Date: March 1, 2025

What if the Indianapolis Colts can't get Tyler Warren or Malaki Starks in the first round of the NFL Draft? Who and what are the best options? These questions and so much more on a loaded fan Q&A episode as the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine nears its end! The 2025 Indy Draft Guide is officially available for pre-orders! 225+ in-depth scouting reports, plus how each player fits the Indianapolis Colts. Pre-Order Now: https://draftguide.gumroad.com/l/indy25 Become a Locked On Colts insider! Ask your burning questions and get prompt answers from someone who's around the team every day! Get special access from the locker room, practice field, and press box! JOIN HERE! Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms:🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-colts/📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQLocked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nfl/ Follow Jake and Zach's written work on HorseshoeHuddle.com, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, @LockedOnColts, and @ColtsOn_SI, as well on TikTok and Instagram! Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new FanDuel customers can get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!FanDuelRight now, new FanDuel customers can get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Combine is almost over and it's left everybody with a bunch of questions. You guys send us your thoughts and we're going to answer them right now. 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. Thank you all 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.

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can get $150 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. Hello, everyone. My name is Zach Hicks, your resident film nerd of HorseshoeHuddle.com. And my partner in crime, Jake Arthur, is our residential Jeffrey Bossa fan on the ground. That's right, Jeffrey Bossa's fan club, courtesy of just one person here. Today, we are doing a Q&A episode. The NFL Combine is just about wrapped up.

Jake and I are here for the last time this year, or last time this Combine season, I guess, in the same room. So we're here doing your Q&A based on everything draft-related, Combine-related. You guys sent us a couple hundred questions, so we're going to do our best to get through as many as possible because we want to answer everything for you guys. If we don't get to your question today,

though, don't worry. We have plenty more Q and a episodes coming up. And again, we thank you all very much for sending in so many questions on Twitter, on YouTube, on Facebook, on the,

on the insider program. You guys are the best, but Jake, before I keep rambling here, let's get into some of these questions. Cause again, so many draft and combine related questions from our fans today absolutely yeah we love these ones because it's literally you guys telling us what you want to hear so let's go ahead and dive right

to it this is obviously going to be skewed mostly towards the draft a lot of either ors and just odd situations in these uh the first one is with Malachi Stark still on the board at 14. He would be the lowest Raz ever taken in the first by Chris Ballard by several full points. Do you think this would factor into passing on him at 14 and snagging someone else like a Jihad Campbell or a defensive tackle to take over long-term for DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart? Or do we think that they would stick and pick with Starks and that would kind of bring in a new era of Ballard of being a little more thoughtful when it comes to who they're considering? Yeah, I will say I don't think Chris Ballard looks at the RAS

stuff, the relative athletic score. I know that there is a big correlation between who he drafts and the RAS or relative athletic score system uh but i think it just happens to work out the way he likes super athletes and super athletes typically test well with size right right uh when it comes to garlic malachi starts yes he's not the super super athlete that chris ballard typically drafts but i don't think that necessarily excludes him from what ballard would take i mean you look at some of the safeties he's taken in the past. He's like Kari Willis, who is more of an average athlete. I would argue that Julian Blackman probably, if he would have tested,

wouldn't have tested like a superstar. And heck, he's taken three safeties that didn't do any tests at the combine. So with safety, it does seem it's more of a feel and more of the GPS data where Malachi Starks really does shine. But yeah, the testing does hurt his chances of being a Colts pick at number 14. For the Colts to take a non-trench or skill position player at that high of a pick, I've always abstained that it has to be a blue chip player on their board. And will Malachi Starks be a blue chip player on their board with those athletic scores?

I think that's a pretty realistic question to ask right now. So a great question. I could totally see them leaning towards like a Jihad Campbell or even a defensive tackle or an offensive lineman at that pick over a guy like Starks because of those athletic scores. Because again, for Ballard to go away from his philosophy of trenches first, it does kind of need to be a blue chip player. And is Malachi Starks a blue chip player for him? I'm not too sure. Right.

It's certainly a question mark, but I do think that Chris is willing to kind of bend things a little bit. I mean, when blue chip guys, even if they aren't prototypically what they need or what they normally would get fall in their lap, I think it happens the very first year, Malik hooker. No one really thought he would be there at like 16 or 17, whatever it was that the Colts picked him.

