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Indianapolis Colts 2020 NFL Draft grades: Jonathan Taylor will shine

By Matt Conner

CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA - JANUARY 30: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers stretches during practice for Super Bowl LIV at the Greentree Practice Fields on the campus of the University of Miami on January 30, 2020 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA - JANUARY 30: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers stretches during practice for Super Bowl LIV at the Greentree Practice Fields on the campus of the University of Miami on January 30, 2020 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 23: Michael Pittman Jr. #6 of the USC Trojans runs onto the field prior to a game against the UCLA Bruins at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 23: Michael Pittman Jr. #6 of the USC Trojans runs onto the field prior to a game against the UCLA Bruins at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

player. 808. 34. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. WR. USC. Michael Pittman, Jr.

The Colts installed two serious offensive pillars in the second round of this year’s draft and this is where Ballard hit some home runs (wrong sports analogy, I know). The first of two second round picks to be used to give Rivers more to work was Michael Pittman, Jr., a nice big target at 6-foot-4, 223 pounds who can come down with the ball and is surprisingly athletic for his size.

The Colts were plagued by a dearth of receivers in the last year, but if T.Y. Hilton and last year’s draftee Parris Campbell can stay healthy, this trio should really complement each other with their blend of size and speed, giving Rivers all kinds of options and solid targets in all situations.

player. 809. Pick Analysis. Jonathan Taylor. Wisconsin. 41. Scouting Report. RB

What more needs to be said about Jonathan Taylor. The only thing is this: don’t listen to anything anyone says about the amount of tread left on the proverbial tires. Christian McCaffrey came into the NFL with similar concerns and he recently earned himself a lucrative extension because he just kept producing with the Carolina Panthers like he did with Stanford. Expect the same from Taylor.

Working in tandem with Marlon Mack, the Colts running game should now be among the top overall backfields in the NFL. Taylor is durable bell cow with tremendous vision and burst who knows exactly when to make his move and punish defenders. The Colts are going to be able to take more chances on early downs knowing this guy can move the chains on third downs up close.

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