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The Indianapolis Colts entered the playoffs only twice over the last eight seasons. General Manager Chris Ballard wants to reverse the trend by amassing a draft class that addresses their needs, especially at quarterback, after the Matt Ryan experiment ended up in smoke.
Eventually, the Colts had 12 selections in the 2023 NFL Draft, six from trades. They got some picks from transactions involving Carson Wentz, Stephon Gilmore, and Zack Moss.
Indianapolis evenly split its selections between offensive and defensive players. Let's take a look at this large draft class to see how the Colts did, shall we?
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Indianapolis Colts 2023 NFL Draft class
- Round 1, 4th overall – Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
- Round 2, 44th overall – Julius Brents, DB, Kansas State
- Round 3, 79th overall – Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
- Round 4, 106th overall – Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
- Round 4, 110th overall – Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT, Northwestern
- Round 5, 138th overall – Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina
- Round 5, 158th overall – Daniel Scott, S, Cal
- Round 5, 162nd overall – Will Mallory, TE, Miami
- Round 5, 176th overall – Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern
- Round 6, 211th overall – Titus Leo, EDGE, Wagner
- Round 7, 221st overall – Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M
- Round 7, 236th overall – Jake Witt, OT, Northern Michigan
The Colts Hope That Anthony Richardson Is the Answer at QB
Indianapolis hasn’t had a franchise quarterback since Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement. Aside from Ryan, they also brought in Wentz and Philip Rivers. Unfortunately, having bridge quarterbacks do not translate to long-term success, and the Colts had to satisfy the glaring need behind center.
Eventually, the Colts chose Richardson over Will Levis. Ballard and the team’s front-office staff decided to look past his dismal completion percentage at Florida. Instead, they are betting on his success because quarterbacks coach Cameron Turner can work on his technique. His mobility will also benefit running back Jonathan Taylor.
Head coach Shane Steichen can make the offense revolve around Richardson’s skill set. If everything goes well, the former Gator might follow in Lamar Jackson's or Jalen Hurts's footsteps. He will be an intriguing fantasy football option once he takes over from Gardner Minshew because he can collect points in numerous ways.
The Richardson-Downs Duo Could Be Special
Aside from getting a play-caller in Richardson, the Colts also drafted Josh Downs. The former Tar Heel has the talent to compete for a starting role in Indianapolis’ receiving corps. The two-time First Team All-ACC member finished his final year at Chapel Hill with 94 receptions for 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Building a connection with Richardson can turn him into a reliable slot receiver who can collect a ton of yards after the catch. He can create separation from defenders and has the toughness to win contested balls. Downs also has the blazing speed to evade tacklers in the open field.
The Colts Are Going for Speed
Surprisingly, defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore fell to the third round when he was projected in several mock drafts as a late first-rounder. He was impressive during the Senior Bowl and stole the spotlight during the Scouting Combine after running the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds at 282 pounds.
Rush, one of the Colts’ four fifth-round selections, completed the 40 in 4.36 seconds. He had 38 tackles, seven pass deflections, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in his final year at South Carolina.
Indianapolis Colts 2023 NFL Draft Grade
The Colts get an A for their 2023 draft class because they checked all the boxes. Aside from skill position players, they also added depth in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
They also stocked their defensive backs rotation with Rush, Brents, and Jones. In a wide-open AFC South, their choices might propel them to a division title and a postseason return.
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