Mike Wells, ESPN Staff Writer 4y

Indianapolis Colts' 2020 NFL draft analysis for every pick

The 2020 NFL draft is in the books, and the Indianapolis Colts' draft class is complete.

The draft, which had been scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, was successfully completed virtually from the homes of coaches, general managers and other front-office staff because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Here's a pick-by-pick look at how each player Indianapolis has selected will fit.

Check out the full NFL draftcast | Updated NFL depth charts


Round 2, No. 34 overall: Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC

My take: The Colts, who didn't have a first-round pick, are giving QB Philip Rivers and T.Y. Hilton some help at receiver. Pittman joins a receiving group that lacked depth because of injuries and didn't get enough production from the healthy players at the position last season. The 1,841 receiving yards by the receivers last season ranked 30th in the NFL. Pittman’s size at 6-foot-4 is a good fit, complementing Hilton and speed threat Parris Campbell, last year's second-round pick who was injured for most of 2019. Pittman has the potential be a big red-zone target for Rivers. Pittman was one of just four receivers from Football Bowl Subdivision to have at least 100 receptions when he finished with 101 catches for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns last season at USC. Pittman's father, Michael Sr., played in the NFL from 1998-2008 and rushed for 5,627 yards and 25 touchdowns.


Round 2, No. 41 overall: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

My take: The Colts made up for not having a first-round pick. They moved up three spots to No. 41 by trading the No. 44 pick and their fifth-round pick to Cleveland to select Taylor. Taylor will join a backfield that features 1,000-yard rusher Marlon Mack, Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines while running behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, anchored by guard Quenton Nelson. Taylor rushed for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns last season at Wisconsin. Taylor's 12 career games with at least 200 yards rushing are the most by any player in Football Bowl Subdivision history. Taylor is the highest-picked running back selected by the Colts since they drafted Donald Brown with the 27th overall pick in 2009. A knock on Taylor, though, is his inability to hold on to the football. He lost 15 of his 18 fumbles at Wisconsin. Colts running back coach Tom Rathman will definitely put an emphasis in helping Taylor improve in that area.


Round 3, No. 85 overall: Julian Blackmon, CB, Utah

My take: The Colts selected Blackmon after moving back 10 spots in a trade; they also acquired picks 149 and 182 from Detroit. Blackmon made a transition from cornerback early in his career at Utah to safety. The move worked because he was a second-team All-American and All-Pac-12 selection following his four interceptions. Blackmon's stock in the draft fell some after he suffered a torn ACL on a noncontact play in the first half of the Pac-12 Championship in December. Blackmon will join a safety group that features Malik Hooker, Khari Willis and George Odom. The addition of Blackmon also makes it less likely that free agent Clayton Geathers, who spent the past five seasons starting or as a key backup, will return to the Colts next season.


Round 4, No. 122 overall: Jacob Eason, QB, Washington

My take: Eason, who was projected by some to be a late first-round pick, will not be thrown into the fire this season. He'll have the opportunity to sit and learn behind veteran Philip Rivers as a rookie. That will also allow the Colts to evaluate whether he's ready to make the transition into being the starter in 2021 because Rivers, Jacoby Brissett and Chad Kelly, the three quarterbacks currently on the roster, will all be free agents at the end of the 2020 season. Eason, who is known for his arm strength, passed for 3,332 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season at Washington. He spent his first two years at Georgia.


Round 5, No. 149 overall: Danny Pinter, OL, Ball State

My take: The Colts are already set with their starting offensive line -- a group led by guard Quenton Nelson and center Ryan Kelly -- with everyone returning from the only unit in the NFL to start all 16 games last season. What Pinter provides is some much-needed depth behind the starters. The Colts lost center Josh Andrews and guard Joe Haeg during free agency.


Round 6, No. 193 overall: Robert Windsor, DT, Penn State

My take: Colts GM Chris Ballard has made it no secret that he wants his team to dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. They could afford to be patient and wait until the sixth round to select their first defensive lineman of the draft because they acquired DeForest Buckner (trade) and Sheldon Day (free agency) earlier in the offseason. Depth along the defensive line could be a strong suit of the Colts next season.


Round 6, No. 211 overall: Isaiah Rodgers, CB, UMass

My take: The Colts potentially replaced Quincy Wilson's spot at cornerback with the pick they acquired in trading him to the New York Jets. Rodgers had at least two interceptions all four years he played at UMass. He's joining a cornerback group that features Kenny Moore, Xavier Rhodes, Rock Ya-Sin, Marvell Tell and T.J. Carrie.


Round 6, No. 212 overall: Dezmon Patmon, WR, Washington State

My take: Patmon is the second receiver with size -- 6-foot-4 -- that the Colts have selected in this draft. They selected fellow Pac-12 receiver Michael Pittman Jr. out of USC in the second round. But unlike Pittman, Patmon didn't put up eye-popping numbers while in college. Patmon only started 12 of the 43 games he played in with the Cougars. He had 58 receptions for 762 yards and eight touchdowns during his senior season.


Round 6, No. 213 overall: Jordan Glasgow, LB, Michigan

My take: Glasgow became the third member of his family to be drafted into the NFL. His oldest brother Graham was a third-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2016. Another brother, Ryan, was a fourth-round pick of the Bengals in 2017. Jordan Glasgow's best chance to make the Colts roster may be on special teams, which is an area they hope to improve in next season.

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