Colts Mock Draft: Loading the roster around quarterback Anthony Richardson
By Hunter Haas
Round 1, Pick 7 — Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
There’s an argument to be made that too much youth in the cornerback room is actually a bad thing. While I don’t entirely disagree, I believe the Colts should target Kool-Aid McKinstry in Round 1. Sure, JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones profile as starters long-term, but why settle with them when another shutdown corner is available at No. 7 overall in this mock draft?
McKinstry, thanks to his time at Alabama, is a scheme-versatile defensive back. He excels in press coverage, utilizing his impressive strength and trail technique prowess to jam receivers off the line of scrimmage and disrupt pass lanes when they do break free. The Crimson Tide star is a plug-and-play option at cornerback and would give the Colts a dominant boundary duo with Brents and McKinstry.
The Colts Can’t Have Too Many Weapons
Round 2, Pick 44 — Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
The temptation to select Brock Bowers, Keon Coleman, Rome Odunze, or Malik Nabers at No. 7 was a tough one to look past. But — as loaded as the skill positions are in Round 1 — there will still be plenty of quality players available on Day 2. Enter South Carolina’s Xavier Legette.
Legette is chiseled from stone, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 227 pounds. He’s more than just a big body, too. The Gamecock product uses his long strides to eat up turf and gain droves of yardage after the catch. The potential to be the Colts’ version of Deebo Samuel is something Ballard and Steichen will jump at.