Porter balled out against Purdue, and it just reinforced what he put on tape last season. He also fills a role on a Colts team that moved on from Rock Ya-Sin in the offseason and needs to add depth at the position.
What better type of player to replace an expiring contract in Yannick Ngakoue than a pass rusher who wins in some of the same ways? Isaiah Foskey is a speed rusher who is on a mission this season to prove he's a more complete player. If he does, he may not make it to No. 19 overall.
The Colts have Kwity Paye and DeForest Buckner anchoring their front but could some more pass-rush pop. Smith is the latest standout Bulldogs disruptor destined for the first round.
Gonzalez is a 6'2" corner with outstanding length, speed and athleticism. Appearing on Bruce Feldman's 2022 freaks list, Gonzalez reached 23.3 mph on GPS and posted a 42" vertical jump this offseason. Stephon Gilmore will turn 32 in a few weeks and Brandon Facyson will become a free agent in '23.
Porter is a smart and physical player who can get a little too handsy at times. But his competitive nature is apparent on tape, and he is more than willing to press, snap after snap. He has the ability to play outside in man coverage or move inside, when needed, which will only make him more well-liked by NFL evaluators. Porter's length and football IQ would make him a great fit in Gus Bradley's single-high attack that asks its cornerbacks to hold up repeatedly in man or match situations.
Indianapolis is a sneaky team for a quarterback at this spot but I didn't want to force a Tanner McKee or a Tyler Van Dyke here—I do acknowledge that it is possible. Instead, I'll give them a very talented edge rusher in Tyree Wilson.
Wilson's ability to convert speed to power is rare and his length and explosiveness cause a ton of issues for opposing tackles. With Yannick Ngakoue on an expiring deal, adding Wilson to play alongside Kwity Paye is a good move.
The Colts need a left tackle. Point blank, period. And wouldn't you know, Darnell Wright is one of the top left tackle prospects in the class. He owns an intriguing blend of size, power, and short-area athleticism. Additionally, Wright's raw strength creates displacement in the ground game, and his tenacity is what you want in a starting offensive lineman.
Colts GM Chris Ballard clearly values big-body playmakers who can win at the catch point but are also technical route runners. Just look at recent draft picks Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. And at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Johnston is cut from a similar cloth. Martavis Bryant was the name I immediately wrote down after studying the TCU pass-catcher this summer. Johnston has strong hands, gets in and out of his breaks well for a bigger target and dominates at the catch point. He has averaged 20.0 yards per catch over his career.
