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AFC South power rankings: Colts bolster an already-talented roster

By Russell S. Baxter

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Frank Reich of the Indianapolis Colts on the sidelines in the game against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 22: Head coach Frank Reich of the Indianapolis Colts on the sidelines in the game against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 03: Quenton Nelson #56 of the Indianapolis Colts in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 3, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 03: Quenton Nelson #56 of the Indianapolis Colts in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 3, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. AFC. South. player. 46. Pick Analysis. Indianapolis Colts. 1

It hasn’t taken long for Chris Ballard to establish himself as arguably the best general manager in the NFL. He’s now been on the job with the Indianapolis Colts for four offseasons and what he has done in 2020 might be his best work yet.

The well-schooled executive addressed some issues for the team and he did it via a trade for why the best interior defensive linemen in the game in San Francisco’s DeForest Buckner. The Colts gave up their first-round draft choice in April to acquire the young performer, who can push the pocket and provide heat up the middle.

The club also signed veteran signal-caller Philip Rivers to a one year deal and then used a fourth-round draft choice this year on University of Washington quarterback Jacob Eason. The former is one of the league’s more durable signal callers, albeit he comes off a year in which he had just as many turnovers (23) as touchdown passes (via Joel A. Erickson of IndyStar.com). And Eason could wind up being a long term future behind center for a franchise that has a lot of good pieces.

More fansided.com: NFL power rankings: Chiefs, Saints lead way into 2020

Guard Quenton Nelson spearheads one off the best offensive lines in the league and fellow two-year pro Darius Leonard spearheads a defense primed for a bounce back year. Add in rookie running back Jonathan Taylor and Frank Reich’s club looks pretty loaded.

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