Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - MOCK DRAFT: How Do Indianapolis Colts Adjust with No Linebackers Allowed Early?
Episode Date: April 6, 2026On this Mock Draft Monday, the Indianapolis Colts are NOT ALLOWED to take a linebacker within the first three rounds. How does that affect how they approach the 2026 NFL Draft? JAKE Round 2, pick 47...--ED Gabe Jacas Round 3, pick 78--WR Ted Hurst Round 4, pick 113--LB Deontae Lawson Round 5, pick 156--OL Carver Willis Round 6, pick 214 (from PIT)--ED Nadame Tucker Round 7, pick 249--RB Kaelon Black Round 7, pick 254--DT Uar Bernard, Nigeria (IPP) ZACH Round 2, pick 47--ED Zion Young Round 3, pick 78--WR Skyler Bell Round 4, pick 113--LB Keyshaun Elliott Round 5, pick 156--OT Nolan Rucci Round 6, pick 214 (from PIT)--IOL Febechi Nwaiwu Round 7, pick 249--LB/S Wesley Bissianthe Round 7, pick 254--NCB Ceyair Wright The 2026 Indy Draft Guide is now available for pre-order! 150+ write-ups on the 2026 NFL Draft class, plus how each player fits the Colts, and an in-depth dive into Chris Ballard's draft history and usage of draft picks. Pre-order below: https://draftguide.gumroad.com/l/indy26 EVERYDAYER CLUB If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub TEXT WITH JAKE AND ZACH Join the Locked On Colts insider program to text with Jake and Zach, ask any questions you have, and get updates on news and rumors from the Colts' facility, locker rooms, stadium, and practice field! https://joinsubtext.com/c/lockedoncolts Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-colts/ 📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQ Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nfl/ Follow Jake's written work on roundtable.io/sports/nfl/colts/ and Zach's on si.com/nfl/colts/, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, and @LockedOnColts! Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can bet just five dollars and get two hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if their first bet wins. Head to FANDUEL DOT COM to get started. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! TurboTax This year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can bet just five dollars and get two hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if their first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. 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) Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at http://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcript
Discussion (0)
Welcome to Mock Draft Monday as Jake and I try to go through the Colts mock draft without taking a linebacker in the top 100.
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 is Jake Arthur.
And today's episode is brought to you by Fanduel.
Right now, new customers can bet just $5.
and get $250 in bonus vets if their first bet wins.
Head to fandule.com to get started.
Hello, everyone.
Welcome back to mock draft Monday with Locked on Cold.
And you guys know how we like to do it.
We like to be a little creative with our mock drafts
just so you're not getting the exact same names and format every single time.
So this week, the stipulation that Jake and I put on our mock drafts
is no linebacker within the top 100 and see how that all plays out for us.
So Jake and I basically in top 100 are going to trade off on edge rushers and wide receivers.
And then we're going to fill out the rest of our draft and try to grab our linebackers on day three.
So Jake, without further ado, let's jump into our dueling mock draft Mondays.
Where did you go at pick 47 edge rusher, receiver?
Or did you surprise with probably one of your boys at like safety or tight end?
Or do you stick with the typical positions of need?
Yeah.
Now, having no linebacker, it hurts because you obviously want one.
but it almost frees you from the shackles because you're not doing the same exact cookie
cut or mock every time.
I did go with Edge first because Edge should probably be their first pick no matter
what we're disqualifying in this.
So I went with Gabe Akis from Illinois.
One of the few names we keep rotating around here, but it's because it just fits, you know.
So things that translate for Edge Rushers, for them to be pretty immediate contributors,
which the Colts need desperately play straight.
strength, speed to power, some level of, I think, play balance and core strength, you know,
because you just cannot get pushed around. You can't get locked into blocks. And you have to be
able to move people. So I think a guy like Gabe Ocas is certainly capable of that.
