3 cornerbacks the Colts can draft to replace Stephon Gilmore

After trading Stephon Gilmore, addressing the cornerback position is a priority for the Indianapolis Colts. Here are three prospects Indy could draft.

Last season, the Indianapolis Colts were lucky to have one of the best cornerbacks in football: Stephon Gilmore. Indy signed Gilmore to a two-year deal last offseason so he could help the team contend for a title. Gilmore showed up as the elite cornerback that he is and delivered, unfortunately, the Colts didn’t hold up their end of the bargain.

Gilmore played quality football all season, making several winning plays, but Indy was just an underwhelming 4-12-1. So, with one season left on his deal, Indianapolis traded Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys, a team that’s expected to be a contender next season. The Colts, on the other hand, now have a cornerback room that lacks depth and is in desperate need of help.

That help should come in the 2023 NFL Draft. This is a pretty good group of defensive backs in the draft, and Indy should be able to get one of them. Here are three corners that Indianapolis can draft to replace Stephon Gilmore.

3. Colts can draft Christian Gonzalez

This option is the most unlikely, because Christian Gonzalez is the best cornerback in the draft, and is a lock for the first round. Indianapolis only has one first-round pick, No. 4, and that’s expected to be used on a quarterback. However, everyone isn’t entirely sold that the Colts will select a quarterback with the fourth-overall pick.

If Indy does make the shocking decision to go in a different direction than QB, Christian Gonzalez seems like a likely option. Cornerback is one of Indy’s biggest needs, and Gonzalez is the best of the best in this draft class.

Christian Gonzalez played his first two seasons in college at Colorado, before transferring to Oregon in 2022. Through all three of his seasons combined, Gonzalez has four interceptions, seven pass deflections, and 128 tackles. The 6-foot-1, 197-pound corner is smooth and athletic, and expected to be a day-one starter.