Colts 7-round 2023 NFL mock draft 2.0: Weapons for a rookie quarterback

After a disappointing season, the Indianapolis Colts have a chance to jump-start their future in the 2023 NFL Draft. Which prospects could Indy land?

The Indianapolis Colts will pick within the top five of this year’s NFL draft. This marks the first time that Indy has picked within the top five since 2012 when the Colts selected Andrew Luck with the first overall pick. All signs point to the Colts once again drafting a quarterback in the first round. There are a couple of different possibilities for how that could happen. The Chicago Bears, currently holding the first pick in the draft, will most likely be looking to trade down. Indy could look to trade up if they feel strongly enough about a player.

There’s also the possibility that the Colts just stick with the fourth-overall pick. At worst, Indianapolis could end up with the third-best quarterback in the draft due to a few of the top teams not needing a quarterback. That could likely land the Colts CJ Stroud, Will Levis, or Anthony Richardson.

However, to secure a shot at Bryce Young and even possibly CJ Stroud, Indy will likely have to give up some major draft capital to move up. At a minimum, the Colts would likely have to give up the fourth-overall pick, this year’s second-round pick, and next year’s first-round pick. Indy would likely have to give up next year’s second-round pick as well. A couple of players could also be in play and would help Indy hold on to some of its draft capital.

For the sake of this mock draft, I will not be trading up in the first round. Mostly due to the fact that I would rather see who Indy could get with the fourth overall pick. The positional needs for Indianapolis going into the 2023 NFL Draft are quarterback, offensive line, edge rusher, cornerback, and wide receiver.

The offense took a major step back this past season. Indy could look to get rid of its higher-paid offensive lineman and go with a younger player. The left tackle position is still questionable with Bernhard Raimann having an inconsistent rookie campaign. The interior of the offensive line also had its struggles and will likely get addressed in the draft. So who will Indy be picking?

The Indianapolis Colts draft quarterback CJ Stroud in the first round (fourth overall)

To begin the draft, the Chicago Bears took wideout Quentin Johnston. That seems extremely unlikely, but it took place in the mock draft simulator. It is likely though that the Bears would not take a quarterback with the first pick. The Houston Texans, however, did take a quarterback with the second-overall pick. The Texans selected quarterback Bryce Young from Alabama.

In this scenario, the Colts just need to take the best quarterback on the board. CJ Stroud is without a doubt one of the top two quarterbacks in this draft class. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 218 pounds, Stroud has the best build of any quarterback in this year’s draft. Stroud also has the ability to make throws into a small window and air it out down field. He brings a lot to the table to say the least.

Stroud’s college resume is hard to deny. As a two-year starter, he threw for 85 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. Stroud has been a Heisman finalist twice, a second and third-team All-American, and a two-time first-team All-Big Ten quarterback. Stroud was also just a few plays away from leading his team to the National Championship. Set to be 21 years old at the start of next season, Stroud answered many of his critics in the playoffs this year.

The main knocks against Stroud are his footwork and overall consistency as a passer. A lot of that has to do with wasted movement in the pocket, which is something that can be fixed at the next level. Stroud has also struggled while throwing under pressure in the past, but he dominated Georgia which had the most dominant pass rush in the country.

With any young quarterback, his performance is largely going to depend on which coaches and players the team can put around him. Indy still has not hired their head coach, but if the Colts make the right choice and put the right pieces around Stroud, he can be a special player.

The Indianapolis Colts trade back with the Rams and select EDGE Nolan Smith in the second round (36th overall)

This seems to be the typical move that the Colts would make under current general manager Chris Ballard. In this trade, Indy trades one spot back and receives an additional sixth-round pick. In this spot, I believe the team will look to fill a need at an important position: edge rusher.

Nolan Smith was the top recruit in the 2019 recruiting class and he did not disappoint. Smith won Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2019. Smith is also a two-time National Champion, but he did not play in the championship this past season due to a torn pectoral muscle.

With Yannick Ngakoue possibly leaving Indianapolis in free agency, the team needs to put someone on the other side of Kwity Paye. This pick is the ultimate high-upside selection. Smith never fully lived up to his hype at Georgia, but a large part of that is due to the players that surrounded him.

Smith totaled 12 quarterback hurries this season and three sacks. However, he only played eight games before his season ended due to injury. Although Smith has not exactly become the pass rusher many people thought he would be, he does excel in run defense.

Nolan Smith struggled to stand out on a loaded Georgia defense but I still think the potential is too high to overlook him at this point in the draft. Smith is one of the best run defenders in the draft and he has a higher upside than most players at his position.

The main knock on Nolan Smith is his lack of production. His highest sack total in four years was only 3.5 sacks. Smith isn’t a refined pass rusher yet and he has a slender frame. He has all the athleticism needed, but he just does not have the moves needed to rush the passer.

Nolan Smith is an electric athlete and he is simply the type of player you have to take a look at in the second round. Smith is a first-round talent, but he has day-two or three production. This is the type of pick that will make Chris Ballard look like a genius if it works and possibly makes him look really bad if it goes badly.

Colts select offensive tackle Blake Freeland in the third round (79th overall)

Indy desperately needs help on the offensive line. When you draft a quarterback in the first round, you do whatever you can to protect him. Although the Colts need help on the interior, I believe Blake Freeland is a good enough prospect to take in the third round. Freeland played right tackle in 2020, but he played mostly left tackle over the course of his final two seasons. Currently, the Colts have Bernhard Raimann at left tackle and Braden Smith at right tackle.

