No. 24: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama (5-11, 232)
Colts general manager Ryan Grigson was still a bigwig in the Eagles’ front office in 2011, when the Eagles lavished big contracts on free agents Nnamdi Asomugha and Jason Babin, later traded for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and spent more money on Cullen Jenkins.
Apparently, those free-agent mistakes didn’t leave a sour taste for Grigson, who was the team’s director of player personnel at the time.
Grigson, now the second-year general manager of the Colts and the league’s reigning Executive of the Year, went on a spending spree this offseason to bring in a variety of free-agent talent, including cornerback Greg Toler, safety Laron Landry, defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois, outside linebacker Erik Walden, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and guard Donald Thomas.
With several holes on defense patched up, Grigson’s next move will be stabilizing his offense with a running game by drafting Alabama running back Eddie Lacy 24th overall. Lacy, an excellent between-the-tackles runner, is a 5-foot-11, 232-pound bowling ball with a skill set that compares favorably to Trent Richardson, the former Alabama halfback who last year went third overall to the Browns.
Lacy could easily be the next version of Frank Gore, which is exactly what the Colts' offense needs to alleviate the pass rush on superstar quarterback Andrew Luck, who was sacked at least four times in five games last year.
Colts halfback Donald Brown, a first-round pick in 2009, has started just 15 career games and has never rushed for more than 645 yards. Vick Ballard, a rookie picked in the fifth round, did a decent job last year as the primary ball carrier, with 814 yards. But he averaged just 3.9 yards per carry and found the end zone only twice. He had just two runs longer than 20 yards.
Indianapolis could still use some defensive help, so they could possibly go with UCLA defensive end Datone Jones or inside linebacker Alec Ogletree, but franchise quarterbacks need to be surrounded by upper-level skill-position talent, so Lacy is the obvious choice.
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