3 best moments from Colts behind-the-scenes Draft series: With the next pick

The Indianapolis Colts released part two of their Draft series With The Next Pick, and it contains some great moments from the 2023 Draft weekend.

In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts put together a really strong draft class. Headlined by fourth-overall pick, quarterback Anthony Richardson, Indy selected 12 prospects with great athleticism and a ton of upside. Those players will now help the Colts try to turn things around.

Fortunately, for everyone outside of the organization, Indianapolis’ content team is just as good as the franchise’s scouting department. The Colts do a great job of giving everyone behind-the-scenes access, especially when it comes to draft content. With the series, With The Next Pick, Indy takes everyone into its scouting and drafting process.

On Thursday, the team released part two of this year’s version. It was a 33-minute episode that detailed draft weekend for the Colts. From the nerves of the war room, to trading back, to the emotional calls with players, Indy captured it all. Here are the three best moments.

3. Chris Ballard makes sure Colts quarterback plans don’t leak

Leading up to the NFL Draft, several reporters thought they knew which quarterback Indianapolis wanted to select. However, Chris Ballard didn’t know who they were getting false information from because he was confident that no plans were leaking out of the building. During the episode, we see Ballard make it clear that no discussions leave the room.

He demanded that no one even talks about the QB plans with their closest loved ones, using himself as an example, saying, his wife didn’t even have a clue which direction the Colts were leaning. It was nice to see Ballard set that expectations for his team.

Surely enough, nothing got out. Everyone knew Indy was taking a quarterback but they didn’t know which QB and if the Colts were going to trade up or stay at four. While some analysts were convinced that Indianapolis was going with Will Levis, the team executed their plan to select Anthony Richardson.

2. Colts realize they can draft Anthony Richardson

After the draft, Indianapolis made it clear that Anthony Richardson had been their guy for a while. That was clear throughout the episode as well. Everyone in the scouting department had been raving about Richardson and his unique abilities for weeks.

Entering Thursday night, the Colts had their mind made up on picking Richardson. However, things did get a bit tense, and Indianapolis wasn’t sure if Richardson would make it to No. 4. Ballard had decided to take a gamble and not trade up to No. 3. In the footage, when it was announced that the Arizona Cardinals traded the No. 3 pick, you could see the split second of disappointment where Ballard thought the gamble backfired.

Ballard was deflated for a split second, then it was announced that the Houston Texans were the team that acquired the third-overall pick. Houston had just drafted CJ Stroud at No. 2, so everyone knew they were moving up for edge defender Will Anderson Jr.

When the trade was announced, the Colts’ draft room may have been more excited than the Texans were. Ballard’s face quickly shifted from disappointment to joy, and the room started to cheer and fist bump because they knew they were getting their guy.

1. Colts emotional phone call with Josh Downs

Just like Richardson, Indianapolis entered the draft knowing they wanted wide receiver Josh Downs. However, it seemed like Indy wasn’t going to be able to get him. After selecting Richardson in the first round and Julius Brents in the second, the Colts spent 30 minutes trying to trade up for Downs.

Downs was expected to be off the board way before pick No. 79. Indianapolis thought that was going to happen, and Downs probably did as well. That’s probably why the call was so emotional when Downs ultimately fell to Indy. The moment when Downs and his family witnessed his dream come true was beautifully captured and it brought all the feelings.

As Josh Downs was on the phone with Indy crying, his family was erupting in praise around him. Chris Ballard, on the other end of the phone, heard all of the passion and joy that was coming through the line and all he could do was smile. He knew that he just got a passionate player that was ready to give his all to the organization.

That's what the draft is all about. Emotional moments where people get to celebrate with their family as their dreams come true.

READ MORE: Grading all 12 draft picks for the Colts