Zak Keefer

zak.keefer@indystar.com

NFL Draft: Round 1, Thursday; Rounds 2-3, Friday; Rounds 4-7, Saturday

INDIANAPOLIS – Despite evidence to the contrary – see: his 2016 season – Frank Gore can’t line up in the backfield forever. (Just don’t tell him that.) The Indianapolis Colts running back will be 34 next season. It could very well be his last in the NFL. (Again, don’t tell him this.)

“I still love the game,” Gore said late in the year. “I know I can still play it, and I came here for a reason.”

Gore didn’t come here to go 8-8 two years in a row.

But 34 years old is 34 years old, and it’s why Colts first-year General Manager Chris Ballard will look to answer this question in this week’s NFL draft: Who will be taking handoffs from Andrew Luck in the years to come?

Last month, owner Jim Irsay hinted that the Colts will be looking in the later rounds for their runner of the future, not unlike their move in 2012 to draft Vick Ballard in the fifth round. Ballard led the team in rushing yards as a rookie before injuries derailed his promising career.

Gore, who climbed to eighth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list and is coming off the Colts’ first 1,000-yard rushing campaign in nine years, is entering the final year of the three-year deal he signed in 2015. Robert Turbin, a more-than-capable backup, is back on a two-year deal.

That being said, the running back spot remains the only position on offense that’s a glaring need, if not for 2017, then the years that follow. The Colts would be wise to add some splash, some game-breaking ability. For all of Gore’s greatness – man, he is an upgrade from the days of Trent Richardson, isn’t he? – the offense remains too one-sided. The only explosion comes from the passing game. That needs addressing.

The Colts had only four runs of 20 yards or longer in 2016 – good enough for dead last in football. Here’s who could be looking to change that come 2017:

If they go bold:

>> Christian McCaffrey, Stanford: Talk about splash. If the Colts take McCaffrey, they’re taking him in the first round, because the Stanford star isn’t falling much further than that. A do-it-all talent out of the backfield, McCaffrey could be just the jolt this running back room needs. (You know Luck wouldn’t have any qualms with another Stanford guy back there.) What makes McCaffrey stand out is his versatility; his great hands could be instrumental in encouraging Luck to check down more often, rather than forcing downfield throws that so often get him into trouble. NBC’s Cris Colllinsworth is so high on McCaffrey, he recently compared his skill set to that of Marshall Faulk. Not bad.

>> Dalvin Cook, Florida State: A slippery runner with home-run speed, Cook, like McCaffrey, would very likely require the Colts’ first-round pick. The payoff could prove substantial, especially for an offense in desperate need of splash plays from the running game. If Ballard is seeking more explosion in his running back room, Cook might be just the guy to compliment the bruising consistency of Gore and Turbin.

The more prudent approach:

>> Marlon Mack, South Florida: A highly-productive back with some serious speed, Mack could offer some of the same big-play potential as Cook. Six of his 15 touchdowns last season for South Florida went for 43 yards or more. A knock? Fumbles. He’s put the ball on the ground 12 times in three seasons, and it’s immensely more difficult to keep hold of the ball at the next level.

>> D’onta Foreman, Texas: No doubt a talented prospect, not to mention one coming off a 2,000-yard junior season at Texas, Foreman does present some red flags. He’s not considered great in pass protection – something that kills young running backs in the NFL, especially in a pass-heavy offense like that of the Colts. But at 6-foot and 233 pounds, Foreman is a terrific athlete.

>> James Conner, Pittsburgh: A big, physical, downhill runner, Conner’s biggest knock is a lack of breakaway speed. But he no doubt will prove a capable pro back for the team that drafts him this week, and potentially a third-down and red-zone option early in his career. He also boasts one of the draft’s most inspirational stories, having overcome cancer to return to the field. Colts coach Chuck Pagano knows a thing or two about that.

>> Brian Hill, Wyoming: A big back who will arrive in the NFL with a boatload of production at the college level. Hill carried the ball 349 times last season for 1,860 yards and 22 touchdowns in 14 games. And it probably won’t hurt that he hails from Pagano’s alma mater.

The wild card:

>> Joe Mixon, Oklahoma: Viewed not as a talent risk but a character one, Mixon offers the most perplexing case of any draft prospect. By now you’ve seen the awful video of Mixon punching a female student. What few are debating is his on-field ability; Mixon is a three-down back who can break tackles and make defenses pay in the passing game. It’s the off-the-field issues that will decide where he falls in the draft. Is he worth the risk for Ballard and the Colts?

Ballard addressed the character risk debate last week.

“Guys are immature; guys make bad decisions,” he said. “Just from my background of taking guys that have made bad mistakes and having success – have I always been right? No, I’ve made my share of mistakes on taking those players. For the most part, I’ve made pretty good decisions doing it.”

He'll have to make more starting next week.

Call IndyStar reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134. Follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.

NFL Draft: Round 1, Thursday; Rounds 2-3, Friday; Rounds 4-7, Saturday