He probably leaves something on the table in terms of his pass rush tool belt. You know, he's not quite,
he's not quite a finished product when it comes to combating when he's engaged.
in blocks and he's not he's not a guy that's going to throw a hundred different
pass rush moves some guys are obsessed with that some guys are a work in progress as he is and then
not the greatest run defender in the world yet either but I would rather a guy be a more ready-made
edge rusher than an edge you know an edge setter to this point so that's what the Colts need
they need a power edge defender with quidipay going out the door after five years they've added
Arden Key who's more of a finesse guy Michael Clemmon.
is a power guy but who needs to be a couple wrongs down.
So by getting a guy like this,
you kind of give yourself the freedom to tool around with Gabe Akis and Jalon
Tuimilo, O'all, who that's going to, I got to retrain myself to say Jalen now.
You kind of figure out what you got there between those guys to power ends.
And it gives you the flexibility.
You probably add someone in Freedency after the draft, but I like that.
Yeah, Accus is a player that I've circled because, again, I still think that you just need that power profile to be a consistent performer as a rookie at edge rusher.
And I think Ocas has that.
I am a bit concerned with the run defense for sure and just his ball locating in the run game and his tendency to like try to shed blocks and go inside when you're the edge rusher.
Like you've got to stay a little bit on the outside, right?
But he's got a good power profile.
He's been the leader of that defense for a couple years.
I like Gabe Ocas.
And I'm fine with taking that chance on him.
47 maybe a little rich for me, but like if they took him at 47, I'm not going to cry about it.
I think it's fine taking him there.
I also went with edge rusher at pick 47, but I went with a guy that was Jake's guy early in the process.
Edge rusher Zion Young out of Missouri.
Now, this is a guy where early in the draft process, I kind of got on Jake being like,
is this another Jalen Toomelowow?
You know, like, is this another version of that, which the coach just took last year?
And I do think that like their size profiles are fairly similar.
I think Zal and Young is just such a good run defender.
In a class that has like no run defending edge rushers.
The edge rushers in this class are just pick your flavor of pass rusher that can't defend the run in an NFL that is so run heavy right now.
Like they're so like six offensive linemen looks, 12 and 13 personnel to run the ball down your throat.
And I think a player like Zal and Young offers so much just protection against that.
I know some people are just going to be down on kind of a low ceiling edge rusher because
I don't know if he's ever going to be like a 10 sack guy, but I think as a pass rusher,
there is some stuff there.
Long arms are really, really good power profile, like probably the best power rusher
in the class in terms of just running through a guy's chest, has a good long arm with that.
But, you know, he's not overly bendy.
He's not overly flexible.
He's not this pass rush, you know, savant to where he's going to get a ton of sacks.
but man, you get like a day one stud run defender who can drive the pocket back.
And I think he's just got so much more play power than Tumolo had last year coming out.
And Quitty Pay, who was a good run defender for the Colts, I think he's just got more play power than that.
So I think when I look at the Colts defensive end-depth chart, obviously you want to have like that guy in there.
But if you're not going to get that, I think you need a base down player who can start day one.
In Zion Young, I think you can be very comfortable starting him.
and then you can go by this committee approach in terms of pass rushing.
Maybe you take them off on third downs and go more so with Arden Key or someone else there.
You know, I think there are avenues for that.
But Zion Young, I think you just get like a day one base end that can start, play some good football for you.
You can drive the pocket back.
It's not super flashy.
It's not sexy, but I'd be fine with that at pick 47.
It's probably the best you can do with edge rushers on day two of the NFL draft.
Yeah, I agree.
And we got to remember this is a day two.
edge. So double-digit sacks annually is not really your expectations. Like,
if you consider what the Colts statistically got from Quity Pay all those years in a second
round value versus what they got to pick 21 back in the day, you like it a whole lot more,
which is probably about what you're getting with Zion Young. So definitely into that one.
