Of course they don’t draft strictly on need, but they definitely don’t draft the “best available athlete” just because. Need always informs their draft picks to a significant degree, it’s just that “urgent need” for the Colts tends to be issues with depth more than starting players now that the team has an excellent foundation. This is bolstered by the fact that the Colts rarely sign big name free agents – they put a high priority on filling holes via the draft.

Still, just last year the Colts traded their first round pick in the 2008 draft to San Francisco in order to move up and draft a left tackle high in the second round. When all-pro LT Tarik Glenn retired that summer, it became pretty clear why they did.

Anthony Gonzalez, their first round pick that year, was clearly drafted to replace Brandon Stokley, who had signed with Denver a month before the draft. Everyone knows how integral the the slot/possession receiver is to the Colts’ offense, and it was a hole they – yes, urgently – needed to fill. It goes without saying that protecting Manning’s blind side would be an urgent priority as well.

If need is a factor and talent is a factor and best available is a factor, you combine those and, say, take Thomas with that first pick and a d-lineman with the second pick. Or vice versa.

You have to attempt to fill holes that you have immediately, especially when you’re already a playoff team. If you’re always building, you’re never winning.

That’s ridiculous. You really believe that? You need to take a closer look at the draft history of the more successful teams. Of course there are selections made that also fit the teams needs, but that doesn’t mean their draft was dictated by “urgent needs”.

My point was that it’s stupid to draft a particular position just because the team has a need there, there are many factors to be weighed, “urgent need” is no more important than the others.

Still, as a life-long Colts fan who fully recognizes what Bill Polian has done to build the team, it would be ridiculous to say we don’t still draft for urgent needs sometimes, because it’s quite clear that we have.

WE HATE DALLAS!
WE HATE DALLAS!
WE HATE DALLAS!

Some things are just beautiful aren’t they, hatred properly placed, that’s what it’s all about.

Blue Collar, if another person who is part of the old media reported the rumor of 2 1st rounders then odds are they would have called to confirm that statement, its standard for most pro-journalists.

BTW to the Mottram Brothers, I love the 13 jersey on the top of the screen, first time I got a skins jersey with my own name on it I went with 13, so props to you for it.

xoxoxoxoxo