CHICAGO
“With the 29th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select Phillip Dorsett, wide receiver, University of Miami,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced after getting a steady stream of boos while walking up to the podium.
In the crowded Auditorium Theatre, Colts fans didn’t know how to react.
Some put their hands on their heads with mouths locked open, a few semi-reluctantly clapped their hands, and many checked their smartphones to figure out just who this guy was.
The massive, elaborate television setup in the storied theater projected the 5-foot-9, 185-pound receiver across its four televisions.
I was incredibly fortunate to attend Thursday’s larger-than-life NFL Draft in the theater.
A crazy set of circumstances moved our group from outside in the “Draft Town” canopy with the NFL executives to inside with the celebrities.
Five rows back, I was close enough to hear the folks from ESPN and NFL Network rambling between picks.
The broadcasters, like many of us, just didn’t get it.
After the event, I checked Twitter to see reactions from the Hoosier state.
The Indianapolis Star’s Zak Keefer posted an interesting tweet: “Can Phillip Dorsett keep the (New England) Patriots under 250 yards rushing yards in Foxborough in January?”
Dorsett has all the tools to be a superstar receiver, and the Colts are building the core of receivers for the future, but at what immediate cost?
It’s ever apparent the Colts want to keep adding weapons to Andrew Luck’s offense. The Colts now may have built one of the deepest receiving corps in the NFL.
The goal right now appears that the Colts plan on scoring as many points as possible while not worrying about the defense.
I realize there are more rounds of the draft — two more happened Friday night — with a lot of quality players on the board. But how do the Colts pass on their shot at a defensive player with someone like Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown?
The Indianapolis Colts traded their second-rounder, No. 61 overall, and fourth-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the No. 65 and 109 overall No. 109 picks. The 65th pick was Florida Atlantic cornerback D’Joun Smith.
Last season, the Colts finished 22nd best in rush defense allowing 101 yards a game — the Achilles’ heel.
Brown was expected, by many, to get drafted in the middle of the first round.
No only did he fall all the way to the bottom of the round — the Patriots selected him. That’s the team that embarrassed the Colts 45-7 in the AFC Championship Game.
At 6-foot-2, 319 pounds, Brown is a rush defense’s dream.
Brown’s one of those lineman offenses hate to handle. He’s incredibly athletic, with good hands, and will require two blockers for opposing offenses.
It’s just baffling.
Indianapolis general manager Ryan Grigson, coach Chuck Pagano and the Colts organization must see something special.
I’ll admit, I do like Dorsett. Had the Miami Dolphins, my team of choice, not fortunately landed Louisville wideout DeVante Parker, I would have wanted them to trade down and possibly grab Dorsett.
Had the Dolphins not traded for Ndamukong Suh in the offseason, Brown or Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes would have been the best options in South Beach.
More than 24 hours later I’m still trying to figure the Colts’ strategy out, but at this point, I just can’t grasp it.
Jordan Morey is the sports editor for The Tribune. Send comments to [email protected].