While it might be a little surprising to see them go real high for this, the Colts could use some depth at linebacker. Clint Sessions and Gary Brackett are definitely established at their respective positions. Phillip Wheeler played well overall last season and will likely not lose his job unless the Colts bring in a big name. However, the team has let go their depth at the position in Tyjuan Hagler and Freddy Keiaho leaving them with three guys (Ramon Humber, Cody Glenn and Brandon Renkart) that contributed a total of 41 tackles to the club last year (with one not notching any).

 The following are who the Colts may take/ have available if they decide to go with a linebacker in any particular round:

First: Daryl Washington, TCU or Sergio Kindle, Texas- both are projected to be late first round/ early second round picks. Both would be ready to contribute early as well coming from high profile college teams like TCU and Texas; Kindle may be the more pro ready of the two.

However, it would be surprising to see the Colts take a linebacker this early with all the attention that has been given to their offensive line needs.

Second: Brandon Spikes, Florida or Navorro Bowman, Penn State; two players from quality schools that have been very competitive of late; could translate into being more NFL ready than most prospects.

The Colts may also have a hard time passing up on a defensive line player like Terrence Cody out of Alabama. With the chances of Robert Mathis re-signing with the Colts not looking so good they will need to give Dwight Freeney a little help.

 Prospects in other rounds will include: Third- Donald Butler, Washington, Eric Norwood, South Carolina; Fourth- Dekoda Watson, Florida State, Roddrick Muckelroy, Texas; Fifth- Phillip Dillard, Nebraska; Seventh- Rico McCoy, Tennessee.

For the Colts to actually follow through on this early promise they will have to do something different. Last season proved how vital Peyton Manning is to the success of the team. They could have easily been a 5-11 team last season were it not for the heroics of the future Hall of Famer. With the revelation that he had been undergoing some degree of neck pain for some time made his performance all the more impressive.

However, that knowledge paired with the lack of any reliabel running game make the need of the Colts going into the draft next week painfully clear. These guys have to get some offensive line help.

So far this off-season the team has cutting players that were just not getting the job done las season and bringing in some new blood, some heavier guys that should be more effective in the run game. While this is important, the team may want to be more concerned with ensuring that Peyton’s back is covered.

I hate to say it Colt fans, but the man is not invincible; this last injury is proof positive of that. Beck and head injuries have been the undoing of a number of players of late, quarterbacks as well as other positions. Peyton is not getting any younger either. For as long as he has played, his body has to have taken a beating. If it takes too much of one now the star may be entering the broadcast booth sooner than we would like to see him.

With protecting Peyton Manning in mind, the following are a handful of guys that I hope the Colt brain trust is thinking of drafting next Thursday:

Charles Brown, T, USC: This former tight end has great feet, which you need to play in this offense.
Maurkice Pouncey, G-C, Florida: He could take over for Jeff Saturday when he retires but could start at guard until then.
Jason Fox, T, Miami: He suffered a torn ACL last season, which will drive down his stock. But he has talent.