The Indianapolis Colts stayed put in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL draft and seemingly have the board shaping up nicely for themselves with plenty of value on Day 2.
While the pressing needs of wide receiver and quarterback are at the forefront, and the value at cornerback and safety will be hard to pass up in the second round, should the Colts use one of their picks to grab one of the top running backs in the draft?
Yes, the Colts have Marlon Mack, but there seems to be a hesitancy on giving him an extension. Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins are also solid complements, but that’s just what they are at this point.
Through the first 32 selections, only one running back was taken—Clyde Edwards-Helaire to the Chiefs with the last pick in the first round. Now, the Colts hold the Nos. 34 and 44 picks with a chance to upgrade their offense in a big way.
Could that come through the running back position? Even though it might be having more of a fantasy football mindset, there are some intriguing options for the Colts to consider in Round 2.
With CEH being the only back off the board thus far, the Colts could essentially take an elite running back prospect at No. 34 and potentially at No. 44 depending on how the board falls.
While there really is no consensus RB1 in this class, the trio of Jonathan Taylor, D’Andre Swift and J.K. Dobbins are regularly regarded as the top three backs in the class. All of them are still available as the Colts enter Day 2.
Their skill sets work wonderfully with the Colts offense. Taylor is more of a grinder between the tackles but showed the speed to break off big plays. He’s a nice fit to work downhill but he’s limited as a pass-catcher.
Swift would be a beauty to watch behind the Colts offensive line. He’s extremely elusive between the tackles and in space and has the pass-catching chops to back it up. He’d be a fantastic addition to the backfield and eventually the player to take over the unit after Mack’s departure.
Dobbins would work well because of how often the Colts run zone blocking. He’s a best fit for that role while also showing high-quality elusiveness and receiving ability to eventually be a three-down back.
While the Colts certainly have more pressing needs, it is hard to deny the type of impact any one of these backs would have on the offense. That said, it all comes down to value and how the Colts’ draft board looks when they are on the clock.
It is unlikely the Colts will take one of these running backs in the second round, but adding talent like that to the backfield has to be intriguing enough to consider on Friday.