My next pick, third round, we're going wide receiver now. Offense is on the board. Ted
Hurst out of Georgia State. So you and I have talked about this a little bit. If wide
receiver was their biggest need. I think I'd still rather wait until the third round. I don't love
the second round receivers here. But Ted Hurst is a guy who I think translates. I mentioned how
Gabe Ocas has some traits that translates. For receivers, you want to see them be productive in college.
You want to see them be able to beat man, have speed and gain separation. And he certainly does that.
So when you look at Ted Hurst, he's a 4-42 guy, but he's in a 6-4 frame, 206 pounds. He's got a great
frame with great speed on top of that. His jumps were good, 36 and a half inch vertical,
but a broad jump over 11 feet. So that's really good to see. He is kind of in the early stages of
the Alec Pierce transition as well, where we saw Pierce was mostly just a vertical threat earlier
in his career, a guy who could, you know, go up and get the ball. But I will say, I think
Hearst is a little more, you know, he's got a little more wiggle than Pierce does.
Like one of the things we're concerned about with Pierce is like, what is the depth of the route
tree going to be able to run?
Because like those tall lanky guys just don't necessarily bend and change directions all that
quickly.
But I think Hearst is kind of an outlier there.
I think he might be capable of doing just about anything you want.
Now, year one contributions, you're probably looking at an Ashton-Duland-type guy.
But I think fast forward two, three years and you've got a really productive.
player who can stretch the team vertically, he's got yak ability.
So I think he would fit in really well to what they need a receiver.
Yeah, no, I definitely like him, especially in that round three range.
My receiver I went with in round three is another small school guy in Skyler Bell out of
Yukon.
Honestly, I have no clue why he's going in round three in a lot of these mock drafts and
why people have him closer to like the edge of top 100.
To me, I think he's a top 50 player in this draft, very, very productive in college,
outstanding tester and he just does so many things well at wide receiver he can find the space in
zone coverage he can create after the catch he has that long speed to win vertical he had multiple
one-handed catches last year as well and honestly one of his biggest concerns was early in his career
he had a lot of drops but he kind of cleaned that up the last few seasons so i just see a ready-made
nfl player i if a guy like ricky pierceau went in the first round a couple years ago yeah i think a player
like Skylar Bell should be getting first round buzz at least.
You know, so if he's there in round three, I run the card in.
And really what I'm looking for with this Z wide receiver for the Colts is a guy who can find
that space in zone coverage, create after the catch, and be used on some of these cheap motion
things.
And I like Ted Hurst for that too, his ability to run to the catch with his long striding ability
and a little bit more flexible than a guy like Pierce.
I think he'd be a good fit.
But man, I think Bell is just a fantastic fit for it.
And he fits more of the Shane Steichen wide receiver than like, you know, some of these other receivers we see in this class like a Chris Bell or Chris Brasel who are more like early Ballard receivers.
I think Skyler Bell is more of like the modern like Shane Steichen type of receiver.
The separator, great athlete who can create after the catch.
I think that's what the Colts are looking for.
So Skyler Bell, I'd actually be fine with him at 47.
That's maybe my hot take.
But in round three, I mean, I'm running the card and I think he's going to be a very good NFL player.
Coming up, though, guys, we're going to dive into early day three.
Do we finally take our linebackers here?
Or did Jake and I just say, screw it and go to the end of the draft without them?
Find out here in just a second.
Workplace chaos, deadlines stacking up, inbox overflowing,
and the one position that you have to fill is still sitting wide open.
When the pressure's on and you need the right hire,
this is a job for sponsored jobs.
Indeed, sponsored jobs helps you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for,
skills, experience, and location,
so that you're not just hoping that the right candidate
stumbles across your post.
And here's a stat that says at all.
In the minute that I've been talking to you,
companies like yours made 27 hires on Indeed
according to Indeed data worldwide.
So if you're hiring, spend less time searching
and more time actually interviewing the candidates
who check all your boxes with less stress,
less time, and more results.
