INDIANAPOLIS — The 2021 NFL Draft is underway, Colts fans!
Locked On Colts host Evan Sidery will be providing live updates on the NFL Draft in Cleveland Thursday through Saturday.
Day 1 updates
Will Indy address their glaring needs at left tackle and pass rusher, or throw a curveball at No. 21 overall?
After a quiet offseason, with the biggest move being Carson Wentz replacing the retired Philip Rivers as Indy’s new starting quarterback, the Colts have put all of their chips into this year’s draft to address big remaining areas of improvement. Will GM Chris Ballard be able to keep up his historically great draft hit rate? If the Colts want to take the next step in 2021, it will have to happen.
Follow the latest draft updates below and follow @LockedOnColts on Twitter for immediate analysis of the Colts’ draft moves.
It’s going to be a fun time, Colts fans, so buckle up!
(Live updates on the Colts draft will be posted below. For live coverage of the entire NFL Draft, click here.)
10:54 p.m. - The Indianapolis Colts selected Michigan EDGE Kwity Paye with the 21st pick of the NFL Draft.
"Indy just hit a massive home run," Locked On Colts host Evan Sidery tweeted after the pick.
The former Wolverine checks all the boxes Indianapolis looks for in prospects -freakish athleticism, team captain, A+ character traits, on-field production - and he was easily the best player on the board.
In the Colts' defense, Paye will line up alongside DeForest Buckner. This duo will cause heavy mismatches for opposing offensive lines. Paye now joins Buckner and Darius Leonard as foundational core pieces on Indianapolis' defense.
This was an outstanding pick by the Colts, who have just added some much-needed explosiveness off the edge. Stay tuned for more analysis on the Paye pick throughout the weekend here on WTHR.com.
Day 2 updates
The Indianapolis Colts start the second day of the NFL Draft with just one selection between the second and third rounds. The Colts hold the 54th pick, midway through the draft's second round.
After going with defense in the first round with the selection of Michigan EDGE Kwity Paye, Indianapolis seems likely to beef up their offensive line on the draft's second day.
7:55 p.m. - In non-Colts draft news, the Miami Dolphins selected Notre Dame tackle Liam Eichenberg with the 42nd pick in the draft.
8:20 p.m. - Another Notre Dame lineman came off the board when the San Francisco 49ers picked guard Aaron Banks with the 48th overall pick.
The selection continues a second-round trend of offensive linemen being drafted, which is of interest to Colts fans as their pick nears.
8:24 p.m. - One pick later, the Arizona Cardinals selected Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore with the 49th pick.
8:39 p.m. - The Cleveland Browns traded up to the 52nd selection overall and picked Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
8:47 p.m. - The Colts picked Vanderbilt DE Dayo Odeyingbo with the 54th pick of the NFL Draft.
Locked On Colts breaks down 2nd round pick
In a surprising selection, the Indianapolis Colts at No. 54 overall doubled-down on pass rushers after selecting Michigan's Kwity Paye on Thursday night. Dayo Odeyingbo out of Vanderbilt now joins the young core defensive linemen being put into place by GM Chris Ballard.
Odeyingbo might be more of a redshirt in 2021 after tearing his Achilles tendon during the pre-draft process. However, the traits on Odeyingbo are immense. With a 99th percentile wingspan for pass rushers at 86 3/8", Odeyingbo possesses the length Ballard covets in defenders.
During the 2020 season, Odeyingbo tallied 5.5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss in eight games.
Indianapolis still has a glaring hole at left tackle to replace Anthony Castonzo, so how will they fill it? Look for the Colts to eye some veteran free agents post-draft, while also possibly taking a project tackle on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Day 3 updates
Starting off Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts added a playmaker for new quarterback Carson Wentz. SMU tight end Kylen Granson was Indy's draft pick at No. 127 overall, who will come in and replace Trey Burton in the offense. Granson's plus athleticism makes up for his lack of size at 6'1 1/2", plus Reich will be able to move him around the field.
After transferring from Rice after his sophomore year, Granson exploded once placed into SMU's fast-paced offense. During his two seasons with the Mustangs, Gransen finished with 78 receptions for 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Though Granson's role might be minimal early on with Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox ahead of him on the depth chart, this could be the future for Indianapolis at the tight end position.
At pick No. 165, the Indianapolis Colts added more depth to their secondary selecting Florida safety Shawn Davis. The former Florida Gator was one of only two safety prospects in the 2021 draft class to post a 128-inch broad jump and 39.5-inch vertical jump. Davis possesses the explosive athletic traits Indy covets across the board. Davis also offers versatility at the position being able to play both free and strong safety.
In 2020, Davis posted 39 tackles and 2 interceptions in seven games.
The Colts had two picks remaining until GM Chris Ballard made a late deal Saturday. Trading down to acquire a second pick in the seventh round.
The Colts took Texas quarterback Sam Ehrlinger in Round 6.
In the last round, the Colts selected wide receiver Mike Strachan of Charleston with the 229th overall pick, then closed out by picking offensive lineman Will Fries of Penn State, who can play guard or tackle.