2020 NFL Draft: Justin Herbert goes No. 1 in first-round NFL mock draft

With Frank Reich taking over the Colts in 2018, the team has had a dramatic reversal of fortunes. They went from a bottom-tier football team to a team playing in the AFC Divisional round. The former Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles turned head coach has made the team viable, even with the departure of Andrew Luck.

They are another team that is too good to try and adopt a quarterback of the future in the 2020 NFL draft. I expect them to continue with Jacoby Brissett in 2020.

While the team is well rounded in general, their pass rush has been average this year, logging the sixth-fewest pressures this season (according to PFF), even with the addition of Justin Houston in the offseason. Adding an elite pass rusher to the defensive interior would help pave the way for more stops and more possessions for the offense. Considering they seem poised to keep riding with Jacoby Brissett, they will need all the possessions they can get.

Adding Javon Kinlaw from South Carolina would help get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The 6-foot-6 senior has stacked up six sacks this year and shown to be an impressive run stopper this year.

His size alone is going to cause problems for the offensive guards and centers of opposing teams. While his tackle and sack numbers aren’t the highest, this is a situation where the numbers don’t always reflect the player’s skillset. Kinlaw makes his presence known to offensive lines and is easily the most impressive tackle on the South Carolina defensive line.

With the Colts needing to face such dynamic quarterbacks as Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson, and Patrick Mahomes in the AFC playoffs, they will need a dynamic tackle to open up holes in the offensive line. Depending solely on blitzes and cornerbacks to stop a team’s offense isn’t going to work in the NFL, no matter who is throwing the ball. Kinlaw would be an immediate upgrade on the defensive line for the Colts.