When you need the right person to cut through the chaos,
this is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs.
and listeners of this show will get a $75-sponsored job credit to help get your job
the premium status that it deserves at Indeed.com slash podcast.
Just go to Indeed.com slash podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about
Indeed on this podcast.
Indeed.com slash podcast, terms and conditions apply.
Need to hire?
This is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs.
All right.
Welcome back, everybody.
It is mock draft Monday.
just to quickly recap.
Second round, I took Gabe Akis,
third round, Ted Hurst.
Zach took Edge Defender
Mal, or Zion Young with the second pick
and Skyler Bell,
wide receiver out of Yukon with his third round pick.
We are now moving on to rounds four and five,
but first,
don't forget to check out the Everydayer Club
for ad-free episodes and access to a group chat with Zach,
me, and the other listeners of the show.
Just tap the link in our show notes
or go to Lockedon,
colts.supercast.com.
All right, Zach, the floor is yours.
You got the fourth round pick right now,
number 113 overall.
What position are we taking?
We weren't allowed to take linebackers until now.
Yeah, I'll actually go with both my picks here,
just so we can keep them kind of grouped together
and for the sake of time.
But I like how you and I kept in the trend
of taking the same positions in each round,
just different names.
We're going to kind of, you know,
a little bit of a teaser for the rest of the segment.
We're going to keep that trend going here.
But in the fourth round,
I took my linebacker.
I took Keishon Elliott.
out of Arizona State.
You know, he's a player where I think he's falling to round four,
around five in a lot of these mock drafts because of some athletic limitations.
I don't think he's the best cover guy.
But when you're getting into day three, you know,
you're not going to find a linebacker that can cover at a very high level.
There's a reason why they're going to be there on day three.
But I think with Elliott, you get a guy who can defend the run at a very high level,
a guy who has been a green dot for the last couple years at Arizona State,
which has been a fairly good program, at least,
maybe not last year, but in the past, they've been a pretty good program.
But he has been a green dot.
He can defend the run.
I think there's some thumping mentality in there.
He knows how to shed blocks fairly well.
Again, there's some athletic limitations,
but I think you can get a starting caliber mic out of him,
and then you can take him off the field on third downs if need be.
You can have that linebacker by committee type of approach to it.
So is he perfect?
No, but Keishon Elliott out of Arizona State,
a stat sheet stuffer that flies around and brings that energy that you're looking for.
I think he'd be perfectly fine on day three if you miss out on linebackers in the first two rounds.
And then in round five, I got my offensive tackle.
Nolan Rucci from Penn State, the right tackle out of Penn State.
You guys have heard me the last couple weeks be very high on the other Penn State left
or the other Penn State tackle and Drew Shelton.
But Nolan Rucci, I think, is a very solid player as well.
He's kind of a big lumbering player, not the greatest athlete in the world,
but very good size, a good solid anchor and good base.
I think he actually reaches guys at the second level.
level fairly well with just good hands and grip strength at the end of the day.
And funny enough, my pro comp for him in the indie draft guide was Luke Tanuda.
I looked at that before we jumped on here to make sure.
But Luke Tanuda.
So who would be the perfect competition for Luke Tanuda in camp?
Obviously, Nolan Rucci.
And also he had a, yeah, he had an outstanding shrine week as well.
He was one of the biggest winners of the shrine week practices.
So a guy who won the All-Star Circuit, a big lengthy or big,
lengthy, not lengthy, offensive tackle.
You know, in round five, I think you'd be good competition for what the Colts are looking for.
I like that.
So especially Keishon Elliott, because there, like, there is, there definitely is an avenue for the Colts to not take a linebacker on day two.
As, as much as we all think they ought to do it, number one, they have a proven track record of finding productive linebackers throughout the draft.
And I think they're going to be a little picky, even though there's several.
linebackers that might be available to them in rounds two and three.
I do think they'll be a little picky.
So Kishon Elliott is a nice kind of consolation prize, a guy that could do a little bit of
everything, kind of blah, blah, blah, blah, master of none.
