To help Andrew Luck, or to not help Andrew Luck? That is the question to be asked for every Indianapolis Colts pick. Obviously drafting on offense can’t be every pick, but it should at least be considered. Stephen Reed said the heck with that logic with the second pick from Stampede Blue.
2016 NFL mock draft: Indianapolis Colts select DT Austin Johnson
The second-round pick for the Colts in the SB Nation NFL writers mock draft may not help franchise quarterback Andrew Luck, but it does make the franchise better.
48. Colts: Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State
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Reed: With the second tier of pass rushers and defensive backs gone, pickings really are getting slim. The decision really was between Ohio State ILB Josh Perry, UCLA DT Kenny Clark and Penn State NT Austin Johnson. Realistically, Perry and Clark aren’t great fits for the Colts 3-4. Johnson provided the best value at this pick. Johnson has a large frame, a tremendous motor and can hold up against double teams allowing the line backers to flow freely to make plays. While Johnson does need to work on some of the finer aspects of the position, he has the potential to be a perfect fit at the nose tackle spot in the Colts 3-4 going forward.
Analysis: Had Stanford guard Joshua Garnett not been taken one pick before this one, I would’ve advocated for him. In fact, I would have lobbied for Germain Ifedi of Texas A&M considering the line play in Indianapolis, even with the selection of center Ryan Kelly in the first round. Johnson is a nice fit, however. He has experience lining up in three-man fronts, so he has good gap awareness already and a playing style that leads to him eating up blocks. I have Clark rated higher – and think he would be a good fit as well – but Johnson makes sense if you’re not taking an interior blocker.
Dan’s Top 5 players remaining
- 40. Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma
- 41. Joshua Perry, OLB, Ohio State
- 42. Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
- 43. Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
- 46. Le’Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech
Colts picks
- 1-18: Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
- 2-48: Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State
That closes things out for the week in the 10th annual SB Nation NFL writers mock draft. We’ll be back Monday morning with picks from the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets.
Complete draft results:
First round
1. Tennessee Titans - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss (Link)
2. Cleveland Browns - Jared Goff, QB, Cal (Link)
3. San Diego Chargers - Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State (Link)
4. Dallas Cowboys - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (Link)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Myles Jack, LB, UCLA (Link)
6. Baltimore Ravens - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State (Link)
7. San Francisco 49ers - DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon (Link)
8. Philadelphia Eagles - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (Link)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky (Link)
10. New York Giants - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame (Link)
11. Chicago Bears - Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida (Link)
12. New Orleans Saints - A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (Link)
13. Miami Dolphins - Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State (Link)
14. Oakland Raiders - Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State (Link)
15. Los Angeles Rams - Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson (Link)
16. Detroit Lions - Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State (Link)
17. Atlanta Falcons - Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson (Link)
18. Indianapolis Colts - Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama (Link)
19. Buffalo Bills - Reggie Ragland, MLB, Alabama (Link)
20. New York Jets - Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State (Link)
21. Washington - Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor (Link)
22. Houston Texans - Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (Link)
23. Minnesota Vikings - Josh Doctson, WR, TCU (Link)
24. Cincinnati Bengals - Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss (Link)
25. Pittsburgh Steelers - William Jackson, CB, Houston (Link)
26. Seattle Seahawks - Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida (Link)
27. Green Bay Packers - Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (Link)
28. Kansas City Chiefs - Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech (Link)
29. Arizona Cardinals - Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss (Link)
30. Carolina Panthers - Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson (Link)
31. Denver Broncos - Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis (Link)
Second round
32. Cleveland Browns - Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State (Link)
33. Tennessee Titans - Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (Link)
34. Dallas Cowboys - Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville (Link)
35. San Diego Chargers- Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State (Link)
36. Baltimore Ravens - Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech (Link)
37. San Francisco 49ers - Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana (Link)
38. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia (Link)
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State (Link)
40. New York Giants - Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia (Link)
41. Chicago Bears - Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama (Link)
42. Miami Dolphins - Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame (Link)
43. Los Angeles Rams - Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State (Link)
44. Oakland Raiders - Darian Thompson, S, Boise State (Link)
45. Los Angeles Rams - Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State (Link)
46. Detroit Lions - Jeremy Cash, S, Duke
47. New Orleans Saints - Joshua Garnett, G, Stanford
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