Neither of Indy’s offensive tackles had a PFF grade higher than 76. In his senior season, Freeland graded out at 90.8 by PFF. Freeland only allowed two sacks in four seasons at BYU. In his final three seasons, Freeland only allowed one sack.

Blake Freeland stands at 6-foot-8 and weighs 305 pounds. He has great size for an offensive tackle. Freeland is also considered to be one of the quicker offensive linemen in the draft. Freeland has a quick first step and excels at stifling pass rushers. He is also no slouch in the run game. In the run game, Freeland does well at getting to the second level and finishing blocks.

Freeland excels at beating a bull rush, but he can often get beat by the faster edge rushers. He tends to overset and lunge. There are some technique fixes that Freeland will have to work on at the next level, but he could be a starter or a great depth piece for Indy’s offensive line.

The Indianapolis Colts draft tight end Cameron Latu in the fourth round (106th overall)

Although I do not necessarily think tight end is the biggest need for Indianapolis in this draft, it was too hard to pass up on Latu in the fourth round. Latu took a step back in 2022, but he is still one of the best tight ends in this draft class. Latu generated a 156.3 passer rating when targeted on intermediate routes last season. He totaled 777 yards and 12 touchdowns in two seasons at Alabama. He has trouble getting separation, but he has elite size which helps him make contested catches.

Latu can serve as a reliable safety valve for Indianapolis. However, he also has promising deep-threat ability. Latu has strong hands and a ton of upside. The main negatives against Latu are his blocking, route running, and overall speed.

Latu could be a good weapon for Indianapolis. Either way, he would add some depth to a tight end room that lacks high-end talent. Latu is another upside pick for Indianapolis which is not a bad idea based on the production last season.

The Indianapolis Colts select wideout Trey Palmer in the fifth round (140th overall)

I have the Colts selecting another offensive piece in the fifth round. It seems fitting for a team that finished with one of the most disappointing offensive units last season. Trey Palmer is a great fit for an offensive unit that added CJ Stroud earlier in this mock draft. Last season with Nebraska, Palmer finished with over 1000 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. Palmer showed an elite ability as a deep threat. He is a fluid route runner and is one of the quicker wideouts in the draft.

Palmer has elite speed and would add some depth to a lackluster receiver room for Indianapolis. He has shown his ability as a deep threat which was something the Colts lacked last season. I think Palmer would pair well with Stroud.

In college, Palmer’s main struggles were creating separation and blocking. However, he is very comfortable making catches in traffic which helps him with the lack of separation. With Indy possibly losing Parris Campbell this offseason, the team gets a guy who can fill that role with Trey Palmer.

The Indianapolis Colts select cornerback Riley Moss in the sixth round (205th overall)

It took all the way until the sixth round, but here the Colts add depth to a position of need. Riley Moss is not the flashy player you would typically see at defensive back. However, he can be a solid depth piece. Moss would most likely play slot corner for Indianapolis. He could also be a valuable player for the special teams unit. Indy has done well in the past with defensive players that are drafted in the later rounds of the draft.

Riley Moss is not necessarily a ball hawking corner, but he did have 11 interceptions in five seasons. Moss also had three defensive touchdowns in college. Moss is a solid depth piece that could have the potential to become a valuable player with some development.

The Indianapolis Colts select defensive lineman Byron Young in the sixth round (212th overall)

This pick is the second part of the Rams trade made earlier in this mock draft. With this pick Indianapolis adds another solid depth piece to the defense. Byron Young is a bit slim for an interior lineman, but he has great athleticism. At just 245 pounds, Young will have to put on some weight at the next level. He still has some room to fill out his frame, but with that you risk losing some athleticism. His main struggles come due to his lack of size and strength. However, he still makes plays and was a productive player in college.

He was used as an edge rusher for a good bit of his time at Tennessee. However, he excels in run defense. With some added weight, I could see him make more of a shift inside. Young is a solid depth piece that could be used in different situations for Indy. With the Colts already having a solid defensive line, Young could slide right in and be a contributing depth player.

The Indianapolis Colts select offensive lineman Aki Ogunbiyi in the seventh round (223rd overall)

With this pick, the Colts get the chance to add depth to a position that struggled last season. Ogunbiyi mostly played guard last year for Texas A&M. Due to his size he was at times asked to play left tackle. Ogunbiyi missed the end of last season with a knee injury and his stock has dropped heavily. He only saw action in 15 games in three seasons with the Aggies. Out of all the picks in this mock draft, Ogunbiyi is the biggest project.

Considered to be one of the best guards in the country coming out of high school, Ogunbiyi never really developed during his time in college. He will most likely be just a depth piece for Indianapolis, but he has a high enough upside to pick him in the seventh round.

The Indianapolis Colts draft wideout Nathaniel Dell in the seventh round (238th overall)

Nathaniel Dell is an intriguing prospect based on his production in college. Dell had over 1300 yards receiving in each of his last two seasons with Houston. He also had 29 receiving touchdowns in his last two seasons. At 5-foot-10, Dell is on the smaller side for receivers. However, he is a big playmaker who averaged over 33 yards per reception last season. If Dell made the Colts’ roster, he is another option to fill the void that could be left by Parris Campbell.

The main knocks on Dell are his lack of size, his limited route tree, and his inability to create separation. However, Dell is just too big of a playmaker to not draft in the seventh round. The production is just too good and the potential is there.

Top to bottom, I think this is a solid draft for Indianapolis. With this mock draft, the Colts fill most of their positional needs and get their franchise quarterback.

Final grades for every Colts free agent signing from 2022

One year later, let’s take a look at how the 2022 free agent acquisitions for the Indianapolis Colts faired in the 2022 season.