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The 5 best draft classes in Colts history

By Brandon Daniels

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 20: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos meet after the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 20, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won 39-33. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 20: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos meet after the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 20, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won 39-33. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 30: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to throw the ball against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 30: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to throw the ball against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Number 4: 2012

Notable Players:

  • Andrew Luck
    • Position: Quarterback
    • Pick Selected: 1st Overall
    • Seasons Played: 2012-2018
    • Pro Bowl Selections: 4
    • First-Team All-Pro Selections: 0
    • Super Bowl Wins: 0
    • Notable Awards: 2018 Comeback Player of the Year
  • T.Y. Hilton
    • Position: Wide Receiver
    • Pick Selected: 92 (Round 3)
    • Seasons Played: 2012-Present
    • Pro Bowl Selections: 4
    • First-Team All-Pro Selections: 0
    • Super Bowl Wins: 0
    • Notable Awards: 2012 All-Rookie Team Selection
  • Coby Fleener
    • Position: Tight End
    • Pick Selected: 34 (Round 2)
      Seasons Played: 2012-2017 (4 Seasons with Indianapolis, 2 with New Orleans)
    • Pro Bowl Selections: 0
    • First-Team All-Pro Selections: 0
    • Super Bowl Wins: 0
    • Notable Awards: None
  • Dwayne Allen
    • Position: Tight End
    • Pick Selected: 64 (Round 2)
    • Seasons Played: 2012-2018 (5 with Indianapolis, 2 with New England)
    • Pro Bowl Selections: 0
    • First-Team All-Pro Selections: 0
    • Super Bowl Wins: 1 (2018 with New England)
    • Notable Awards: 2012 All-Rookie Team Selection

After 1998, the Colts have only drafted once with the 1st overall pick, and that year was 2012. With that 1st pick, the team selected QB Andrew Luck. Although he retired early last season at the young age of 29, Luck put together a very strong career in such a short time.

He immediately turned the Colts around from 2-14 the previous season to 11-5 in each of his first three seasons. He brought the Colts to the playoffs in all three of those seasons with a sub-par roster around him, including a trip to the AFC Championship in 2014. After two 8-8 seasons and a missed 2017 season due to injury, Luck returned in 2018, after a 4-12 Colts season in 2017, back to the divisional round of the playoffs, a 10-6 record, and a Pro Bowl appearance. Luck was consistently one of the best players at his position during his career.

Outside of Luck, the team drafted WR T.Y. Hilton in the third round. He has also been a mainstay in the offense since coming into the league. He is one of the best deep threats in the game, earning him the nickname “The Ghost”.

He has amassed more than 1000 yards in 5 out of his 8 total seasons, including a 2016 season where he led the league in receiving yards with 1448. Hilton has also received 4 Pro Bowl selections, from 2014-2017. He will be one of the Colts’ primary receiving targets for the coming years.

The other two notable players in this class is the TE duo, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen. Both served as valuable receiving targets for Andrew Luck until Fleener left in 2015 and Allen in 2016, making way for the emergence of Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron as replacements for Fleener and Allen’s TE duo. This draft was a solid one overall but better classes have been drafted by the Colts.

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