Fansided

NFL Draft 2017: Indianapolis Colts first-round grade

By Brad Weiss

Oct 8, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Malik Hooker (24) returns the interception during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes won 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Malik Hooker (24) returns the interception during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes won 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Indianapolis Colts had the fifteenth overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, and here is how we feel they did with the pick.

For Andrew Luck, the past two seasons have been pretty frustrating. Not only has his team missed the playoffs the last two seasons, but apparently, he has been playing hurt. Luck underwent surgery on his shoulder in January of this year, as he needed it to fix an injury that occurred in Week 3 of the 2015 NFL season.

Not only did the Colts fail to miss the playoffs that season, but also in 2016, though they were in contention up until late in the season. The real bugaboo on this team was the play of the offensive line, which continued to get Luck crushed every time he dropped back to pass. That was one of a handful of needs for the team heading into the 2017 NFL Draft, where they would have their first pick at No. 15.

In addition to offensive line help, the Colts also needed to bring in a pass rusher, and a safety, as they struggled against the pass last season. The running back position is also thin, as starter Frank Gore is getting up there in age. Indianapolis had a very important decision to make with the fifteenth overall selection on Thursday night, and they made a pick that should improve their team immediately.

With the No. 15 pick, the Colts selected Malik Hooker from Ohio State, who many believed would be a top-10 pick. Hooker is the ultimate center fielder, and despite offseason surgery, he should be ready to go for training camp. Hooker was a backbone of the Buckeyes elite defense the past few seasons, and if he can improve his tackling, he should be a Pro Bowl player at the next level.

Getting a player of Hooker’s caliber at No. 15 is a win for the Colts, who still have a lot of work to do this offseason. He fills a void, and in a division that features Marcus Mariota, being able to go up and get the deep ball has got to be a priority. I love the pick here, and Colts fans are going to love his playmaking ability.

Next: Indianapolis Colts: List of 2017 NFL Draft picks

The Colts are a perennial playoff team, and they should be able to rebound after two years missing the postseason. Luck should be back at 100 percent for the 2017 season, making them a competitor in a very tough AFC South. The first round of the draft was a nice step in the right direction, but it will be interesting to see what this roster looks like by the time the draft ends on Saturday night.

Grade: B+

Home/Indianapolis Colts