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NFL Draft 2017: Top target for each team

By John Buhler

Oct 29, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) looks to throw in the first quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) looks to throw in the first quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 22, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) before a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) before a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Indianapolis Colts: Leonard Fournette

While the Indianapolis Colts have other needs on their roster to hopefully get back into the AFC Playoffs here shortly, the right play for them at No. 15 in the 2017 NFL Draft would be to take a running back with that selection.

There are three running backs that could go in the first round: Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, LSU’s Leonard Fournette and Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey. Cook will likely be off the board by the time the Colts pick at No. 15. It would be a bit of a reach for McCaffrey at No. 15. If he does fall, Indianapolis has to go Fournette at No. 15.

Some teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Carolina Panthers could grab Fournette in the top 10. He is an obvious talent, but how well will his college game translate to the NFL level? He will have to do more than run over people up the middle and occasionally demonstrate straight line speed.

However, the Colts need a bell-cow back to saddle beside the aging Frank Gore. Fournette has proven to be a ball carrier capable of handling big loads against stout SEC defenses. In three years with LSU, Fournette had 6161 carries for 3,830 yards and 41 rushing touchdowns.

While he may never be as productive as people hope he can be, Fournette could be the piece to help get the Colts back to the playoffs in 2017 and maybe contend for a Super Bowl. There is really no way the Colts don’t take him at No. 15 if he is still on the board.

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