Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Who Landed WHERE in NFL Top 100?

Starting point is 00:00:00 Three Colts players land on the Locked-on NFL top 100 list for 2026. 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. Welcome to Locked-on Colts. I'm Zach Hicks. That's Jake Arthur, and on today's show, we are breaking down the Locked-on NFL top 100 list. you can go over to Lockdown Sports today to see the full top 100.

Starting point is 00:00:37 But we had three Colts players crack that, again, that top 100 list. And those three players are Sauce Gardner, ranking number 76 overall and coming in as a ninth highest rated corner on the list. Quentin Nelson coming in at 50th overall in the third highest rate interior offensive lineman and Jonathan Taylor coming in at 28 overall, which was the third highest running back rating as well. So I'm going to throw it to you, Jake. What do you think about this ranking and the three players that landed on this list? I think it's pretty appropriate. I think when you get into sauce, that's probably the one that's most up in the air. You know, Jeremy Fowler from ESPN put out his rankings where he, you know, does a panel of Lee execs and coaches and front office people and scouts.

Starting point is 00:01:27 And I think they had him as like the sixth or seventh. So I think the last couple years have taken a little bit of a hit to Saust's reputation across the league. His first two years in the league, unbelievable, all pro, pro bowl, defensive rookie of the year, really was untouchable. But then the jets were kind of at an upswing at that time. But then they just kind of imploded. The whole defense did as well.

Starting point is 00:01:52 And I think he kind of just went down with the sinking ship a little bit. And I almost get the idea that he might, need to be a guy that is just at his best when he's truly engaged and not bored. He seems like a guy that might have just perhaps been bored out in New York, maybe, on a really bad team. And then when he got to the Colts here, obviously things did not go as planned. Obviously, a very short turnaround from trade going to going out to Germany again. And then in his third game, he has the calf injury, which kind of derails everything.

Starting point is 00:02:28 So I think this is fair. I think sauce, I personally feel like he is better than the ninth best corner in the league. But I understand our colleagues ranking him as such. I think he needs to prove himself once again. Yeah, no, for sure. I do think he started to get back to looking like sauce gardener, even early in the year last year with the New York Jets. It was a very good season from him overall. He just got hurt.

Starting point is 00:02:51 And the last we saw of him, again, he was just hurt on the field. So sauce Gardner, like, I'm fine putting him at ninth. I do think he's a top 100 player for sure in this league. And he has a chance to really climb up that ranking yet again. With Quentin Nelson and Jonathan Taylor, I mean, it's hard to really have much more to say about these guys outside of, you know, Quentin Nelson probably shouldn't be as low. Like, he's just that low because he's a guard. You know, if it didn't come down to positional value, he'd be in the top 20.

Starting point is 00:03:18 One of the best players in football going to be a Hall of Famer one day, outstanding guy. And just a pleasure to watch every single Sunday. So Quentin Nelson, easy guy to break down, easy guy to talk about. He's just been great his whole career. Jonathan Taylor, though, I think it was such a great story last year, seeing him get back to being Jonathan Taylor because we had had a couple quiet seasons from him, a couple seasons where the injuries popped up, where Zach Moss ate into his yards that one year in 2023, as well as him suffering some injuries.

Starting point is 00:03:49 So seeing Taylor get back to what he was, even though the second half of the year was a bit of a letdown for him with, again, the whole team getting hurt. and quarterback issues abound with the team. Jonathan Taylor still finished with one of his best seasons of his career. Outstanding year from him. And hopefully he can build on that, especially now that he's a newly paid running back on this Colts team. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:04:10 Yeah, I think with Nelson, again, like you said, you kind of hit it on the head. Like interior offensive linemen are just not going to get that really boisterous ranking, really from anyone. Experts, you know, our colleagues here as well, who are experts on their own teams across the league. You know, 50 is probably a little low. I think when you look at him being arguably the best at his position in the league, you're probably looking at someone who's closer to like the top 35, top 40. I think that's a little more fair. But at the same time, having him in the top 50, even if it is right there at the butt of the top 50, you know, he's at least included. I'm really,

Starting point is 00:04:53 I'm really happiest to see Jonathan Taylor here in the top 30 at number 28. He seems like a guy who he's had some injuries over the last couple years, but no matter how productive he's been, there's been a lack of national appreciation for him. It's like he got injured a couple years. The Colts have been largely irrelevant. And it's like everyone forgot about Jonathan Taylor. Like he isn't out here throwing up impressive runs weekend and weekend. week out and just the laundry list of accomplishments he's had just last season and for his entire career is just really unbelievable. He is perhaps going to break a Colts franchise record in

Starting point is 00:05:37 rushing yards this year that is held by Edron James after he broke the franchise rushing touchdown record last year. This is a story franchise when it comes to running back play. Edron James, Marshall Falk, Eric Dickerson, Lenny Moore back in the day. Like it's rid of with Hall of Favors. And Jonathan Taylor might wind up being statistically the most productive of them all, fifth all time in NFL history and rushing yards per game as well. So really glad to see the guy get some top 30 recognition. And honestly, if the Colts run game wouldn't have fell off a cliff at the second half of last

Starting point is 00:06:12 year, maybe he ranks even higher. Yeah, I mean, if they had a different quarterback in there and things could have gone a little bit different instead of just running out of the gun with a noodle arm quarterback, maybe he would have had more rushing yards. But yeah, especially now with Taylor signing that extension, there's a really good chance he finishes with not only the franchise record in rushing yards, but also breaking 10,000 yards rushing with one franchise as well with the Colts. So, yeah, Jonathan Taylor certainly well deserved on this list.

