The 15 best draft picks in Indianapolis Colts history

NEW YORK - APRIL 18: First round draft pick Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis colts, commissioner Paul Tagliabue and owner of the Colts Jim Irsay poses for this photo while Peyton shows his jersey to the Media after he was drafted by the Colts during the NFL Draft April 18, 1998 at the Theatre at MSG in the Manhattan borough of New York City. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - APRIL 18: First round draft pick Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis colts, commissioner Paul Tagliabue and owner of the Colts Jim Irsay poses for this photo while Peyton shows his jersey to the Media after he was drafted by the Colts during the NFL Draft April 18, 1998 at the Theatre at MSG in the Manhattan borough of New York City. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
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Colts, Andrew Luck
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell introduces Andrew Luck as the number one overall pick to the Indianapolis Colts. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Talking about immensely talented players whose time with Indianapolis was shorter than many hoped, it was only a matter of time before Andrew Luck’s name appeared.

Luck was the first-overall pick of the 2012 Draft and he entered the league with a lot of hype. Coming out of Stanford, many thought he was the best quarterback coming into the league since Peyton Manning. Some even thought he was better.

With so many expectations placed upon him, Luck entered the league and immediately delivered. As a rookie, he led the Colts to an 11-5 record while passing for 4,374 yards and 23 touchdowns.

In his second and third seasons, the Colts also finished 11-5 and Luck had made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons. Each year, Indy had also advanced further in the postseason, making it to the AFC Championship in Luck’s third season.

Unfortunately, that would be the peak of Luck’s short career. The following season, Luck would only play in seven total games, missing the rest with injury.

He would end up sitting the entire 2017 season with a shoulder injury before returning in 2018 to win Comeback Player of the Year and making another Pro Bowl.

What everyone thought was the start of a new chapter ended up being the closing section of his NFL career. That was ultimately Luck’s last season as he surprisingly retired in August of 2019.

Ultimately, Luck spent seven seasons with Indianapolis, playing in 86 games.

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