NFL Mock Draft 2018: Complete 7-Round projections

At one point there was talk of Saquon Barkley being the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. That’s how good of a prospect this star running back out of Penn State is considered to be. While he won’t be the first selection, Barkley could be a critical building block for a franchise that needs a jump-start.

The Indianapolis Colts have a roster full of holes and a quarterback who has battled health issues. Andrew Luck, once a No. 1 overall pick himself, hasn’t been able to keep himself on the field thanks in large part to the disappointing cast surrounding him. A porous offensive line and an aging Frank Gore have limited Luck’s ability to get the ball down field to playmaker T.Y. Hilton.

Not only will Barkley alleviate pressure on Luck, his explosiveness out of the backfield will make defenses think twice about keying in on his quarterback. Swing passes and screens will become an extension of the running game as Barkley will enable the Colts’ offense to expand significantly whenever he is on the field. Trading down from No. 3 to No. 6 and still getting a player of this caliber is icing on the cake for what could be a promising draft class for Indianapolis this year.