But you know, that's a blue chip player who I don't, I don't know about generational, but like certainly one of the drafts, like few elite players, they considered a lot to law to who is a decent athlete, but not like a workout warrior by any means uh was kind of against the trends of chris ballard but they felt he was a blue chip

player yep and so i think starks could fit right into that certainly having a having better testing scores really would have helped but i thought his field workout was great yeah and i i don't if they pass on starks i don't think it's necessarily would be because of Starks but like a Jihad Campbell for example this Lou Anarumo defense I've heard the word multiple thrown out a bunch Jihad Campbell is one of the most impactful multiple defenders in this draft and it really is going to come down to whether they think a guy like Campbell or Starks for example if they're both there would have a bigger impact on their defense. So I think Starks is still very much someone they would consider very highly.

I know Chris Ballard likes Georgia defensive backs as well. So that's kind of an extra little layer to it. But I don't really think the lack of elite testing damaged his chances much. So kind of went long winded with that one, but here's the next one. This is from Steven Burton on Twitter. If Warren and Starks are gone, Tyler Warren and Malachi Starks are gone, what do you do at 14? So let's say the two biggest, most mocked players to the Colts are gone.

What do you do, Zach? I mean, obviously free agency is a big part of this. Like do the Colts go out there and get a defensive back? Do they get a linebacker in free agency? What happens with the offensive line, I think, is a big part of this equation. I would say as of right now, they do what we expect in terms of bringing back Will Fries, getting a veteran defensive back. I would say Jahad Campbell if he's there.

Jahad Campbell might go top 10 because he is that fantastic of a prospect. But a young player with his eyes, his physicality, his athleticism, if he's there at 14, even with Starks, and honestly, look, if it's me, even with Warren on the board, I think I would take Jahad Campbell at that point. I think he's that good of a prospect, and I think he would drastically change this defense. So I might just say Jahad Campbell regardless,

but if we're talking for the Colts, he would drastically change this defense. So I might just say John Campbell regardless. But if we're talking for the Colts, I think O-line will be a big consideration and maybe even defensive line. Yeah, I think there's a nice chunk of players that could be available there. Certainly maybe one or two. If you take Starks and Warren away, Colston Loveland is an option. Nick Amon Worry is an option. Campbell, obviously, Javavon Walker like there is several guys out there you could choose from and if by any chance all of them are gone or someone you're not in love with I'm kind of in favor of trading back too I don't think there's a huge drop off in talent if you went down to like 20 for example uh so next up do the Colts go right tackle over corner and safety

if Tyler Warren is off the board and if Braden Smith is unlikely to return? So in this scenario, no Tyler Warren there. Braden Smith is not with the Colts anymore. Do you go with that right tackle like Armand Membo or something over a defensive back in round one? Look, I'm not saying I would do that in this class because I'm not sure there is a corner. I mean, safety, obviously, I would personally I would take starts at 14. I'm not out on starts right now. I mean, safety, obviously, I would – personally, I would take Starks at 14. I'm not out on Starks right now. I know it may sound like that with the beginning of this.

I'm not out on Starks. I would personally take him at 14. But, you know, I do think the Colts, because of their – again, their trench emphasis, how much they value that, the question they have to ask themselves is are we read or are we so confident in a Matt Gonsalves that we would you know pass over a guy like Simmons from Ohio State or Jackson from Ohio State or uh Membu from from uh Missouri you know do we do we overlook those guys because of Gonsalves or do we just keep adding to that line so for me personally I I would go Starks or

Emanuari maybe at 14 I'm not sure there's a corner I would take there. But on the offensive line, or when it comes to the Colts, I mean, offensive lines always in play. It's Chris Ballard. He will throw resources at the trenches and offensive line is a big part of that. Absolutely. All right. So this next one, last year, we all assumed that Quinnian Mitchell was the Colts pick. And I wish he was, this person says in parentheses. But even with him on the board the colts went in another direction do you think that could happen again if tyler warren and malachi starks are on the board when they're on the clock so we can kind of answer that one quickly you kind of have as well jihad campbell is there anyone else

