I know it’s way too early, but there’s a consensus building that the Colts will select North Carolina State’s Bradley Chubb with the third pick in this year’s NFL draft.

I just don’t see it. Don’t get me wrong, I know that the Colts are desperately in need of an elite pass rusher, it’s just that I think it may be a down year for pass rushers in this draft. The Colts are in need of a lot of help, and I believe they can ill afford to take Chubb at No. 3 and forfeit a chance to pick up a package of draft picks.

At this point, I think the Colts can safely move down in the draft and still pick up a position of need, probably even Chubb himself. If not, there should be elite talent at safety, inside linebacker and guard available, all positions of need.

Now, I didn’t mention Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. He’s the key to this draft, as far as the Colts are concerned. If the Browns think that they can grab a QB at No. 1 and take Barkley at No. 4 because the Giants need a QB and the Colts have to have Chubb, they will be disappointed.

Barkley is the only guy in the draft that should give GM Chris Ballard any pause at what to do with the No. 3 pick. Actually, there shouldn’t be any pause. If Barkley is there at No. 3, make him a Colt. If not, fall back and grab the best available player and as many picks as you can.

If I’m running the Browns, I take Barkley No. 1 overall and grab the best available QB at No. 4. Barkley looks like a once-in-a-generation talent, while it doesn’t appear to be that much separating the top four quarterbacks in this draft.

Seems logical to me, but this is the Browns we’re talking about and that should give Colts fans hope

The Rays are placing screens across the infield to encourage their hitters to improve their launch angle this spring. Hit the ball over the screens, they say. Fly balls are in. Ground balls and even line drives are out. That seems to be the direction baseball is heading these days, as the astronomical increase in strikeouts suggests. Free agent J.D. Martinez and the Dodgers’ Chris Taylor are the poster boys for this brand of baseball as a new generation of general managers tries to reinvent the wheel. I say congratz to Martinez and Taylor, but be very careful. Everyone is not the same.

Give me someone who can consistently bring home a runner from third base with less than two outs. Yes, I’ll take a deep fly ball, but in more cases than not I’ll get a pop up or a strikeout. Instead of getting everyone’s launch angle perfected, how about working on putting the bat on the ball consistently. A ground ball to the right side will do the trick. Just don’t strike out, but that’s what they’re teaching these days. Home run or strikeout, don’t sweat the little stuff.

Don’t like the shift? Why wouldn’t clubs work on situational hitting, taking the ball the other way in order to get on base. Not every time, but enough times that defenses would think twice about using a shift against you. Hey, some analytics are great, especially the ones that emphasize reaching base and scoring runs. Why would you reduce your odds by altering your launch angle to a point where you are an all or nothing hitter? Some players, especially those who clog up the bases, are built in a way that a change in launch angle could improve what they do best. Just don’t have everyone in your lineup swinging for the fences every time.

The commissioner is worried about the pace of play when at-bats where nothing at all happens are increasing. Hit a home run, strike out or walk. I can only hope that baseball comes to its senses soon. At bat, put the ball in play, run the bases hard and keep the pressure on the defense. In the field, have your pitchers throw strikes and have your fielders make all the plays. It’s not rocket science. It’s baseball.

If you’re not all in, you’re out. This guy reportedly had second thoughts all along. Was never all in. Colts are better off without him. And for McDaniels, well, good luck replacing Belichick. Eventually. You better win, because I have my doubts about your ability to land another head coaching job with another NFL club. You should too.