While the NFL is preparing as best as they can to have a 2020 season, there is a really chance that college football won’t be happening this fall. However, the Indianapolis Colts will still have their eyes on plenty of prospects set to enter the 2021 NFL Draft.
This is surely a long ways away, and the Colts have all of their focus on winning now. But there are some intriguing prospects to keep an eye on when the time finally does come for the draft.
In Todd McShay’s first mock draft for 2021, the Colts selected Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth.
20. Indianapolis Colts
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State*Freiermuth is the top tight end prospect available, and the Colts love their tight ends. Jack Doyle is a reliable target, but he’s 30 years old, and his 6.2 yards per target ranked 32nd out of 38 tight ends with at least 40 of them last year. Trey Burton can’t stay on the field and hasn’t been productive enough when he is out there. So Freiermuth immediately steps into a role where he could flourish. Indianapolis could also look at offensive tackle, edge rushing and cornerback depth at this point, and of course, it must cross the “Who is our quarterback?” bridge, with only fourth-rounder Jacob Eason under contract beyond this season (I don’t have another quarterback ranked high enough to make sense here, though trading up for Lance could be in play).
What the Colts will do in the draft is beyond a mystery, but the tight end position could very well be at the top of the needs list next offseason.
Doyle is still under contract but he’s getting up there in age while Burton is on a one-year deal and we still don’t truly know what the Colts have in Mo Alie-Cox outside of his promising upside.
It is too early to be fully thinking about the 2021 draft with the season just a month away, but file this name for later when draft season rolls around.