who's on the board maybe they fall um and you would take because this guy i know you're not really super strong on but like Will Johnson is a good example that's certainly someone the Colts could be really high on someone like that like if one of these really good offensive linemen or edge guys falls I could see that maybe being the case but certainly for us I think Tyler Warren, Jihad Campbell, Malachi Starks make the most sense of 14 yeah if i'm speaking purely for the colts here what i think the colts would do this is nothing to do with zach hicks right here what we what i think the colts would do i'm not sure they're going to have

many players over tyler warren that fit that perfect combination of an exact need we have and a blue chip player in this draft uh so it's almost like the Brock Bowers situation last year where they were trying to move up for Brock Bowers. I could see them trying to move up for a Tyler Warren because he fits everything they're looking for, and he's a dynamic weapon to add to the offense. Malachi Starks, I could totally see them passing on him. But Warren, I'd be very, very shocked if they had anybody

they would take over him at 14. If he's on the board at 14 i would be more shocked this year if they passed on warren than i was last year when they passed on mitchell because warren is kind of what they're looking for mitchell yes it was if it would have fit a need but chris ballard values trenches and skill position players at the top of the draft so unless he had quinnian mitchell as a top tier blue chip player, which clearly they didn't because they didn't take them, then I wasn't going to see Mitchell going at 15. But this year with Warren, he fits so much of what they're looking for.

If he's there at 14 and they don't take him, I would be, I would be floored. I'd be very, very floored if that happened. Yeah. The Colts are not really able to hide their desire and needs for a tight end anymore. That would be absolutely shocking. Because what does Tyler Warren not offer that you absolutely need? So coming up, guys, you had some, obviously, more questions for us

that revolved around the rest of the draft as well, not even just what's going to happen with the Tops. We'll get to that in just a moment. When the game tips off, the NBA action is just getting started. And there's no better place to get in on all that sweet action than FanDuel, America's number one sportsbook. With FanDuel, you can place live bets throughout the game, so even if you miss the opening tip-off or you want to bet on a fourth-quarter comeback,

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just visit FanDuel.com to join today. That's FanDuel.com for your shot at $150 in bonus bets. Make every moment more with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Zach is certainly a menace during these ad reads, and you guys were menaces when you were coming up with your questions and that's why we have a ton to choose from here so uh this first one based on the cornerback class who do you think the Colts are most likely to target for Lou Anarumo system that's realistic to get in the second third round and thank you guys I don't think anyone could have crafted a better question for Zach to answer because this is his wheelhouse this year, especially. Yeah. I mean, I think Darian Porter's the obvious one

we're looking at here. Again, the film's not perfect. The age is a concern being 25 years old, but tall, physical, explosive, athletic. I mean, a big time special teamer as well. Look, he might go a little bit higher than I would take him. I would personally take him back of round three into early round four. I know the testing is great, but the film is a little bit concerning. But he's a player where you have to probably reach to get him, and he fits what the Colts want in this system. So I think he's certainly a guy you're looking at there.

Azariah Thomas from Florida State another one uh you're looking at again his range is anywhere from 20th overall to you know 50 60 so you know ad mitchell right right so you could see him go in the back of round one and not have a chance to take him but he could certainly be there at 46 as well he didn't do his testing uh which was a little bit shocking to me so that could you know maybe turn some teens off from him there and and maybe add some concerns or something so he might be able to fall to a pick like number 46 uh for the Colts so I think those are two big guys and then the UTSA corner it's ah something's all Alexander it's not Frazier's off Frazier look man 6'3 187 32 inch arms runninginch arms, running in the 4'3". He's pretty stiff on film, and I do think there is a lot of development needed there. But again, if we're looking for these big athletic corners that can turn and run,

I think those are the guys you're looking for. And then if you even want to go a little bit outside of the typing, Maxwell Hairston from Kentucky just can absolutely fly. The film is really good. He might sneak into the back of round one as well. But if he's there in round two, you might have to stretch the bounds of what you're looking for and go like, okay, we'll go with the 5'11 guy, the 5'10 guy,

instead of the 6'0 guy because he's just that good of an athlete. So, yeah, there's plenty of corners in this class on day two, and those are just four of them. I think there's plenty more that could fit the Colts. I'll give a couple in there as well.el williams from cal uh that's another big big athletic guy with ball skills a big dark horse jacob parish from kansas state undersized guy um and if you say he's just kenny moore's backup then yeah that's way too early you know third round let's say but if they see him as a big piece of the future and someone they can move around a bit,