I forget the early part of that phrase.
You know what I'm saying, though.
Yeah, yeah.
You know, he kind of reminds me of like when the Colts drafted Anthony Walker back in
2017, right?
Okay, yeah.
Hyper productive player out of Northwestern who maybe didn't have the traits to be like a
stud NFL linebacker, but you just know you're going to get a good floor out of him.
And he turned out a nearly 10-year career bouncing around and starting a lot of games.
I think you can get that out of Keishon Elliott, which if you can get that in round four or five,
it's a home run for any position.
So I think that that's a perfectly reasonable expectation.
I think Keishon-Elly can hit that in the NFL.
Yeah.
And I don't like, of course we all want like a superstar player, obviously.
But if you just get like a responsible startable player there at Mike, who,
who's not going to be a detriment.
And maybe he's not going to be the reason you win,
but he's not going to be blowing a lot of plays out there either.
I think I'm fine with that as well,
as long as Akeem Davis-Gather gives you what you're expecting from him.
So yeah, Kishon Elliott, very good option there.
Nolan Rucci is the name I'm hearing for the first time.
So it's in the old brain bank now.
But with my fourth round pick,
113 overall,
I'm going linebacker as well.
Deonté Lawson out of Alabama,
I believe three-year starter,
but in 2023 and 2024,
had some lower leg injuries
that kind of cost him some time.
Was back productive, healthy last year, though.
This is 6-3-223.
I think it is 226.
So he's kind of in the mold of this linebacker
that we're seeing a lot this year.
He's kind of, I don't want to say lanky,
but he's a little taller,
but he's not the biggest most stout guy either.
You're not seeing a lot of 240-pound linebackers.
in this class.
But good in coverage,
the guy can fly around.
I think he's a sideline to sideline type of guy.
He's not going to be an elite run defender right away,
but I think he is a very positive,
very positive player in coverage.
So you're getting that right off the bat.
I think that will be a breath of fresh air for the Colts.
It's what they need.
And then I will go ahead and throw my swing tackle into the mix here.
This was a guy who had a okay week down at this senior bowl.
caught my a little bit,
Carter Willis.
I think with his frame,
so he's like,
what,
six,
five,
just over 300.
So he doesn't have
the frame that screams
like Colts Project tackle here,
where they're six foot seven
and 320 pounds,
whatever.
I think he's got that good frame
that will be able to use
inside outside flexibility.
We've seen them have that
with some guys.
They haven't used it a ton as of late,
but like Josh Seals, for example, is a guy who technically could play outside and inside.
But Carter Willis, I'd be interested to see what you think, whether his fit is better inside or out.
But, you know, probably not the most fleet of foot guy, but I think has ample enough strength to play in either spot.
I think I saw him projected better to being a swing tackle.
You're not starting this guy, but I think you could throw him out.
there without getting killed he's got enough strength and enough mobility to where he's not
going to be like a huge liability but that's why you're also getting this guy in the fifth round yeah
i want to say and and this is one i'm not as sure about because i didn't look at this one beforehand
but i believe i comped him to joe hagg in the indie draft guide perfect i know i comped somebody to
joe hag and willis probably willis i can see that yeah willis i had as an interior offensive
lineman in the draft guide but i i marked him as like a very high quality you
utility offensive linemen that can play across the offensive line.
And you know me.
I'm obsessed with utility offensive linemen that can fill multiple roles.
I like, you know, I don't like having nine offensive linemen as depth.
I like having eight guys and having two of those guys be positioned versatile.
I like having that kind of versatility on the backside of my offensive line.
So, yeah, Willis is a guy I've circled for that role.
And yeah, I believe he was the guy I com to Joe Haig, which is funny enough that like the two late
round offensive lineman we get rid of by two Colts comps.
I guess Demetrius crown over I comp to Jalen Travis.
They had a tie.
