Indianapolis Colts: 3-Round 2019 NFL mock draft in early April
Round 2, Pick 34: Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State
Jeffery Simmons was a likely first-round lock before he tore his ACL in early February. His stock took a hit as a result, but he falls right into the Colts’ lap at the 34th overall pick to help give them a great player on the defensive line.
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Ballard has shown that he likes to build from the trenches and work outwards, and this pick fits right into the mold he worked with last year with guard Quenton Nelson.
Simmons didn’t put up the raw numbers that some of the other interior defenders in this class, but when you turn the film on, you can’t help but notice him.
He is able to shoot the gap, and that helped him turn in a lot of tackles for loss with 30 between the last two seasons. His teammate, Montez Sweat, also benefitted from the attention that Simmons drew to the middle that allowed him to tally up 22.5 sacks over the past two years.
The Colts’ defensive system doesn’t rely on generating pressure from just one or two players because they try to generate it from everywhere. Interior pressure can make all the difference in the modern NFL, as evidenced by players like Aaron Donald wrecking games instantly. Simmons may not be that level of player, but he’ll be that type of player for them.