With the 97th pick in the NFL draft, the Colts select ...

It’s usually foolhardy to expect to draft a rookie starter in the fourth round. I mean, it happens, but I wouldn’t depend upon it. The exception is at fullback, where I think the Colts can get one later, but others are much less likely. I think the Colts will have to get a starter at inside linebacker either from free agency or (shudder) the current roster.

Still after drafting nose tackle Brandon Thompson in the second round and cornerback/return specialist Brandon Boykin in the third, I think it’s only fair that we get first-round pick Andrew Luck a receiving option.

There are two ways to go. The draft is deeper in wide receivers, but it’s traditionally easier to get a quality tight end late. At receiver, I’m looking at four guys here: Cal’s Marvin Jones (6017/199/4.46), Wisconsin’s Nick Toon (6017/215/4.54), Nevada’s Rishard Matthews (6003/217/4.62) and Arkansas’ Joe Adams (5105/179/4.55). There’s a lot to like about Jones. He’s a West Coast-style receiver who makes yards after the catch. But he’s not much of an athlete, and does not have much suddenness in his game. Toon is pretty much the same thing. He has more upside, but more dubious durability. Matthews is cast in the same lot, but may not be quite so determined to succeed. Adams is my favorite of the lot. He plays a lot faster than his forty time, and is a huge special-teams contributor. His size limits him to the slot, though, and the Colts need help on the outside more than the inside.

At tight end, there are two guys available who could contribute right away. And they are very much the same type. Both are soft-handed, have seam speed and can run routes. But neither can block worth a damn and there are durability and toughness questions about both. Missouri’s Michael Egnew (6051/252/4.62) is more NFL-ready, while Louisiana-Lafayette’s Ladarius Green (6056/238/4.53) has a higher upside. Normally on a rebuilding team, I’d go for the higher upside, but the fact that Egnew caught 90 passes as a soph makes me think he’s the guy who’ll help Luck adjust to the NFL.

I’m going with Egnew.