We could have thrown him in there.
But yes, I completely agree with Willis about being that guy.
And then Lawson a little bit undersized, but I did love his eyes and coverage and his ability
to track the football.
Alabama linebackers always have their eyes in the right spot in coverage.
Now it's to be seen if they're always going to be able to get there.
You know, I think of guys in the past like C.J. Mosley and stuff had
some issues in coverage, but their eyes are always in the right place.
They train those guys well there.
And I think he would be a really good ad on day three if you miss out on the linebackers on day two.
Yeah.
At the end of the day, give me a multi-year starting Mike linebacker from Alabama, who's a team captain.
I know what I'm getting to some degree with that player.
Like, that's a playable player every day of the week.
They're a good athlete.
They're smart.
They're good leaders.
Like, you're getting something positive there.
All right, guys, so coming up, we are rounding this out.
The Colts actually have multiple, they have multiple seventh round picks,
so we're each going to make three selections for rounds six and seven here in just a moment.
The NBA playoffs are just about here where every possession matters.
Every matchup is magnified, and every game can swing a series.
And right now, Fendool is giving new customers a great way to get in on the action.
Here's what I like about it.
You can bet just five bucks, and you're going to get 250 back in bonus bets if your first bet wins.
And the app just makes it super easy to follow the action with player stats, trends, and
matchups all in one place.
And during the playoffs, that extra insight really matters when you're looking at stars,
role players, and key moments.
It just makes the entire playoff experience more engaging from start to finish.
Because again, you're going to have to have something to focus on if you're a Pacers fan
because it won't be the Pacers.
Head to FanDuel.com to get started.
Fandle, play your game.
All right, welcome back, everybody.
mock draft Monday with the caveat that Zach and I could not take a linebacker in the first
couple rounds. So obviously we used our fourth round picks on a linebacker, that is.
We are now on to rounds six and seven. Now the Colts have three picks in this range.
They got picked 214 in the sixth round from the Steelers for Pittman. And then they have 249 and
254 in the seventh round. So Zach, go ahead and tell us who you got for us.
Yeah, I'm going to go through these names that I realize as I'm getting ready to read them out loud,
I really hurt myself with pronunciation with a couple of these names.
So we'll see how well I can do here on the day three of the draft.
But in the round six, I went with Interior Offensive Line Fabi.
Apparently it's Wee Woo is how you say his last name, which is incredible.
Fabiichi Wewu.
It's not spelled that way.
So look it up if you guys want to see NWAIWU out of Oklahoma.
Again, I love versatility on the offensive line.
and Fabiqi Wee Wu, he's a guy who played a guard going into last season,
and there were some issues at guard, but I think overall had some pretty good play.
Then they had some injuries at the center position.
He was able to rotate in the center, and he was kind of like a bruiser at the center spot.
I kind of enjoyed his center film a little bit more than his guard film.
But the guard film was solid.
It was draftable there at center.
I think maybe even more like a little bit higher than this.
I actually have a fifth round grade on him comparatively to a lot of these sites to have him in like
the sixth or the seventh round.
So I think he can be a very good high quality depth starter or just a depth player,
not depth starter.
Depth player in the NFL can give you multiple backup roles in terms of guard and center,
compete in training camps.
So yeah, I think Wii Wu is a really solid player.
If you can give him in round six or seven, I think would be outstanding for the Colts.
I went with linebacker again here in round seven with towards the tail end of round seven.
Wesley Bessonte, I think it's Bessante from Miami.
linebacker who has more of like a safety build.
He bulked up to like 230 last season.
And when I was watching the film, it didn't look right on his frame, the 230 pounds.
He looked a lot better in 2024 when he was closer to 220, like 220, 220,
220, 25.
Might honestly be even better at like 215 in the NFL.
So maybe it's more of like a linebacker safety hybrid.
Projects well to be a special teamer, I think.
I did like some of the coverage ability as well.
