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INDIANAPOLIS – Shortly, all the hype and smoke screens will end with actual reality.

With the 2019 NFL Draft starting on Thursday, it’s time for our final Mock Draft look, with a couple of big defensive linemen emerging for the Colts at pick No. 26.

Here is our sixth, and final, Mock Draft look for 2019:

ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper Jr.,: WR-D.K. Metcalf (Ole Miss)

Kiper Jr.’s Analysis: This could have been a safety, too. But then I started thinking about Metcalf catching bombs from Andrew Luck in Indy.

Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo: DT-Christian Wilkins (Clemson)

Renner’s Analysis: Indianapolis needs an influx of talent up front, and Wilkins brings a strong run-stopper with improving pass-rush ability. He has played all over the defensive front at Clemson, playing with the strength and leverage to make a three-down impact at the next level, especially if he can build upon his 91.0 pass-rush grade from 2018.

 

Pro Football Talk’s Peter King: CB-Greedy Williams (LSU)

 

King’s Analysis: He’s 6-2 and runs a 4.37 time in the 40-yard dash. What’s not to like? Tackling, perhaps. But the Colts need two things badly: an edge-rusher and a shutdown cornerback. Williams is better at corner than the remaining edge guys are at sacking the quarterback. However, keep one thing in mind with Colts GM Chris Ballard: He’s not going to change his board to fit his needs. If there’s a significantly higher-rated player here, Ballard will take him.

 

MMQB’s Albert Breer: DL-Jeffery Simmons (Mississippi State)

 

Breer’s Analysis: Chris Ballard is coming off a generational draft in 2018, and was able to effectively patch up the team’s biggest needs in free agency—adding Devin Funchess at receiver and Justin Houston as an edge rusher—which allows the team to go get a guy who would be, perhaps, right there with Bosa and Quinnen Williams on tape alone. But an ugly incident in high school and torn ACL are part of the file here, of course.

 

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah: S-Johnathan Abram (Mississippi State)

 

Jeremiah’s Analysis: Selfishly, I would just love to see him play opposite of Malik Hooker in Indy, where Abram could play in the box and allow Hooker to make plays over the top.

 

NFL.com’s Charles Davis: DT-Dexter Lawrence (Clemson)

 

Davis’ Analysis: The defensive front gets the call here, and fits a need, too. Division rivals Tennessee, Jacksonville and Houston all like to run the ball, and with big, powerful backs. Lawrence ups the power ratio too combat those attacks.

 

 

MOCK DRAFT TOTALS

In each installment of the mock draft looks we will total up all the positions pundits have pegged for the Colts throughout the draft process.

 

1st Mock Draft Look (January 29)

 

2nd Mock Draft Look (February 13)

 

 

3rd Mock Draft Look (March 11)

 

4th Mock Draft Look (April 1)

 

5th Mock Draft Look (April 12)

 

 

Totals:  

 

DT-Christian Wilkins (4)

DT-Dexter Lawrence (4)

WR-N’Keal Harry (3)

DL-Jeffery Simmons (3)

S-Jonathan Abram (3)

CB-Deandre Baker (2)

WR-Marqise Brown (2)

DT-Jerry Tillery (2)

WR-A.J. Brown (2)

WR-J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (1)

CB-Trayvon Mullen (1)

WR-Kelvin Harmon (1)

CB-Justin Layne (1)

WR-Terry McLaurin (1)

DL-Rashan Gary (1)

DE-Clelin Ferrell (1)

CB-Greedy Williams (1)

WR-D.K. Metcalf (1)

 

Bowen’s Analysis: After 34 looks at Mock Drafts since January, we have two players atop the group of guys being slotted to the Colts at pick No. 26. They happen to be teammates, who also played right next to each other, at Clemson. Now, Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins are very different players and body types at defensive tackle. In Lawrence, you have this 340-pound body who would have been a top-10 pick a decade ago. Today’s NFL has Lawrence sliding a bit, but he can still be pretty effective, especially in a division that wants to run the football. Wilkins is more of your 3-technique defensive tackle, who has the ability to be productive on all three downs. This is a spot that the Colts have wanted to bolster moving forward. In this final Mock Draft look, we see some very intriguing talents in D.K. Metcalf and Greedy Williams to the Colts. Those guys have a couple traits though that make it seem difficult to see them definitely fitting the Colts’ pre-requisites for Round 1. Jeffery Simmons and Jonathan Abram have been very popular names as interested prospects for the Colts. Honestly, I would be slightly surprised if the Colts pick on Thursday night did not come from the names slotted above in this final Mock Draft look.

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