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INDIANAPOLIS – For some fans, the most entertaining part of the NFL calendar is here.

Mock. Draft. Season.

The Colts are slotted in the 21st spot in Round 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft, with one pick in each round for Chris Ballard.

Here is our first Mock Draft look for 2021:

ESPN’s Todd McShay: Pick No. 21: QB-Mac Jones (Alabama)

McShay’s Analysis: A fifth quarterback! Only once in the common draft era have five QBs been drafted in the first 21 picks: 1999, when Tim Couch led a pack of five in the opening 12 selections. The top end of this signal-caller class is special, and the Colts are squarely in the mix for one of them, with 39-year-old Philip Rivers finishing up his one-year deal. Jacob Eason is the only name on the Colts’ 2021 QB depth chart at the moment. Jones puts excellent placement on deep balls, anticipates well and shows poise in the pocket. His 4,036 yards and 36 touchdown passes both ranked second in the nation this season.

NBC Sports’ Glynn Morgan: Pick No. 21: QB-Kyle Trask (Florida)

Morgan’s Analysis: Its perplexing to me that Trask finished fourth in Heisman balloting, especially with winner, DeVonta Smith (Alabama) splitting votes with his teammate, Mac Jones (maybe the voting was rigged). Even more shocking, would be if Trask lasted until the 22nd pick (or later) to be drafted by soon-to-be, quarterback deficient, Indianapolis. Both of the Colts top two signal callers are unrestricted free agents and some forward thinking decisions are required for Indy to compete going forward. Trask posted incredible stats this season and possibly playing behind a solid offensive line like Indy next season, he could duplicate the same efficiency.

Pro Football Focus’ Anthony Treash: Pick No. 21: DE-Gregory Rousseau (Miami)

Treash’s Analysis: Rousseau is one of the biggest unknowns in the class, but his physical tools give him the chance to pay big dividends. Size, length, athleticism, bend, versatility are all boxes the 6-foot-6, 260-pound defensive linemen checks, but consistency and production are not. Yes, he notched 16 sacks in 2019, but that’s a bit noisy. Over half of those sacks were charted as either unblocked or as a cleanup sack, and Rousseau ranked outside the top 50 in the FBS in pass-rush grade and win rate. He’s going to be a bit of a project, but the flashes of high-end reps and the tools are too hard to ignore.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler: CB-Tyson Campbell (Georgia)

Brugler’s Analysis: One of the most intriguing defensive prospects in the draft, Campbell, who was high school teammates with Surtain, doesn’t always play confident, but his size and athleticism are first-round worthy. At 6-foot-2, he has outstanding length and moves like a much smaller player.

CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson: WR-Rashod Bateman (Minnesota)

Wilson’s Analysis: The Colts have to get more weaponry for whoever their quarterback is in 2021. Bateman is one of the most well-rounded wideouts in the class.

 

Bowen’s Analysis: Ah, we have arrived to full-on Mock Draft season. The Colts face another massive offseason, with so much focus on how they handle their draft. Unlike past drafts, the Colts do not have the benefit of an extra second-round pick. At No. 21 overall, a critical decision will come, one that is filled with short-term and long-term ramifications. The Anthony Castonzo retirement announcement could very well shift the thinking of these mocks in the weeks to come. For now, we are seeing a variety of positions—all at some level of need—pegged to the Colts. The early consensus seems to be quarterbacks like Jones and/or Trask will be there in the 20s. We’ve seen the Colts spend early picks before on wideouts, edge rushers and corners, but the lack of hitting on those spots has them still of need.

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