because he is primarily a slot guy, sure. But if you think he's versatile enough or you think he has, you know, an elite trait, which the Colts are always willing to kind of bend their parameters for, then I think he's kind of a dark horse. I like that one a little bit. With the Colts likely to take a running back, will they go more towards a balanced RB2 type or look for a receiving back in this draft yeah I mean ideally you probably want to get a compliment for Jonathan Taylor so a pass catcher that can also pass block is

something that feels pretty pretty much like a big need but personally I'm in favor of just adding someone who's a capable player to the running back room. So even if it is just, this is a secondary bell cow running back who can eat up 25% of the snaps, 30% of the snaps and you know, 30% of the carries, I guess not snaps, but a guy who can just get in there and give Jonathan Taylor some rest and maybe keep him a little bit healthier down the stretch of these seasons.

I could take that as well. Like it doesn't have to be a Naeem Hines or a Kenneth Gainwell. It can also just be, you know, adding a David Montgomery type to the Jameer Gibbs that is Jonathan Taylor. You know, it doesn't, it doesn't have to be this, you know, perfect scat back in this offense. Like just give me another guy who's capable of carrying the football. And I'll consider that a win for the Colts because what they put out there last year behind Taylor just wasn't good enough. And if Taylor misses time, you need guys who can tote the rock a little bit. So I just want somebody who's a capable player back there. Yeah, without question. And you know, we've, we've talked about this with our guy, Destin, who's actually gonna have a question

for us here in a second. But when you're looking at drafting a running back in this class, let's just say you do one, don't even approach them if they're not capable of pass blocking. The next guy has got to be able to do that because that was Trey Sermon's old bread and butter, but that's about all he could do. Very much a guy who's going to get you one, two, three yards, but he could pass protect a little bit. But if you can get a guy that's able to run the ball a little bit and catch a little bit, but he's a really good pass blocker, it's a good idea. Three of my personal favorites,

if you're looking around round four-ish, CJ Harvey, Ollie Gordon, and Damian Martinez. Those are three guys who I think are very well balanced. From talking to them this week, I think they all have the right mentality as well. So those are guys I've got my eyes on. RJ Harvey. What'd I say? You said CJ Harvey. I was trying to think of whoever the heck that was. That's the same name.

That is the same name. I don't care. And then from our guy Felipe Costa, all the way in Brazil, considering tight end, cornerback, safety, and linebacker are the Colts' biggest needs, which would be the best case scenarios for each to address between free agency and the draft? Like which one of those four needs would you prefer be mostly dealt with in free agency versus the draft? Yeah, I'll be real quick with this tight end. I would say draft cornerback, mostly free agency, but maybe you grab one in the draft

safety, mostly draft, but maybe you grab one in free agency. And linebacker, probably the draft, actually. I think just get me another guy who can run. I think maybe a special teamer in free agency, but I could use a young linebacker in here as well. Yeah, I'm not going to lie. I have lofty expectations for this offseason. Not expectations, more demands.

Oh, you're setting up yourself to hurt your buddy always but no if if you know they're talking the talk and if they're serious about getting better and fixing things then they're going to need to be active in both obviously so tight end i definitely i think they obviously have to draft a capable starter within the first three rounds but i don't think it's super fair to expect a tight end to immediately come in and fix the situation so in that instance i think you have to get just an average whatever level veteran tight end who you're confident can play as well because you kind of have to remake your tight end room this year so investing all in rookies i don't think

is a great idea but you do need at least one hopeful star that you're drafting there. Quarterback, I think free agency is probably my most likely scenario. Although there's obviously guys in the draft that we really like. Safety, go draft one. Linebacker, go draft one. Although there was a couple small level free agents that are mostly special teamers that I like, but when they've been able to play defense, they've been pretty productive. There's a Sewell kid out of new Orleans. And then the guy who used to play for Purdue out of the 49ers, obviously not household names.

Cause I can't remember him right now, but I like those guys quite a bit. But yeah, I think the draft would primarily be my focus there. So coming up on these next ones from Destin and a couple of people asked about this. I would love to hear how you guys think about Harold, how Harold Bannon looked during his testing and if he would be a good fit with the Colts or not. Yeah. So Harold Bannon clearly looked like a guy who had to put on about 20 plus pounds to come to this combine. I'm not sure why he tested while putting up 20 pounds of water weight on.