Starting point is 00:06:38 Again, I still think Quentin Nelson's the best player on this team. So he should have been the highest rated player on this team. But if we're going off of last year alone, then, yeah, I think this is perfectly fine with this Colts team. Just for some proper context for you guys, though, the corners ranked ahead of Soss Gardner, the eight corners ahead of him. Pat Sertan was ranked number four. Derek Stingley was in there at 20. Devin Witherspoon was in at 30.

Starting point is 00:07:00 Gonzalez was in at 39. Quinion Mitchell at 46, Byron Murphy at 54, Ward at 59, and McDuffie at 61. So a couple corners there in front of Soss Gardner. A lot shorter list when it comes to Nelson and Taylor, the guys in front of them. In front of Nelson was just Creed Humphrey and Tyler Smith. and in front of Jonathan Taylor is Bejohn Robinson and Jemir Gibbs. Fun fact, all three of those guys been paid in the last week at running back. So it's certainly good for your paycheck to be ranked high on this list if you're running back.

Starting point is 00:07:31 So well-deserved honor for these players. They've been getting honors all offseason, whether it's Jeremy Fowler's articles, whether it's other top 100 list, now here on the locked on NFL top 100 as well, getting the recognition that they deserve for how well they played last year. Yep, without a doubt. But these are not the only three good players on the Colts. I mean, the Colts have a lot of proving to do, but they do have some other really good players,

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Starting point is 00:11:58 Play ball and swing for the fences on Fandle, an official partner of the MLB. All right, welcome back party people. We are talking to you guys about the Colts placement in the recent Lockdown NFL Top 100 that came out this week. and we are just, you know, we got sauce gardener at 76. I think that one, you know, there's some room for discussion. Quentin Nelson right there at number 50, rounding out the top 50. And then Jonathan Taylor at 28. I think there's a good discussion to be had with those.

Starting point is 00:12:32 If you're joining us late, go back to the beginning here after this and catch up with what we had to say there. But let's talk about some snubs now, Zach. So this is with the caveat that Zach and I know. that the Colts have proving to do. They haven't made the playoffs since 2020. And people nationally just maybe have room to grow in their respect for the Colts. But with that being said, there are some still pretty good players on here. And when you look at like some of the other players that did make this list across the league,

Starting point is 00:13:03 Zach, I think there's room for at least a couple other Colts on here. I think you can make an argument for a couple more guys. Like personally, I'm fine with the three that the Colts got on this list. As long as those three made it, I'm, I'm, Right. Like everyone else is like in the 100 to 150 range, I think, for me. So it's like, yeah, if they don't make it, that's fine. But I do think the one who had the best case was probably Laotu Latu. And I know a lot of Colts fans, you know, he's very volatile of a talking point right now. Do we love him? Do we hate him? Is he going to break out? Is he just going to plateau? But if you look at his numbers last year, the eight and a half sacks maybe aren't the most impressive. But he was like top 15 in most numbers across the board. And also you add in the three interceptions. the really good coverage ability he had a couple of those tackles for a loss that he had in forced fumbles. I think he was an impact player for the Colts last year.

Starting point is 00:13:53 So with some of the edge rushers that were towards the end of the list, I think we could have seen Layatsu Lothi break in there over them. But outside of him, I don't think there's a great argument for any more Colts players. DeForest Buckner may be off of just his history in the NFL. I mean, he played well early in the year before the injury. So there were other guys who were injured like Fred Wachner. Warner and like Nick Bosa who made it on the list like Buckner could have got one of those like honorary mentions like those guys did but aside from that like I do think those were probably the

Starting point is 00:14:25 two that would have had a chance but we do have a couple other names that I think are more so in that top 100s top 150 maybe on a good day you could argue them getting into the top 100 so Jake take it away with those players yeah so the one that sticks out to me a lot and remember guys this being the top 100 players of 2026 so you have to kind of project a little bit what's going to happen here. I think Alec Pierce has a good argument for this, not just only with the payday that he received and what his perceived impact level is,

Starting point is 00:14:56 not only from the Colts, but across the league. They weren't going to be the only ones offering him big money. But you look at some of the other receivers that made it, I think you could probably make an argument that Pierce kind of belongs into that Chris Olavé, Drake London tier of receivers, around 20 to 25,ish, or so yeah they've done it for i think three years each though i think is the big difference where

