Projecting the draft: Colts likely begin rebuild with Luck

The unthinkable -- Peyton Manning donning another team's uniform -- has become reality, leaving the Colts facing the certainty of a laborious rebuilding phase after years of being a perennial playoff contender with Manning at the helm.

The post-Manning era in Indianapolis brings expected turbulence. The turnover on the roster from past years has swept familiarity out, for the most part, but the city is buzzing with excitement for the future.

And the No. 1 reason why: The Colts hold the first overall pick in a draft class with two franchise-level quarterbacks.

Not only is Manning gone, but the Colts introduced new general manager Ryan Grigson, and a mostly new coaching staff led by defensive-minded head coach Chuck Pagano. Grigson spent the previous nine seasons in the Philadelphia Eagles' front office. He's a former NFL offensive lineman and will make his draft debut this month as the main decision-maker, but must feel like a grizzled veteran after dealing with several touchy transactions in three months on the job.

The first of the team's 10 picks is a no-brainer -- it will be a quarterback, as owner Jiim Irsay and Grigson have said.

But the better question is, which quarterback?

Five prospects the Colts should consider:

QB Andrew Luck, Stanford (NFLDraftScout.com overall ranking: 1)

I know, I know, obvious, right? Maybe not.

Many believe the first overall choice should be Baylor's Robert Griffin III because of his immense upside and a style vastly different than Manning's. Luck is the smart -- and correct -- choice with the first overall pick. He can step in from day one and command a very average offense. He doesn't have the biggest arm or athleticism of RG3, but what he brings to the field mentally is unmatched for a rookie and will set him apart in the huddle. The quarterback position is extremely tough to judge and the draft is about as unpredictable as the lottery, but Luck is as close to a "sure thing" as there is in the NFL. It's unrealistic to think Colts' fans will forget Manning, but Luck is the perfect candidate to pass the torch as Indianapolis transitions to a different era.

TE Coby Fleener, Stanford (NFLDraftScout.com ranking: 26)

Perhaps we haven't seen the last of the Luck-to-Fleener connection. With a rookie quarterback under center, the Colts need to surround him with weapons to help make his job easier and Fleener would achieve just that. The tight end has been a position of strength the past decade, but with Dallas Clark and Jacob Tamme playing elsewhere in 2012, the Colts would be wise to draft an upgrade over the current top tight end on the depth chart, Brody Eldridge.

With the second pick in the second round (34th overall), Indianapolis will have the opportunity to draft a first-round caliber player who might fall out of the initial 32 picks.

Fleener is a big, fast receiving tight end with the versatility to line up all over the offense. Fleener has first-round ability, but with few teams needing a starting tight end in the later stages of the opening round, Fleener's fall could be Grigson's gain.

OG Brandon Brooks, Miami (Ohio) (NFLDraftScout.com ranking: 67)

The Colts added Samson Satele to replace Jeff Saturday at center, but that still leaves holes at both guard spots. Ben Ijalana is expected to take over one of the guard positions. Brooks would be a nice candidate for the other one.

The former MAC standout, snubbed from the NFL Combine in February, was a four-year starter and went from a 290-pound freshman to 353 pounds as a senior, possessing the overall framework and girth that NFL teams covet in linemen.

He's rough around the edges and is far from a finished product, but has definite pro upside and could develop into a mauling inside blocker with strong coaching. He should be considered in the second or third round.

CB Dwight Bentley, La-Lafayette (NFLDraftScout.com ranking: 107)

Regardless of the defensive front seven alignment -- Pagano has a history in the 3-4 scheme, the Colts' current personnel screams 4-3 -- the Colts need to make a considerable effort to improve their secondary.

Last year, Indianapolis ranked last in the NFL in opponent completion percentage (71.2 percent) and interceptions (eight). No doubt, they need an upgrade on the outside at cornerback.

Bentley made the most of his late invitation to the Senior Bowl, showcasing a fluid lower half and speed to stay in receivers' pocket up and down the field. He was a consistent performer the past four seasons and does a nice job creating with the ball in his hands (seven career INTs, 28.3-yard average on interception returns with three defensive scores).

Bentley is rough around the edges with only average size and strength, but presents an excellent value in the third or fourth round for the Colts to develop.

NT Josh Chapman, Alabama (NFLDraftScout.com ranking: 108)

The draft will tip off whether the Colts are committing to Pagano's 3-4 defensive scheme.

The addition of a nose tackle to anchor the middle of that three-man front is imperative to the overall defensive success. The Colts' currently have Antonio Johnson and Brandon McKinney slated to share the nose tackle duties, but neither is considered the long-term answer and depth at this position is never a bad thing.

Chapman (6-1, 316) manned the middle of Nick Saban's 3-4 defense in college and might be the most natural nose tackle in this draft class. He has been somewhat of an afterthought during the pre-draft process because he has been shelved after tearing his ACL, despite playing through the pain for more than half of last season, all the way through the national championship game. Chapman is still rehabbing from the injury, but would be a nice pick in the fourth or fifth round as the Colts' nose tackle of the future.