So, you know, maybe like a hunt, if Hunter War was going to be your starter, maybe you could have
Basante be, you know, your, your dime linebacker type of role or maybe he can fill like in a
GK type of role at the bottom of the depth chart.
But I'm intrigued by him.
And with these cold seventh round picks, they're towards the end of round seven.
So this is essentially undrafted free agency.
I wouldn't mind a shot on a player like that.
I think there's some intrigue there.
And then the final pick, a pick, a pick 254, I went with nickel cornerback, Sayer right out of
Nebraska. USC transfer transferred Nebraska this past year.
Played some nickel, played some safety.
I think he bumped outside a little bit last year, but put up the best
numbers of his entire career in terms of passer rating allowed and completion
percentage allowed.
A good athlete, too, tested well to Nebraska Pro Day.
It was not a combine invite, but I think that there's something there with him.
I think, you know, when we look at this cold step chart, too, they don't really have a
backup nickel if Wally's going to play on the outside this year.
So a player who is productive in the Big Ten, we know Ballard likes those Big Ten players.
And I think he tested fairly well.
I actually want to say his three cone was really good.
It was like a six, six, six, six, seven or something in the three cone, which was really good for the position.
So some good athletic traits, had some good production last season, worth a shot, I think, towards the end of round seven.
I like that.
I know with Basanti, people might get the connection where Fernando Mendoza,
So two years ago when he was with Cal,
Bissanthi drilled him,
and I think knocked him out of the game,
full circle moment in the national championship.
One of the players Mendoza bowled through on the way for that rushing touchdown
was Bissanthe.
So got him back in the biggest moment connection there.
All right.
So my six-round pick at 214,
I got to throw another edge in there because it's kind of a thing where
cast a wide net and hopefully you're going to get something good.
Right.
So we took an edge there at the top.
we're going to do it to close this thing out as well.
Nadame Tucker out of Western Michigan,
another guy from a kind of a mid-major
that had a big week down in Mobile for the Senior Bowl.
He's going to be more of like your designated pass rusher type.
Like you're smaller guy.
He's not going to be an every down player by any means.
But really productive player.
I think he's transferred a couple times
and he has had big numbers wherever he's gone.
I know a lot of people,
he had gaudy numbers there when he transferred to West
Western Michigan this last year and backed it up with a really solid showing at the senior
ball. So I think that checked a lot of boxes for some people. A lighter guy, again, I don't think
he'd be able to hold up like on the line all the time. He's going to be probably second and third
in line behind Lyotu Latu, but again, if you can get an edge rusher that sticks to your
roster in the seventh round, I know from your research, edge rusher is not a position the
Colts usually take late.
So if you can find a way to book in the draft with productive guys at the beginning and
end, I think that's super valuable.
I'm going with the local flavor next, running back Kalin Black from IU with the seventh round
pick 249.
I know the Colts want to be more productive on the ground outside of just Jonathan Taylor.
And I don't think they're going to say that like their faith in DJ Giddens is just totally
gone.
But I think they wanted more.
they probably expected more. I think he was planned to be a bigger part of the offense than he
ultimately was. And because he's not really a special teams player, he was not existent behind
Amir Abdullah, who is like 32 or 33 at this point. Tyler Goodson is gone now. So like,
they need Giddens to step up, but responsible teams bring in competition for that, you know.
And Caitlin Black, I think is a solid player can give you something in past protection.
catches the ball well, and he's a tough runner.
And here's the thing.
The Colts want to be able to gut out tough rushing yards in key moments.
Outside, again, of just Jonathan Taylor.
Like, they can't only have him available to do that.
They've been longing for the days of Zach Moss.
But they, you know, Zach Moss, prime Zach Moss doesn't walk through the door anymore.
So I think a player like Kalin Black, real gritty runner, I think he would fit them pretty well.
Was he, was he the Indiana running back that went to the senior bowl right after the
the championship game.
And not invited to the combine.
