Horseshoe Heroes
FanSided

How the Colts can claim the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft

By Justin Bauerle

Nov 12, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) drops to throw during the first quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) drops to throw during the first quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 21: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts in the second quarter of a preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 21, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Colts defeated the Vikings 12-10. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 21: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts in the second quarter of a preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 21, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Colts defeated the Vikings 12-10. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

The bye week helps the Colts more than it hurts

Look, the team needs a break after getting brutalized against the Dallas Cowboys on national television. But the bye week is going to help the Colts in draft position, which will help Indianapolis down the road.

There are a few important matchups in the Week 14 slate that can get the Colts further up the draft board. Indianapolis will need to see big outings from the Broncos, Texans, Lions, and Panthers. There is not one single matchup that is going to be easy for those four teams. The Broncos host the Chiefs who are coming off a loss. The Texans head to Dallas who just had a big win on Sunday Night Football. The Lions host the Vikings and the Panthers head to Seattle.

This is not going to be a great week, but crazier things have happened. If these four teams can pull off upsets, this puts the Colts at the seventh pick in the draft.

Realistically, all four of these teams lose in Week 14, which doesn’t help the Colts, but that’s not why we are here. Let’s say they pull out the upset!

Heading to Minnesota in Week 15

This is already a tough matchup for the Colts in Week 15. I’m not worried about the Indianapolis cornerbacks covering Justin Jefferson, but I am worried that the offense will never score against the Vikings’ defense.

Indy will lose this game hands down and fall to 4-9-1 on the season, pushing their draft position a little more by themselves.

Key matchups in Week 15 for the Colts include the Texans vs Chiefs, Jaguars vs Cowboys, Broncos vs Cardinals, Saints vs Falcons, and Eagles vs Bears.

You may be asking why there is any kind of focus on the Saints needing to lose since the Eagles own their pick. This makes them a prime trade candidate for a team that wants to move up in the draft to get a quarterback. This goes for the Broncos as well. Both teams need to continue losing to help the Colts.

If the Texans, Jaguars, Broncos, Saints, and Bears can win these matchups, this would catapult the Colts up to the No. 4 overall pick in the draft.

Home/Colts Draft