Indianapolis Draft History Recap

Last April we saw the Indianapolis Colts fill the wideout spot with rookie Anthony Gonzales to replace the gaping void left by the departure of Brandon Stokely. Then the Colts drafted Tony Ugoh for depth and eventual need at the OT spot. Little did they know they actual drafted for immediate need, as OT Tarik Glenn announced his retirement just prior to the start of training camp. Ugoh immediately became a starter.

Quinn Pitcock became part of the DLine rotation due to the many injuries the Colts faced in the 2007 season. Same for Clint Sessions and Kenyatta Dawson, who also contributed when the injury bugs hit. Michael Coe showed promise in the secondary and rotated in and out as a backup, as did Daymeion Hughes and Brandon Condren. Roy Hall was looking to be the sleeper of the '07 draft before he went down with a season ending injury while making a spectacular hit on special teams.

All in all, every draft pick by the Colts in the 2007 NFL draft made a contibution. In some cases, they made more than was expected initially and show great promise for a team that now has quite a bit of depth on defense, especially in the secondary.

3 picks on offense, 6 on defense.

I think defense is going to get two or three picks this year, while the offensive line, running back and either TE or wideouts are picks also. At DE, I would love the Colts to grab 6-6, 295 lb. Kendall Langford of Hampton with our first pick in the second round. He might be a tad too slow for our need with a blasting pass rush, so maybe someone like 6-2,250 Marcus Howard from Georgia (4.7 speed) would be a better fit. If we had a shot at Red Bryant, 6-4, 235, from Texas A&M at DT, or Andre Fuellen, 6-4, 280 DT from FSU, would that trump a pick at DE? Not sure.

Offensive Line is a definite need. There is Jeremy Zutta, 6-4,292 lber. from Rutgers and Mike Fladell, 6-7, 322 also from Rutgers. Or Demetrius Bell, 6-6, 288 from NW State (LA) and Dylan Thiry, 6-7, 317, of Northwestern.

Running back will be a critical need for the Colts this year as well. Not sure it will be a first pick for Indy, but it could come in round 3 or 4. Andre Brown, 6-0, 233 from NC State and Calvin Dawson, 5'10", 207 from UL Monroe are good candidates here. And Chauncey Washington, 5'11", 219 from UCLA.

Looking at a potential add at TE for the Colts we see several candidates. Craig Stevens, 6-5, 255 from Cal and Bear Pascoe, 6-5, 266 from Fresno St. Or Jacob Tamme, 6-4, 243 out of Louisville or Marcel Frost, 6-4, 256 out of Jackson St.

At any rate, here is the list of last year's picks:


2007

1 - Anthony Gonzales, WR
2 - Tony Ugoh, OT
3 - Quinn Pitcock, DE
4 - Clint Sessions, LB
5 - Keyunta Dawson, DE
6 - Michael Coe, CB
7 - Daymeion Hughes, CB
8 - Brandon Condren, CB
9 - Roy Hall


So, in order to gauge what direction Bill Polian and the Indianapolis Colts might go this year in the draft, I thought it valuable to go back over the past 12 years of drafts and look at what positions were drafted and in what order. Perhaps there is no clear-cut order or method, but it is worth a look. I will then match that up against the perceived needs of the Colts for the upcoming season. It may give us a better indication of who we will be picking in April. Then again, it may just screw us up even more trying to figure out Bill Polian.


2006

1 Joseph Addai, RB LSU
2 Tim Jennings, CB, Georgia
3 Freddie Keiaho, LB San Diego State
5 Michael Toudouze, OT, TCU
6 Charlie Johnson, OG, Oklahoma State
6 Antoine Bethea, S, Howard
7 T.J. Rushing, CB, Stanford


2005

1 Marlin Jackson, CB, Michigan
2 Kelvin Hayden, CB, Illinois
3 Vincent Burns, DT, Kentucky
4 Dylan Gandy, OG,Texas Tech
4 Matt Giordano, S, California
5 Jonathan Welsh, DE, Wisconsin
5 Robert Hunt,C, North Dakota State
5 Tyjuan Hagler,LB,Cincinnati
6 Dave Rayner, K, Michigan State
7 Anthony Davis, Wisconsin

2004

2 Bob Sanders, S, Iowa
3 Ben Hartsock, TE, Ohio State
3 Gilbert Gardner,LB,Purdue
4 Kendyll Pope, LB,Florida State
4 Jason David, CB,Washington State
5 Jake Scott, OT, Idaho
6 Von Hutchins, CB,Mississippi
6 Jim Sorgi,QB,Wisconsin
7 David Kimball,K,Penn State

2003

1 Dallas Clark, TE,Iowa
2 Michael Doss ,CB, Ohio State
3 Donald Strickland, LB,Colorado
4 Steve Sciullo, OL, Marshall
5 Robert Mathis, DE,Alabama A&M
5 Keyon Whiteside, LB,Tennessee
6 Cato June, LB, Michigan
6 Makoa Freitas, OG,Arizona

2002

1 Dwight Freeney, DE, Syracuse
2 Larry Tripplett, DT, Washington
3 Joseph Jefferson, CB, Western Kentucky
4 David Thorton, LB, North Carolina
6 David Pugh, DT,Virginia Tech
6 James Lewis, CB,Miami (FL)
6 Brian Allen,RB, Stanford
7 Josh Mallard,DE, Georgia

2001

1 Reggie Wayne, WR,Miami (FL)
2 Idrees Bashir, CB, Memphis
3 Cory Bird, CB, Virginia Tech
4 Ryan Diem, OG, Northern Illinois
5 Raymond Walls,DB, Southern Mississippi
6 Jason Doering,CB,Wisconsin
7 Rick DeMulling, OT, Idaho State


2000

1 Rob Morris, LB, Brigham Young
2 Marcus Washington, LB, Auburn
3 David Macklin,CB, Penn State
4 Josh Williams,DT, Michigan
5 Matt Johnson, OG, Brigham Young
7 Rob Renes,DT, Michigan
7 Rodregis Brooks, CB, Alabama-Birmingham


1999

1 Edgerrin James,RB,Miami (FL)
2 Mike Peterson, LB, Florida
3 Brandon Burlsworth, OG, Arkansas
4 Paul Miranda,CB, Central Florida
5 Brad Scioli, DE, Penn State
7 Hunter Smith, P, Notre Dame
7 Corey Terry, CB, Tennessee


1998******* Bill Polian's first draft as Indy GM *********

1 Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee
2 Jerome Pathon, WR, Washington
3 E.G. Green, WR, Florida State
4 Steve McKinney, OG, Texas A&M
5 Antony Jordan, LB, Vanderbilt
7 Aaron Taylor, C, Nebraska
7 Cory Gaines, CB, Tennessee

1997 ####Last Pre-Polian Draft ######


1 Tarik Glenn, OT, California
2 Adam Meadows, OT, Georgia
3 Bertrand Berry, LB, Notre Dame
4 Delmonico Montgomery, CB, Houston
5 Nathaniel Jacquet, WR, San Diego State
5 Carl Powell, CB, Louisville
6 Scott Von der Ahe, LB, Arizona State
7 Clarence Thompson, CB, Knoxville


1996

1 Marvin Harrison, WR, Syracuse
2 Dedric Mathis, CB, Houston
3 Scott Slutzker, TE, Iowa
4 Brian Milne, RB, Penn State
5 Steve Martin, DT, Missouri
6 Keith Conlin, OT, Penn State
6 Mike Cawley, QB, James Madison
7 Adrian Robinson, CB, Baylor