2017 NFL Draft: Tarell Basham drafted by the Indianapolis Colts

It’s a Philadelphia MACtion party at the 2017 NFL Draft as Ohio’s Tarell Basham was selected in the 3rd-round with the 80th overall selection by the Indianapolis Colts. Basham becomes the 1st Bobcat selected and the 3rd MAC alum selected in this year’s NFL Draft.

The Colts, Roberts’ new home, finished last season at 8-8. Their defense has been an ongoing work in progress, and frankly, even at the height of the Colts’ success throughout recent history, the defense has always been more of a liability than a reason to celebrate or have any confidence whatsoever. It’s clearly the Andrew Luck show in Indy, but the opposite side of the ball is one of several problem areas for the Colts that have to be addressed for future success to happen.

Basham has long been pointed to as an NFL-ready prospect with a high motor and immense skill. He is quick in both the rush and changing attacks within it, and is a sack machine in his own right. It’s that kind of ability and general chaos-causing in opponents’ backfields that landed him on the All-American team after his freshman season. For the Colts, Basham provides a ready-made defensive wrecking ball that opponents’ pass protection had best figure out how to deal with. That is a throwback to the Colts defense of years past with Freeney, Mathis, and the like.

Basham joins a Colts draft class including S Malik Hooker (15th selection) and CB Quincy Wilson(46th selection), so it’s clear the priority so far has been defense. The Colts have four remaining selections at 121st, 137th, 144th, and 158th.

You can check out Basham’s Hustle Belt draft profile here. Find out all you can about his new home at Stampede Blue.