INDIANAPOLIS —The Indianapolis Colts have the No. 3-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
And, if you're one to take stock in various league experts' mock drafts, the man a majority of the pundits believe the Colts will pick confirmed exactly why he's so highly-regarded in recent days at the NFL Scouting Combine.
N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb, regarded by most as the best-overall pass rush prospect in the 2018 NFL Draft class, showed off his freak athleticism, running the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds and jumping 36 inches high — the second-best mark among all defensive ends in this year's Combine.
But while those Combine drills certainly have their value, Chubb said he hopes NFL teams who pop in his college film find a guy who is not only athletic, but who brings it every single game — every single play.
"Just high motor, high energy, passionate," Chubb told reporters at the Combine when asked how he'd describe his style of play. "Just a guy who's going to get after their quarterback, get after the guy with the ball. Whoever has the ball in their hands, I'm running down 50 yards down the field just to get that ball."
While the good pass rushers find a way to really impact a game maybe once or twice each week, the great ones use everything they have available to them to continuously put pressure on the opposing offensive front from the opening kickoff to the final play.
Chubb showed he had no problem with the latter during his career at N.C. State.
During his junior season in 2016, he was named Second-Team All-ACC and finished with 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 22 tackles for loss, which ranked in the top four in the nation. Chubb could've decided to enter the NFL ranks at that point, but thought he could really use the next year to refine his game and improve his draft stock even more.
Boy, did he make the right move.
In his senior season in 2017, Chubb, a first-team All-American, was named the 2017 Bronko Nagurski (best defender) and Hendricks (best defensive end) award winner and finished with 10 sacks, two passes defensed, three forced fumbles and 26 tackles for loss, which ranked second in the FBS.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote in Chubb’s draft profile that he "possesses high-end physical traits, years of production and the ability to play in a variety of positions in both odd and even fronts."
"Chubb returned to school last year and turned areas of improvement into areas of strength," Zierlein continued. "His motor and athletic ability cause him to jump off the tape snap after snap and his play attributes and production should translate quickly as a pro. Chubb should be an early pick, early starter and multi-time Pro Bowler."
That "should be an early pick" part has many believing Chubb could be the right fit for Indianapolis at No. 3 overall.
The Colts finished 31st out of 32 teams in sacks last season, but are currently starting a transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 base defensive scheme. That means Chubb, if selected by Indy, would be playing his natural position of defensive end, and would be counted on as the primary building block up front for years to come.
How's that sound to Chubb — if it were to happen, of course?
"I heard they're going to a 4-3 this year and that's what I played four years throughout college," Chubb said of the Colts. "(It's) something I'm very comfortable with. If they decide I'm the best fit for them, I'll take it with a full head of steam like I said. If they don't, the team that drafted me is going to get a very good defensive player.
"I'm just taking every day, (what) every coach has to say and just try to incorporate it into my game," Chubb continued. "A lot of people have been saying I'm going to the Colts, but you never know. If that happens I'll be happy of course, to get drafted to such a great city. I'm just looking forward to it."