No other good tight ends. Yeah, because he tested like a guy who had to throw on 20 pounds in a couple weeks. And that's kind of how the testing looked. I do think he's kind of a weird mover on film. And I did like him more in like that round three-ish range. But the more I've kind of gone into this offseason with the tight end need for the Colts,

I think they just need a guy who can make sure they can live in 11 personnel. And if Fennin is at the weight that he's more comfortable being at, which is like 220, 225, rather than what he showed up at the combine, I'm not sure he's a guy who can help you live in 11 personnel. So, yeah, the testing was bad as expected, though, because he put on that crazy weight that he had to show for teams uh and the fit with the colts if he look if he has to play at 220 in the nfl or 225 it's probably not a great fit with the colts wanting to live in 11 personnel i agree i i think his best chance at success is just doing what the closest thing possible to what he did in college and that's

playing at a similar weight because obviously playing at 235-ish or so, it's not going to look good. So if he's closer to 225, I think you can get some of that dynamic playmaking out of him. He's not going to be an in-line blocker. Like, can he block on the move and be a decent pass blocker in the NFL? I think that's possible.

But no, he's not going to be a guy who's going to stick his nose in the defensive end's chest and drive him back on the goal line. He's going to be a niche player probably, and you're just going to have to figure out how to maximize that in the NFL. All right. And these next couple real quicker from our boy, Kenan. First, what are the odds that the Colts draft multiple tight ends? And then second, did anyone pop in testing to make you think about going back and reviewing the tape? Yeah. I mean, multiple tight ends. I think they certainly could draft multiple. They

don't really have that many on the roster right now, but again, I think a big thing the Colts want to do is get a tight end that can help them live in 11 personnel and be their kind of bell cow at the position. So I think more so it's like, we're going to target a top end tight end. And then we might have like Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory round out the room. I don't know if two tight ends are really on the board. Like maybe if they take a guy in like round three, they might grab another one in like round four or five. But again, that leads us to the issue that happened last year,

where it's a lot of pieces of a tight end, not an actual tight end. So I think we're looking at a Warren Warren a Loveland or Mason Taylor type player maybe Fadone from Nebraska I'm a little intrigued there but outside of that I don't think there's many tight ends are looking at because I don't know how many can live in 11 personnel then when it comes to anyone popping and testing I mean honestly again the UTSA corner I really got to go back and watch more of that film because that was some freaky testing. Maxwell Hairston as well. When you're hitting those low numbers, I think a couple offensive linemen are going to send us back to the film for sure because some of these guys are going to be freaky.

Defensive line, Landon Jackson from Arkansas. That was going to be me. Yeah, because he didn't have a good Senior Bowl week. He had a good Senior Bowl game. But, I mean, with those traits, you've got to look at them for sure. Yeah, without question. So me, drafting multiple tight ends, I think like Zach said, I'd prefer to kind of draft an alpha early and every down tight end. And then if you want like in round

six or seven, if you want to take a flyer on a guy like Mitchell Evans from Notre Dame, long injury history, but certainly a guy who has potential, like he was being talked about as an early round pick this time last year. So if you want to take a shot on a guy like that at the end of the draft, I don't have any problems with that. So coming up, guys, we're going to round this thing off with a lightning round, and that's going to come up in just a moment. All right, we're going to be quick through these, Zach. Let me hit you. A lot of these are kind of either or. So first up, Tyler Warren and Jeffrey Bossa or Jihad Campbell and Mason Taylor? Which combo would you prefer to come out of the draft with?

It's funny you're asking me. I think this question was asked with you in mind. Oh, I know. I'm pretty sure. For me, it's not as difficult as it might be for you. I would go with Jihad Campbell and Mason Taylor. I think that's the dream first two pairing for me personally at this point, like you're getting me an alpha linebacker that can also rush off the edge

and I'm getting my tight end that can help me live in 11 personnel. I'm getting everything I need right there. So I Jahad Campbell and Mason Taylor far and away for me, but it's probably a little bit closer for you, Jake. Believe it or not. I'm right there with you. I mean,

obviously I love Jeffrey boss, but I'm not ignorant. He's not my number one linebacker in the draft. Close, I bet. He's close still. Don't worry. He's up there. I'm not going to lie to you. John Campbell, obviously, if you're comparing Bossa to Campbell,

Campbell is the winner there. He brings more to your defense. He's a more impactful player. And then Mason Taylor is my third tight end. I'd be super comfortable with him if the Colts went up, if they felt like they were going to miss out on him and trade it up to like 38 to get him. I would be fine with that.