Starting point is 00:15:19 pierce has done it for like a year and a half you know so he needs like one more big year i think to get into that tier with those guys yeah which is fair but like through context like the guys always had to battle for targets more than a lot of the other guys but it is what like ideally if the guy goes out and puts up 12-1300 yards and 8 to 10 touchdowns then i think we probably find him in our top 100 next year. And then obviously, I think Tyler Warren is the most obvious one to project moving forward. He's already made the Pro Bowl when it comes to these listicles that have been coming out all offseason like Fowler's listed ESPN. I think Bleacher reports down one pro football focus, the NFL top 100, the one that actual players and stuff put

Starting point is 00:16:05 on. Tyler Warren is kind of, you know, he's getting some notoriety around the league. I think he just missed the NFL top 100 came in at like 105 or something like that 10 yeah 110 yeah so he's right there on the cusp um but it's really impressive like what he was able to accomplish as a rookie and you assume now with michael pitman junior out of the way he his statistics are just going to keep growing yeah no for sure i mean Tyler warn it's hard to get a rookie up that high but i think if you were going to add you know like six tight ends to this list like five six tight ends i I do think, like rookies like him and Colston Loveland for sure would break in there if you are more so only going off of last season, right?

Starting point is 00:16:47 But these lists do take more projection into account. We're projecting who these players are going to be next year. And I think we just haven't seen enough from those guys yet. But yeah, Tyler Warren, I mean, this time next year will be on that list for sure, especially if he continues. I mean, he was what, like two votes short of being an all pro as a rookie. Yeah. So he had a great season.

Starting point is 00:17:06 And I certainly expect him to be on. list like this and even on all pro list going for pro bowl tight end in his rookie season for the colts so expecting big things from him do we have anyone else i mean bernhardt riman and tanner bordellini i think we're both playing at like a level comparable to being on these types of list but you have to be a playoff team if you're going to be an offense like unless you're quit nelson's pedigree you have to be a playoff team as an offensive lineman to really break into these types of lists so i think bernhardt riman is a pro bowl level left tackle and again take that for what it is when it comes a list like this i think borderlini's going to be a pro bowl

Starting point is 00:17:44 level guy this next year but again i don't think many people really know those names as well as you know quitt nelson who's been doing it for so long and that's such a high level yeah and i'll take some low hanging fruit here because i do think if these guys are healthy and play 17 games or the majority of 17 games i think i would include daniel jones and charverius ford in this list Mooney was on it last year. Mooney was like 56 last year. Yeah. And he's always been highly regarded.

Starting point is 00:18:12 He's been an all pro before, pro bowler. He's been to multiple Super Bowls has won one. So like people already respect Mooney, but it's been a couple years since he's been Mooney Ward. So I think if he stays healthy, you and I are confident he's still a good player, but the health is the big key. So if he stays healthy, I expect him to be flirting with being a top 10 to 12 or so corner in the NFL again.

Starting point is 00:18:35 him and sauce actually both ranked in the top 10 among pro football focuses grades for the snaps they did play last year and then Jones even if he doesn't play at that unbelievable like all pro level that he did in the first half of last year quarterback play isn't like super deep and just wash with statistical production and talent right now I think if he can just get in there to where he's like at a pro bowl level which is I don't think that's a super high bar anymore. If he is anything relative to what he was in the first half and he plays the majority of the season, I think he's got a good case because you got guys like golf in there, Brock Purdy. I think Jones falls into that kind of tier if he stays healthy. Yeah. I mean, look, even without him finishing the whole year healthy, probably should have been higher than Baker-Mayfield, but that's just me complaining a little bit here. But yeah, no, I mean, they put so many, we put so many quarterbacks on these lists because it is the valuation of the quarterback position that I think if Jones would have finished last year healthy and the Colts would have been

Starting point is 00:19:38 the playoffs, he would have broken into that top like 80 for sure on that list. So we'll see what next year has in store for this Colts team. But we do as of right now, I have three players on the Locked on NFL Top 100. And we want to thank you guys for making Lockdown Colts your first listen today and every day. And heads up on that Lockdown 100 over on the Lockdown NFL top 100 here. It's voted on by the NFL host of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Our top 100 was formed by experts that cover these teams and players every day. So find the full list again over on Locked On Sports Today on YouTube or wherever you're listed to your podcast and don't miss our reaction right here.

Starting point is 00:20:13 You guys can interact in the comments. Let us know what you think and let us know exactly where you would rank these Colts players as well. If you don't already, make sure you're following out Lockedon Colts at Jake Arthur and NFL and ad Zach Kicks to all on social media. And if you never miss an episode, the Everydayer Club is built for you. Get us ad free plus members only Discord access and much more. head at locked on colds.supercast.com to join the club.

Starting point is 00:20:34 Thank you all for tuning in and we'll catch you guys back here tomorrow afternoon.

Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Who Landed WHERE in NFL Top 100?

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