The NFL Draft begins Thursday night in Cleveland with the first round, and the Indianapolis Colts hold the 21st overall pick. Most mock drafts have the Colts selecting either an offensive tackle or an edge rusher, although general manager Chris Ballard could also trade back, as he has done in the past. Left tackle Anthony Castonzo retired after 10 seasons, and the Colts need someone to protect new quarterback Carson Wentz’s blindside. Jacksonville has the number one overall pick and is expected to take Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The Indianapolis Colts announced they have exercised the fifth-year contract option for All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson. The 25-year-old out of Notre Dame has become one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL and is due to make 13.8 million dollars in 2022, the final year of his rookie contract. Nelson was drafted sixth overall in 2018 and immediately established himself as a franchise cornerstone. He has not missed a game, and he became the first player in franchise history to be selected Associated Press First Team All-Pro in his first three seasons.
The Indiana Pacers take on the Eastern Conference-leading Brooklyn Nets Thursday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Blue and Gold will look to shake off Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Portland Trail Blazers against Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the Nets. The Pacers will be without starting big men Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis for the sixth straight game. Indiana is 29-32 and is ninth in the East, while Brooklyn is 42-20, and the Nets won the only previous matchup so far this season. The Pacers and Nets get underway at 7 p.m. Eastern in Indianapolis.
Clayton Kershaw was brilliant on the mound, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-0 to avoid a three-game sweep. The three-time Cy Young Award winner struck out eight and allowed four hits over seven scoreless innings. The Atlanta Braves jumped on Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks, and beat Chicago 10-0. Atlanta clubbed five homers and gave the Cubs their fifth straight loss. Minnesota hit six home runs and drubbed Cleveland 10-2. The Phillies came back to beat the Cardinals 5-3, and the Tigers and White Sox were rained out in Chicago.
