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Indianapolis Colts: New Mock Draft Has Colts Addressing Center

By Garrett Hagan

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide center Ryan Kelly (70) reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide center Ryan Kelly (70) reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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NFL Columnist Pete Prisco released his newest NFL mock draft earlier this morning. Prisco has the Indianapolis Colts aiding the offensive line at the 18th selection.

Many are speculating as to what Indianapolis Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson plans to do when it becomes time for the Colts to make a selection come draft day. In Prisco’s NFL Mock Draft 8.0, he has the Colts selecting center Ryan Kelly from the University of Alabama. Prisco had this to say about the projection: 

"They need to solidify the middle of their line. Andrew Luck took a beating, so why not take the best center in the draft?"

The move makes perfect sense for the Colts as they lack any depth behind center. As of right now, the Colts have Khaled Holmes as the team’s starting center. Being a late-fourth round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Holmes never fully became the player that Grigson had envisioned when he took the former USC Trojan. Holmes only appeared in three games his rookie season, followed by five games in 2014.

In his nine total career starts, Holmes showed flashes of potential but oftentimes did he prove to be a liability on an offensive line that was incredibly inconsistent and banged up over the last few seasons.

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With Kelly, the Colts get a prospect who ranks first-overall amongst the center position. Kelly quickly became the anchor of the offensive line at the start of the 2013 season when he took over as the starter due to Barrett Jones‘s departure to the NFL. it wouldn’t be long before Kelly would win multiple awards such as the award for the nation’s top blocker in 2015.

The Colts have emphasized building the offensive line to better protect the long-term health of quarterback Andrew Luck, and it starts at the middle of the offensive line. In the past, Grigson has relied on free agency to help build up the line. When he has made attempts at building the unit up via the draft, he has had more misses than hits.

Next: Indianapolis Colts: Grigson Must Be Wise In The First Round

By drafting Kelly, Grigson gets a durable and solid blocker that can help give Luck more time in the pocket. As we saw this past season, a collapsed pocket means a scrambling Luck, whom suffered a season-ending lacerated kidney injury when he attempted to take a slide and got hit by a Denver Bronco’s defender in the teams’ week nine game.

If Grigson truly has his eyes set on equipping Luck with an explosive offense, it starts with the offensive line. This is a draft that is rich with offensive line talent that Grigson needs in order to make sure the Colts can flourish offensively, and players like Kelly are a good start.

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