The Colts got lucky enough that an athletic stud fell to them at 21 last night. Day 2 should be just as interesting. Colts pick again at pick 54, but as of this moment, that is the only pick left for them today. You’d have to think Chris Ballard would trade down today unless similar to last night, a stud falls to him at 54. These 3 prospects are guys that you would have to think the Colts GM pulls the trigger on rather than collecting more picks.
After going through the first round without a starting left tackle, you would think it’s still at the top of Ballard’s mind here on Day 2. My OT3 on the big board that went out yesterday, Sam Cosmi, would be a steal this late into the second round. Cosmi is not only one of the best athletes at the tackle position, he is one of the best athletes in the entire draft (9.99 RAS out of 10.00). At 6-foot-6, 314 pounds, you wouldn’t believe how agile he is. And putting up 36 reps at his Pro Day makes him that much better. There are a few kinks to work out in his pass blocking game, but nothing that I’m sure Hall of Fame offensive lineman and Colts offensive line coach Kevin Mawae can’t clean up. Cosmi would be an instant plug-and-play at left tackle for Indy.
I’ve talked a lot about Terrace Marshall Jr., and it may be because I’m in love with the potential he has. He’s essentially been buried in the depth chart at LSU until last season due to Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. Well, last year Jefferson was in the NFL, and Chase opted out, freeing up Marshall to be the true WR1 for the first time, and he did not disappoint. With Burrow, Jefferson, and Chase in 2019, Terrace Marshall had almost 700 yards and 13 TD. Last year, with a below-average QB in a shortened season, he put up even better numbers. He averaged over 100 yards per game and put up double-digit touchdowns for the second straight season. He is also a fantastic athlete (9.76 RAS), fitting that Chris Ballard molds perfectly. Marshall is 6-foot-2 and still ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at LSU’s Pro Day. Teams passed on Justin Jefferson last year, and he made them pay. I fully believe this kid coming out of what seems to be WRU will be something exceptional. If he can fall to Indy, the same way Paye did last night, the Colts are in for a treat.
The last player on this list is a cornerback who has been flying up draft boards since the 2020 season. Ifeatu Melifonwu may not have been a household name last season, but NFL scouts have taken notice of his ability. He is yet another amazing athlete (9.7 RAS), but he’s so much more than that. He is tall, physical, and is a great zone corner, making him another perfect Ballard fit. He didn’t exactly force too many turnovers at Syracuse (3 interceptions in 2 seasons), but he still has the potential to be great. Against the run, he is just as good and a very willing tackler. If he can learn to anticipate throws quicker, he will be an excellent pickup for the Colts. And with Xavier Rhodes on a one-year contract, it wouldn’t hurt to get someone to be a starting cornerback for the Colts potentially.