So yeah, love Mason Taylor, love Jahad Campbell. Obviously love Tyler Warren and Jeffrey Bosa as well. But if we're comparing the two, one of them I lean slightly more towards. So next up, underrated tight end. That is the pick if Warren isn't available or the Colts can't trade up like last year. Yeah, I mean, I'll go a little bit more underrated

in terms of people talking about it. I mentioned him in the last segment there, Thomas Fedone from Nebraska. Testing was really good. On-field drills looked really smooth. Receiving production wasn't always there in college, but they asked him to block a little bit more. But you can see the receiving chops a little bit with him so I'm pretty intrigued by him he's

one of the few guys I think they can live in 11 personnel with and then also at Iowa uh Luke Lachey I believe that's how you say his last name is Lachey um that's another guy where again he knows how to block he looked more athletic in 2023 and looked more comfortable as a pass catcher when he wasn't dealing with the injuries so uh Lachey or fordone i think are the two guys i'm really looking at if the colts have to take a tight end in like round three or four yeah another underrated guy for me is terrence ferguson from oregon i think he's got some tools to be more of a blocker than he's kind of shown but oregon tight ends are not really asking to be the classic tight end necessarily but they they can certainly make a name for themselves and a lot of people are going to bring up elijah arroyo

which i do i do love him as a player but i'm not going to act like the knees don't scare me so the colts drafted him like i certainly think he's a great player who i like but the the knees i think are worrisome especially since that was the biggest question about him from miami and he left the senior bowl with a knee injury as well. So, and then didn't work out. So there's an Alabama tight end. You also really like this dude has aura for days.

That Alabama tight end who is running around with the mustache and the absolute wagon. Pick him in the second. I don't care. Like he's going to, he's at least gonna bring a solid team spirit to the team that the locker room can really he's hail henchess but driving a truck yeah absolutely all right so do the colts take a quarterback or do they stick to free agency

like this one you know i'm kind of talking myself into the draft thing with the quarterback just to get it on a cheap deal yeah but so i'm like talking it and i'm talking myself into the draft thing with the quarterback just to get it on a cheap deal. Yeah. So I'm like talking it in. I'm talking myself into it for a completely different reason than everybody else is. Everyone's like, give me Will Howard in the fourth to compete with Anthony. I'm like, give me Will Howard in the fourth just so the backup isn't $10 million a year. Like I'll take the backup being on $800,000 a year instead.

So I'm kind of more so wanting to go in the draft just to stay cheap because when i look at these free agent quarterbacks i don't want to pay any of them more than pennies on the dollar yeah and with this current quarterback environment they're going to want like 10 11 12 like jamis is going to get close to 10 million a year so i'm kind of in favor of drafting one just so the backup is cheap and who knows maybe you get a brock purdy and strike gold i know it's extremely unlikely but yeah i'll i'll just take the cheap back with richardson the backup's probably gonna have to play at some point that's fine what's the the uh peyton manning quote or whatever the backup has to play well it's a family show so we're not we're not gonna use all that it was a tom more tom more quote yeah the backup has to play then we're not going to win yeah we're not going to win we're f'd and we don't practice f'd yeah so that that's what the that's where the world i'm going to live in with this so me personally i would i would do

both i would bring in kind of a mid veteran to be the primary backup and if you want to draft a quarterback in the mid to late rounds as long as it's one that i like and don't dislike then i'm okay with that so next up from steven burton what tight end uh what tight end round two would you prefer most i mean mason taylor yeah i think mason taylor is where we're both at with that i mean mason taylor's our tight end three and and he's a i think he's a guy who can help them live in 11 personnel i'm excited for mason taylor i hope mason taylor is the round two pick for the colts yeah and a guy like gunner helm is kind of working himself down the line. Yeah. Probably round four or five with that testing this week.

