The Smartest Pick the Colts Made in the 2020 NFL Draft

Following a peculiar season before which star quarterback Andrew Luck retired abruptly at age 29, Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich and general manager Chris Ballard found their roster in limbo. After constructing a strong offensive line and scrappy defense to support Luck, they found themselves missing their most fundamental piece.

After Jacoby Brissett's rocky season as the starter, Indianapolis tabbed Philip Rivers as its starter for the 2020 season, despite the fact that he also had a tumultuous season with the Los Angeles Chargers. Looking to compete for a playoff spot, the Colts made their wisest move of the offseason during the 2020 NFL Draft, selecting Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor at No. 41 overall.

Taylor's college statistics speak for themselves, and the rookie back figures to be one of the most pro-ready players in the class. However, he landed in the perfect situation with Indianapolis. With perhaps the most formidable offensive line in the league paving the way for him, Taylor could immediately showcase the skills that made him a star with the Badgers.

Taylor is likely to split carries with Marlon Mack, but the veteran has struggled to stay healthy in recent years. With two separate 2,000-yard seasons under his belt at Wisconsin, Taylor has shown that he can handle a heavy workload.

The rookie appears ready to shine in a limited role early on, according to USA Today Colts reporter Kevin Hickey.

After Philip Rivers struggled to win games with a Chargers team that came into the season with lofty expectations, Indianapolis would be wise to shift to a run-heavy attack, heavily featuring Taylor and Mack.

While the rookie had questions emerge about his pass-catching abilities and ball security during the pre-draft process, his 4.39 40-yard dash time should excite a Colts fan base whose offense often lacked explosion in 2019.