The Colts have been legitimate contenders for nearly a decade but the times they are a-changin' and it appears as though their window may be starting to close. Future Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, Head Coach Tony Dungy, Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore and venerable Offensive Line Coach Howard Mudd are all gone and even though they were replaced with in-house candidates the franchise hasn’t had such a turbulent offseason in quite some time. Indy still has at least another run or two left in them but they are now in that tricky position of trying to contend now while also keeping one eye on the future. That is much easier said than done but if anyone can manage the difficult task it’s Bill Polian, who is quite simply one of the best personnel men in the business. Few teams have drafted as well as the Indianapolis Colts in recent years and they needed to come through with another strong effort in 2009 if they hoped to retain their place amongst the leagues elite teams, both next season and beyond.

   Heading into the 2009 NFL Draft the Colts were viewed as a team that didn’t have many glaring needs. Still, few expected them to take a running back in round one because they already had Joseph Addai, a former #1 pick who at 26-years-old should be in the prime of his career. However, Addai has struggled to stay healthy and is due to hit free agency in a couple of years so they opted to use their top pick on Connecticut’s Donald Brown. After working as a backup early in his college career Brown finally got an opportunity to carry the load as a junior and he ran wild, racking up 2,083 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Huskies in 2008. Brown makes up for his average triangle numbers (5-10 ¼ | 210 | 4.51) with terrific vision, patience and instincts and he also possesses the type of top-notch intangibles that the Colts look for in their players. Initially Brown will work in a tandem attack with Addai, which should help keep both players fresh, but it’s probably just a matter of time until he takes over the starting job. Indy has shown time and time again that they are unwilling to pay big bucks for a running back, cutting both Marshall Faulk and Edgerrin James loose rather than give them a mega contract, so look for Brown to supplant Addai as the Colts main ball carrier by 2011 at the absolute latest.

   In 2008 all of the Colts defensive tackles combined had just two sacks and those were both recorded by Darrell Reid, who bolted as a free agent. Needless to say defensive tackle was far and away Indy’s greatest need this offseason so it came as no surprise when they used their second round pick on USC’s Fili Moala. An athletic three-technique with the ability to penetrate and make plays in the backfield, Moala was a bit overhyped heading into his senior campaign and he doesn’t always plays up to his talent level but he was a solid value pick late in round two. Moala is a perfect fit for the Colts scheme and he should figure prominently in their defensive tackle rotation as a rookie, if not start. Indianapolis had chosen a cornerback early in the draft three of the past four years and they continued that trend with the selection of Auburn’s Jerraud Powers in the third round. Powers surprised some when he opted to enter the draft with eligibility remaining but the Tigers have produced a number of quality corner prospects in recent years and he will try to follow in the footsteps of Carlos Rogers, David Irons, Jonathan Wilhite and Patrick Lee. Powers doesn’t have the ideal measurables you look for (5-9 1/8 | 188 | 4.53), which could limit his upside, but he is aggressive and possesses above average ball skills. As a rookie Powers will compete for the nickel or dime job but he could assume a larger role if Marlin Jackson leaves as a free agent next offseason.

   The Colts had two picks in the fourth round and they used the first on B.Y.U. WR Austin Collie. An extremely productive pass catcher in the Cougars wide-open offense, Collie isn’t real fast but he has good size, soft hands, is an excellent route runner and is also very smart with a great work ethic. Even though Marvin Harrison was sent packing the Colts still have a dynamic set of starting wide receivers in Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez but there is little or no depth to speak of so there is a good chance Collie will play a major role as a rookie. Indy likes to use a lot of multi-wideout sets so if Collie wins the #3 / slot job that he is ideally suited for it could translate into some impressive numbers. As an added bonus the Colts are also considering using Collie as a return man. Later in the fourth round Indianapolis chose another defensive tackle, this time tabbing Michigan’s Terrance Taylor. A battle-tested veteran of the Big Ten wars, Taylor entered the 2008 season with a significantly higher grade but saw his stock drop after a lackluster senior campaign. With that said Taylor was a solid value pick in round four and even though he doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher he could be a huge factor as a situational run defender.

   In round six the Colts brought in a developmental signal caller when they chose Purdue QB Curtis Painter. A productive passer with good size and a strong arm, Painter did not have the big senior season that most were expecting but he was worth taking a flyer on late in the draft. The Colts have traditionally carried just two quarterbacks in recent years but if Painter is unable to win the #3 job he could be ticketed for the practice squad. In round seven Indianapolis selected West Virginia’s Pat McAfee, who served as both a kicker and punter for the Mountaineers and was considered to be a legitimate pro prospect at both positions. With Hunter Smith leaving as a free agent the punting job is presumably the strong-legged McAfee’s to lose. With their final pick the Colts added some offensive line depth in the form of Maryland’s Jaimie Thomas, who has an impressive 78-inch wingspan. In some ways it was strange to see the Colts select a big 322-pounder like Thomas because they have traditionally preferred smaller, more athletic blockers but perhaps this was the first sign of a new philosophy. If he makes the team Thomas will serve as a backup at guard while being developed for the future.

   As usual Polian and the Colts came through with an impressive showing on Draft Day, addressing needs with talented players who fit what they are trying to do both on as well as off the field. This class isn’t very flashy but it’s entirely possible that six of the Colts eight picks will play key roles as rookies, which would be an impressive feat for a cellar dweller let alone a team with a real chance at winning the Super Bowl. Simply put, drafts like this are a big reason why the Indianapolis Colts have been able to stay consistently competitive in a league where parity has become the norm.