Indianapolis Colts 2014 Draft Preview

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(SportsNetwork.com) – It’s been two years and two 11-5 finishes with Andrew Luck as the quarterback in Indianapolis.

Now it’s time to take the next step and become a legitimate Super Bowl contender, something made that much tougher by the fact that general manager Ryan Grigson traded the team’s first-round pick in 2014 to Cleveland for disappointing running back Trent Richardson.

The Colts only have five selections in the upcoming draft and will not get a chance to pick, barring a trade, until the 59th overall choice yet they could use help at safety, linebacker and wide receiver.

Players with late-second-round grades who could be logical fits include USC center Marcus Martin or corners like Rice’s Phillip Gaines and Utah’s Keith McGill.

2013 Record: 11-5

Top Needs: CB, OC, WR

First Three Picks: No. 59, No. 90, No. 166

Number of Selections: 5 (2, 3, 5, 6, 7)

CALLING THE SHOTS: Grigson was living a charmed life by waltzing in and snaring Luck in his first season as GM, probably the best long-term QB prospect in a decade or more. Now, he’s getting a few crossed-eyed looks for the first time thanks to his overreach for Richardson, a player who has shown absolutely no explosion in either Cleveland or Indy.

RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2013 – Bjoern Werner (DE/OLB, Florida State); 2012 – Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford); 2011 – Anthony Castonzo (OT, Boston College); 2010 – Jerry Hughes (DE, TCU); 2009 – Donald Brown (RB, Connecticut); 2008 – none; 2007 – Anthony Gonzalez (WR, Ohio State); 2006 – Joseph Addai (RB, LSU); 2005 – Marlin Jackson (CB, Michigan); 2004 – none; 2003 – Dallas Clark (TE, Iowa); 2002 – Dwight Freeney (DE, Syracuse).

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