Yeah, but that's impressive to me.
Like, because so many, like, I remember the two guys that went down there,
there was one Indiana running back and you're telling me it's black.
And then Markell Bell went down there for Miami, the tackle for Miami.
And that's one of those little things in the pre-draft cycle that I think,
it's like when a guy does a three cone at the combine.
Like, even if it's not good, just doing it, I think is impressive because somebody
guys are opting out because they're only training for linear stuff.
So for a guy like Kaelin Black to go to the Senior Bowl
right after playing in the championship game,
I think it's commendable.
And I think that that speaks to his grittiness and his toughness
that teams like the Colts are looking for.
I agree.
And this year more than any,
I felt like a million guys backed out of the Senior Bowl late,
even if they weren't in the playoffs.
And so for a guy like Kaelin Black,
who had a big playoffs to come in there and put his name out there
and to be shunned by the combine, you know,
I'm into it.
I think a lot of people will appreciate that.
pick. And then I'm going off the beaten path to my final pick. This guy just burst onto the scene
in the last seven days. So Bruce Feldman of the Freaks list put this guy on our radar. It's UR.
Bernard from Nigeria. He's part of the International Player Pathway program. He worked out at the
HBCU showcase last week. And he's like six, four and a half, three hundred six pounds.
and basically every testing score that he did either would have been a combine record for defensive tackles or it was like second.
It was like him and Atatami Adabuari were like first or second in every single thing.
Would have blown the roof off of Lucas Oil Stadium had it been at the combine.
And he's got his wingspans like seven feet long, more than seven feet long.
He's got 11 inch hands.
He's a draftable player.
Like this is a guy who may hear his name called in the seventh round.
But the Colts are hosting him, I believe this week for a visit.
I'm praying that it's tomorrow during the local pro day so I can get my eyes on him.
But I mean, this is perfect.
The Colts have participated in the international player program recently.
They had Marcel Dobo on the roster for a couple years.
Then Maximilian Meng last year, they don't have anyone with that designation right now.
So I think Uar Bernard makes a lot of sense for the Colts.
Yeah, one thing I do want to push back on is a lot of people hyping up the 6% body fat on him.
That's why I didn't mention it.
Yeah, there's no chance at 6% body fat.
That's not feasible for players to play at.
But it's probably like 15, which is great, right?
Because like he is cut up like he is.
And one thing I want to say too is like you compared him to Atatomu Atabori, right,
who posted a legendary combine.
this Bernard's doing it 20 pounds heavier.
Yes, he is, yeah.
20 pounds heavier.
His physique, though, reminds me when I saw Nathan Shepard down at the senior bowl like a decade ago.
And Shepard was just, oh, so rocked up and just, oh, my gosh.
So, yeah, some of these guys are just absolute freak athletes.
And you know what?
It's always worth a shot.
It's just worth a shot, like round seven on draft of three agency, whatever, worth a shot.
So I like it.
Take your shot late in the draft.
That is all we have for today, though, guys.
make sure you check out the description below for the full recap of both Jake and I's draft.
Again, before anyone gets complaining about us not taking a linebacker in the top 100,
that was the stipulation today.
No linebacker in the top 100.
See how it impacts your mock draft.
Next week on mock draft Monday, we'll do that with no edge rusher in the top 100 and see how feasible that is.
So thank you guys for tuning in to Lockdown Coles.
We'll be back yet again tomorrow for some more draft content.
So make sure you subscribe and follow Locked on Colts.
So you get all the latest episodes.
And if you don't already, make sure you're following at Locked on Colts.
At Jake Arthur NFL and at Zach Hicks to all on social medias.
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 to LockedonColts.com to join the club.
And for those of you on video, we send you over to the first ever 24-7 national NBA YouTube channel on audio.
Make sure you make your next listen, Locked on NFL Draft show with our guys,
Damien and Keith. Thank you all for tuning in and we'll catch you guys back here tomorrow afternoon.
