One month ago, when the birds were still chirping in Colts-land, and the air smelled of woodsmoke and cinnamon, it seemed as if everything GM Chris Ballard touched turned to gold. Draft picks, free agents, returning vets … they all were performing up to and above their ceilings. And then winter came.
Well, not really, but you get the idea. The losing streak and injuries were so bad that the long-retired Philip Rivers became a punch line for one news cycle before the league turned its attention elsewhere. But we’ll keep looking at the Colts. Because this is a really weird time to be a fan.
On the one hand, the floor has dropped out from under the team that felt good enough about its chances for a Super Bowl that it traded away a good bit of its future in an attempt to win now. The Colts appear to be in free fall and no one’s job is safe.
Re-grading the Indianapolis Colts' 2024 draft picks
On the other hand, they are still in playoff contention – still control their own destiny, and still have a lot of the players that helped them establish the best record in the NFL by the end of October.
With that in mind, we’re going to begin looking at the decisions that led to this topsy-turvy moment. And we’re going to begin with a reassessment of Chris Ballard’s 2024 draft class.
We’re doing this for two reasons. First, in the midst of the current chaos, we should try and determine where this roster really stands moving forward. Second, specific to Ballard, we need to understand whether he has been brilliant (the common assessment prior to November) or a bum (the prevailing sentiment right about now).
Decisions about who will be in charge of this team next year are almost certainly being mulled right about now.
So turn back your clocks to late April 2024. Chris Ballard made nine picks in the draft. He had one in each round, along with a couple of extras in the fifth. In reverse order, here’s how each grades out today…
Round 7, pick 234: Jonah Laulu, defensive tackle
Laulu was a logical project. A tall, rangy interior lineman who could provide some depth behind Indy’s aging tackles. He was released in the final cuts before the season and looked to be a likely practice squad player, but the Raiders snatched him up. He has been a starter on a poor defense for most of this year. The pick itself wasn’t bad, but the Colts have nothing to show for it.
Grade: D+
Round 6, pick 201: Micah Abraham, cornerback
As with Laulu, Abraham was drafted with the idea of proving depth behind slot corner Kenny Moore. He did not make the roster and, after bouncing from one practice squad to another, was not signed to any roster before the 2025 season. As of now, he is out of the NFL.
Grade: F
Round 5, pick 164: Jaylin Simpson, safety
Simpson was one of two fifth-round safeties who were drafted with the idea of switching them to other positions. In Simpson’s case, Indy tried him at cornerback. It was a little surprising that the Colts parted ways with both of their late-round corners.
Simpson was re-signed to the practice squad but was signed away by the Jets during the season. He has been on the Packers’ practice squad this season. Again, some talent, but the Colts got no value out of the pick.
Grade: D
Round 5, pick 151: Jaylon Carlies, safety
Carlies shifted in the opposite direction from Simpson, moving from college safety to off-ball linebacker in the pros. He showed a lot of potential to be a cover linebacker during his rookie season. So much so that he was penciled in as the likely starter after E.J. Speed departed.
But an injury kept him out for much of his second year, and recently acquired Germaine Pratt has seized control of the linebacker spot next to Zaire Franklin. Carlies should be a useful situational player and special teamer over the next few years.
Grade: C+
Round 5, pick 142: Anthony Gould, wide receiver/kick returner
It was hoped that Gould could be a dynamic playmaker both as a receiver and as a returner. To date, he has done almost nothing as a receiver. And though he has been Indy’s primary returner on kickoffs and punts this year, he has not shown much there either. He has been serviceable, nothing more.
Grade: C
Round 4, pick 117: Tanor Bortolini, center
A stone-cold steal. Bortolini was the third true center chosen in the draft, and in his second year, he has already established himself as one of the best in the league. Should be the centerpiece of the offensive line for the next decade.
Grade: A+
Round 3, pick 79: Matt Goncalves, offensive lineman
Through the first six weeks of the season, it looked like Goncalves was right there with Bortolini, blasting open holes for Jonathan Taylor and keeping Daniel Jones upright. But his play has fallen off of late.
Whether that is the result of wear and tear or injury, or simply struggling against better competition in recent weeks, it is a bit concerning. Still, the Pittsburgh product has enough upside to remain optimistic about the future.
Grade: B
Round 2, pick 52: Adonai Mitchell, wide receiver
The brief tenure of AD Mitchell in Indianapolis had more downs than ups. In hindsight, his fate was sealed by two very costly errors against the Rams that resulted in the Colts’ first loss of 2025. He was traded away as part of the deal that brought Sauce Gardner to town, so at least Ballard recouped some value.
But considering that he also gave up two first-round draft picks, Mitchell seems like a throw-in. Alas, the Colts were never able to harness the receiver’s obvious talent and seemed eager to send him packing. Terrible value in the second round, though oddly, he is one of four second-round receivers who are no longer with the team that drafted them.
Grade: D-
Round 1, pick 15: Laiatu Latu, defensive end
Has emerged as the Colts' top edge pass rusher, whose length and athleticism have made him a real force. The only knock you could put on the pick is that Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse was still available when the Latu pick was made. But you can always play those “we should have picked…” games. As long as the player you get is quality, be happy. And Latu is quality.
Grade: A
So that’s a pretty hit-and-miss effort from Ballard. Two excellent additions plus another solid one. All the good picks were linemen. The others have not contributed much, although Carlies and Gould are still developing. Maybe worst of all, four of the nine picks are no longer with the franchise, less than two years later. That’s not a very good sign.