If you told an Indianapolis Colts fan that Anthony Richardson would be out by early October and Gardner Minshew would be the starter the rest of the season, they certainly wouldn’t have predicted the team’s result.
Minshew made the Pro Bowl and secured big free-agent contract (two years, $25M) from the Las Vegas Raiders.
Speaking of free agency, Indy retained Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart, and Kenny Moore II. They added Joe Flacco to replace Minshew, plus Raekwon Davis bolsters the interior defensive line depth.
Despite a very promising 2023 season, this team has some big holes to fill. The receiver depth chart is more miss than hit, and multiple draft picks in recent years spent across the secondary have yet to pay off.
With over $23M in available salary cap, the Colts could certainly afford a pass-rushing difference maker or a stud corner via free agency.
Colts NFL Draft Picks 2024
- Round 1, Pick 15
- Round 2, Pick 46
- Round 3, Pick 82
- Round 4, Pick 117
- Round 5, Pick 151
- Round 6, Pick 191
- Round 7, Pick 234
Colts NFL Futures Odds
Get ready for the 2024-25 NFL season with the latest Colts odds and futures betting markets.
Colts NFL Draft Round 1 Mock 2024
- Round 1, Pick 15: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
As of March 8, Michael Rochman says:
“Perhaps later than expected, Brock Bowers slips down draft boards and falls into the Colts’ lap at pick 15.
Michael Pittman Jr. will likely return, but the team could use some additional weapons to help the development of young passer Anthony Richardson."
Find more draft insights in our full NFL Mock Draft 2024.
Colts Draft Team Needs 2024
Note: The following information was written prior to the 2024 NFL Draft.
1. Wide Receiver
We have yet to see much of anything from Alec Pierce. Josh Downs played well, and Pittman is the only reliable receiver on the roster.
This receiver room after Pittman is threadbare.
This is a deep draft class for receivers, but there could be a bit of a tier drop after the top 10 picks. A trade back into the mid-20s could still net them LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. or Texas’s Adonai Mitchell.
2. Safety
The Colts are putting a lot of stock in Nick Cross who had a solid 2023 season. Rodney Thomas II hasn’t shown me much.
In today’s two-high safety defensive era, you don’t need elite safeties like in the days of Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins, Earl Thomas, or Troy Polamalu.
But replacement-level players don’t anchor secondaries either. The Colts haven’t used a first or second round pick on a safety since 2017.
3. Cornerback
The Colts’ war room may believe their current group (JuJu Brents, Dallis Flowers, Jaylon Jones, and Darrell Baker Jr.) is worth building around. I disagree.
Kenny Moore II has been one of the league’s best nickel corners for years and provides a ton of leadership to this young defense.
However, this unit needs a standout star and a first-round pick instantly improves a middling group.
More Position Needs: Tight end, Edge, Linebacker
Colts Draft Grade 2024
Grade: Coming soon
Read the evaluations in our full 2023 report card of NFL Draft Grades. 2024 grades will be published soon after the draft.
Team by Team Draft Recaps
| AFC EAST | BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ |
| AFC NORTH | BAL | CIN | CLE | PIT |
| AFC SOUTH | HOU | IND | JAC | TEN |
| AFC WEST | DEN | KC | LAC | LV |
| NFC EAST | DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS |
| NFC NORTH | CHI | DET | GB | MIN |
| NFC SOUTH | ATL | CAR | NO | TB |
| NFC WEST | ARI | LAR | SF | SEA |
Colts NFL Draft Pick History
2023
- Round 1, Pick 4: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
- Round 2, Pick 44: Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
- Round 3, Pick 79: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
- Round 4, Pick 106: Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
- Round 4, Pick 110: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT, Northwestern
- Round 5, Pick 138: Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina
- Round 5, Pick 158: Daniel Scott, S, California
- Round 5, Pick 162: Will Mallory, TE, Miami
- Round 5, Pick 176: Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern
- Round 6, Pick 211: Titus Leo, EDGE, Wagner
- Round 7, Pick 221: Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M
- Round 7, Pick 236: Jake Witt, OT, Northern Michigan
2022
- Round 2, Pick 53: Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
- Round 3, Pick 73: Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia
- Round 3, Pick 77: Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
- Round 3, Pick 96: Nick Cross, S, Maryland
- Round 5, Pick 159: Eric Johnson, DT, Missouri State
- Round 6, Pick 192: Andrew Ogletree, TE, Youngstown State
- Round 6, Pick 216: Curtis Brooks, DT, Cincinnati
- Round 7, Pick 239: Rodney Thomas, DB, Yale
