While polling Twitter about some ideal Colts draft picks this year, I was given some insight by Colts fan Kyle Rapoza: 

@coltsauth_kyle i think an ILB like Ogeltree or A.Brown are possible too. angerer and conner are FA next year

— Kyle Rapoza (@kyler11) April 5, 2013

So often we think of team needs and draft priorities in terms of the glaring holes for the coming year, but a good GM knows that the draft is how you build for the future. With the Colts' activity in free agency, there no longer are glaring holes in the starting lineup (although I'm still not satisfied with the starters at RG, C, and OLB), but rather a lack of top-end, elite talent across the board. 

There are several positions that could use an upgrade in talent right away, such as defensive line, guard, or outside linebacker, there are several positions that will be begging for talent after this season, and it's important that they don't get overlooked simply because they'll be taken care of for 2012. So, lets take a look at the positions which will be losing the most in 2014. 

Welcome back to the #CATweetbag everyone!

As always, you can submit your questions using the hashtag via twitter, or as a couple of enterprising readers learned, you This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

I'll lead off the tweetbag with a few of those emails this week. Notably absent is the reader who called me "a fraud" because I refused to accept his premise that Coby Fleener was a fifth-round draft pick and no other team in the NFL wanted him.

Needless to say, that was the most amusing thing I had read all week.

Today's first question comes from long-time reader Doug England who asks:

It may be a little early for this, but how do you think the fans should react to Peyton when the Broncos come to town this season?  And what should the team do?

Please once again welcome guest writer Jacob Lewin for his third piece for Colts Authority. He previously wrote about fan jersey ettiquette and the future of Austin Collie. You can find Jacob on Twitter at @jelewin. -KJR

The draft is three weeks away, the season is just around the corner, and after reading Josh Wilson’s article, “The Top 5 Most Anticipated Colts Games in 2013,” I decided to make a predictification, of sorts, and predict which games the NFL and corporate broadcasters will likely choose for primetime games this season.  This is especially of interest for me, as a Colts fan displaced in New York City, where I struggle to find ways to watch Colts games, and relish the opportunity to watch with comfort and ease.  Although the official schedule will be released on April 16^th, I just couldn’t wait, and had to write this out.

April is here, which means the NFL Draft is just around the corner. The needs of teams are starting to become clearer as the free agency pandemonium slows down, but there is still a variety of positional needs highlighted in mock drafts released over the last few days.

(Editor's note: Each players' name carries a link to a playlist of videos of the player in college selected by the author.)

(Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports)

Dane Brugler, CBS Sports:  Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

In this mock, the Colts selected Datone Jones out of UCLA. Jones has the versatility that Chuck Pagano may desire in his hybrid defense, as Jones can play defensive end or tackle in a 4-3 look, defensive end in a 3-4 and he maybe even possesses the athleticism to stand up to rush the passer. Jones has been steadily rising throughout the process, and showed up in a big way at the Senior Bowl with power, hand placement and explosive ability off the snap. His most likely position for the Colts would be defensive end, where Indy added Ricky Jean-Francois and re-signed Fili Moala. The position isn't a huge need anymore, but Cory Redding is getting old and struggled with some injuries in 2012. A long-term option may be appealing to the team.

The Colts newest receiver met with the media on Tuesday.  Darrius Heyward-Bey’s visits to Indianapolis and Detroit were followed by days of speculation.  First, people thought the former Oakland receiver could be a lock to sign with the Colts.  Then he left town without a contract and headed up to Detroit, leading to speculation that he was unlikely to sign with the Colts. 

Heyward-Bey told the Detroit Free Press that he was going to use the flight home to think about what to do next.  He also said the usual nice things one says after talking with a potential employer, saying it would be very appealing to play with the Lions, where he already knows quarterback Matthew Stafford.  This sparked a new round of speculation, and this time, everyone thought the Detroit Lions had the upper hand. 

After that, there was nothing.  Now new developments.  It was as though he had decided against both offers until Monday, April Fool’s Day, no less, when Jim Irsay announced that the team had finally inked Darrius Heyward-Bey to a contract.  “At the end,” Heyward-Bey said, “I just had to follow my heart and I just felt comfortable there.”

Sep 8, 2012; East Hartford, CT, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Mike Glennon (8) is sacked by Connecticut Huskies defensive end Trevardo Williams (48) during the first half at Rentschler Field. (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)

Despite adding Erik Walden and Lawrence Sidbury to their pass rushing options, the Colts are still somewhat short at outside linebacker. Walden was graded as Pro Football Focus' worst linebacker in the league for two seasons running, whilst Sidbury made just 17 tackles for the Atlanta Falcons after being drafted in 2009. His 1 year, $715,000 contract suggests a "show us what you can do" deal for a player that general manager Ryan Grigson was a fan of coming out of the University of Richmond.

Meanwhile, 2010 first round draft pick Jerry Hughes continues to be ineffectual even in a 3-4 defense, and veteran sack machine Robert Mathis has just turned 32. No matter where you look in this team, the pass rushing options have question marks looming over them.

Nov 11, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (85) scores a touchdown as Baltimore Ravens defensive back James Ihedigbo (32) defends in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Well, it’s finally done.  A week after hosting former Raiders receiver and first round pick, Darrius Heyward Bey on a free agent visit, Colts owner Jim Irsay announced that the team had signed him to a one-year contract.  USA Today’s Mike Garafolo reported shortly after that DHB’s contract will be for $3 million with $1.5 guaranteed. 

Unless the team finds a true gem in this month’s draft (or LaVon Brazill makes some huge strides), Heyward-Bey will take over for the departed Donnie Avery as the number two receiver on the outside.  At 6-2, 216 pounds with a 4.3-second 40-yard dash time, Heyward-Bey will bring a rare combination of speed and size to the Colts offense.  (more after the jump)

While free agency will continue to linger on, the core of the Colts' work is likely finished until the fall. With the excess in cap space, the Colts were able to sign nine free agents, filling multiple needs both in the starting lineup and in the depth of positions overall. 

However, with a roster that was as weak as the 2012 Colts, there are still plenty of holes to be filled. The Colts' roster still isn't a Super Bowl roster, although it certainly has made many improvements. 

So, with the draft coming our way, along with free agency and cuts throughout the offseason, where do the Colts most desperately need to improve on now? 

I'll be honest, I haven't been the biggest fan of Ryan Grigson and the Colts' strategy in free agency. 

That's not saying I think he's "lost" free agency or that he's a bad GM. As long as you don't kill your team's long term future in free agency, you're doing just fine. The danger of free agency is paying a huge contract to a risky player. Grigson avoided that, for the most part. As long as you don't ruin your team's chances in free agency and you draft well, you're a pretty good GM in my book. So far, Grigson has done both. 

That being said, I do think that the Colts have let a very good opportunity go to waste this offseason. They had the money to dramatically improve their team with a good free agent class. While they certainly have improved the team without mortgaging the future, which is always a good thing, they could have been much more efficient and impactful had they played the market better. 

Welcome back to the Colts Authority Tweetbag. As always, to join in the conversation, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or fire off a tweet with the #CATweetbag hashtag.

I'll take tweets on absolutely any subject except IU basketball. I'm not ready to go there yet, ok?

Q:

@natedunlevy: How would you grade Grigson from day 1? And what do you give him just for the FA period so far? #CATweetbag

— Rational Homer(@jroehling1018) March 29, 2013