When it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft, there have been a lot of analysts proposing the same several names for the Indianapolis Colts to target: Tyler Warren and Malaki Starks, and then a few random options, like Harold Fannin, Jr. and Jalen Milroe. These are often draft candidates assumed to be taken early on, however; what could the Colts do in later rounds?
A new seven-round mock draft from The Athletic's James Boyd introduced one potential mid-round pick that could serve as the competition the Colts are looking for at quarterback. In round four, Boyd suggested Ohio State quarterback Will Howard.
"This selection is probably a head-scratcher for many of you, but just hear me out. Ballard said Indy will prioritize bringing in more competition at quarterback, and reading the tea leaves a bit, that likely means the Colts will try to bring in a veteran like Justin Fields, Daniel Jones or Jameis Winston to compete with Richardson for the starting job. However, it can’t hurt to also take a flier on Howard, who may not even make it to the fourth round after leading Ohio State to a national championship. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound dual-threat QB will turn 24 before the NFL season begins, so perhaps he doesn’t have as much upside as his peers. But if Richardson doesn’t get it together in 2025 and Indy moves on from him in 2026, it could be an underrated investment to already have Howard developing on the roster."James Boyd
The Colts have struggled with their starting quarterback, Anthony Richardson, particularly in 2024, his second season. Richardson showed improvement after being benched midseason, and he shows flashes of brilliance and incredible ability that no other quarterback in the NFL can touch. Unfortunately, he also has serious problems with technique, accuracy, and consistency, and Richardson will need to show massive improvement in 2025 if he wants to keep his job.
General manager Chris Ballard has said that while they're still standing behind Richardson, they also are looking to find other QBs to compete with him. Interestingly, while Howard is considered "old" for a college quarterback, that is an issue directly opposite to the issue of Richardson's extreme youth.
Even if Howard doesn't doesn't end up as a starter, he could help pressure Richardson, and spend time developing on his own into an NFL-worthy quarterback. It's not a bad idea for a mid-round pick at all, and they likely won't be fighting with a ton of other teams to get him.