With the 22nd Pick in the 2011 Dawgs By Nature Mock Draft, the Indianapolis Colts Select...

With the 22nd pick in the 2011 Dawgs By Nature Community Mock Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select...

Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

This selection and write-up was made by PaduaDSP:

The Colts select Nate Solder OT Colorado. The Colts have 3 needs going into this years draft, LT, DT and SS. Charlie Johnson, the Colts starting LT in 2010, is set to be a free agent, (if there is free agency) the Colts DTs are probably the worst starting duo in the NFL and the Colts cut former defensive player of the year Bob Sanders so an upgrade at SS is needed. However, as usual with the Colts it comes down to the offensive side of the ball in the first round. Peyton Manning isn't getting any younger and the Colts window may be closing just a bit so a young, smart, fast and athletic LT is just what the doctor ordered to protect Mannings blind side for the last few years of his career. Solder is a bit of a project at this point in his development but playing on a veteran laden Colts squad and learning offense from a guy like Manning should only help Solder develop a little faster than some other players.

The Colts could also consider one of the DT prospects here but the depth along the Dline in this years draft class is crazy and the Colts can get a very good player in the bottom half of Round 2 to plug the gaping hole in the middle of their defensive line. As for the Colts hole at SS, there isn't a SS worth selecting in the first 2 rounds of this years draft so they will have to plug that hole in the later rounds.

It's about time Solder was taken, and I think this would be a wise selection for the Colts. I have always been a huge fan of Peyton Manning's, and even though he doesn't take a ton of hits or sacks, the pressure started to get to him at points last year where you could see him wince before he even threw the football. It might seem more wise to address the Colts' issues with stopping the run, but why does it matter when every year they go from "terrible" to seemingly "impossible to run against" by the time the playoffs role around?

The Philadelphia Eagles are on the clock next (email will be sent to booobs33).