Yeah. So this is kind of a development as of today. Do you draft a tight end or trade for Mayer or both? Michael Mayer from the Raiders, who kind of fell out of favor after the Raiders drafted Brock Bowers and now appears to be on the trade block. I think the Colts could maybe swing a trade prior to the draft just so they don't pigeonhole themselves to having to take a tight end. I mean, again, if Warren's there at 14 and you trade for

Mayer, cool, you have two good tight ends. But if you trade for Mayer and Warren goes before 14, then you don't feel like you have to take a tight end at all in this draft. Whereas if you don't trade for Mayer, you do feel like you need to take a tight end at some point. So I could see that they don't want to pigeonhole themselves, or if they don't feel good about Warren getting there, or they don't like Loveland or Mason Taylor. But I don't, I'm not too sure right now. I think it's certainly an option to trade for a guy like Michael Mayer though. Yeah, for sure. And then this one's from Kenan. Who did Chris Fowler feel the most during testing? Oh my gosh. He was running on the field for Shamar Stewart, I'm sure. I'm sure he was running down there doing the soccer style celebration,

ripping his shirt off and screaming out of joy. I mean, come on. Who didn't feel Shamar Stewart's workout? Or Nick Aminwari. Nick Aminwari. Who didn't feel that workout? I was pumped up watching it in the Combine Convention Center. When you're seeing a 220-pound safety hitting 4.38 and the crowd's going wild for it, yeah, I mean, who wouldn't

feel something like that? Well, I'll go a little practical because I guess Chris was on the field during tight ends, and Mason Taylor had a nice field workout, looked like a ready-made pro, so that's an easy layup answer. You know who he was really feeling was that Alabama tight end. Yeah, of course. He was feeling up that mustache. South Carolina's tight end kind of tested out of the world too, though. So I wonder if – I forget his name, but I wonder if he's kind of a dark horse for the late rounds.

Yeah, because, look, it's all on the table for sure. Yeah. All right. Also from Kenan, who was your favorite interview of the week? I was excited to come into this week and talk to UConn right tackle Chase Lunt, a big time nerd for players like him, where I call them the Howard Mudd tight ends, the Caleb McGarry archetype of tight end. So I had a couple of minutes to talk to him and really like ask him about his technique, his angle setting, kind of his process, how he approaches playing offensive tackle. And

the fact that I was able to get like a good two minutes with one of my favorite players in the draft, I think was probably my favorite. And he seemed to really enjoy talking ball rather than, you know, getting asked if he met with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So I think, I think that was fun for both of us. I don't want to speak for him, but I think it was my favorite, just experience with a player this week. Yeah yeah just some guys who i felt conveyed themselves really well and gave good answers and you know were really well thought out malachi starts javon walker um graze able uh earlier today was a good one uh jackson dart was a good one and i didn't talk to this guy at the combine but i talked to him at the senior bowl jaylen milrow was impressive i love his work ethic and his mentality

as to how he tries to improve himself i know he's polarizing as a player but like he can't hate a guy who's trying to get better and i think he's got a great mentality for that yeah and one more i want to add to i wasn't able to get a question in with him because he had a crowd of people but i was standing in the back row, just, you know, smiling ear to ear with hard eyes over my eyes. And it was Tyler Booker from Alabama.

I mean, there's some quotes that are being posted on Twitter from some of the things he said, where he's like, I go out there to play football to make sure my opponent never wants to play again or whatever. Like my love of the game is making someone lose their love of the game. I fell in love.

Like I truly fell in love. Like, I truly fell in love. They had to actually hold me back from the line because I was going to go give them a hug on there. But, yeah, fantastic interview. Everything you want in an offensive lineman. Top ten player in this draft for me, Tyler Booker. Again, if he's there at 14, man, I'm running that card in personally. I mean, obviously it depends on what the Colts do in free agency with this offensive line, but Tyler Booker to me is a one-of-one player.

Fantastic prospect in this draft. The Colts having two guards locked in the top 15 picks would be a choice. My favorite choice. I love it. It'd be a nasty run game. You got to admit that. Last one real quick is Georgia linebackers Smile Mundin Jr., a good target. Personally, a huge fan from this writer here from twitter look man georgia linebacker that can run and play

some special teams and what's good at the senior bowl uh yeah 100 good target for sure good good size good athleticism yeah i mean he's had he's had decent showings through every little period of the of the offseason so far so they could do much worse worse. Oh, yeah. Sometimes it's as simple as that. Like, were they good in SEC school and they test well? Cool. All right. I won't complain with that kind of pick. But that's all we have for today, guys.

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