The 2023 NFL Draft is right around the corner for the Indianapolis Colts, so who should the team avoid, and what scenarios may be possible?
The 2023 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and this could be a monumental one for the Indianapolis Colts. And after a four-win season, Chris Ballard is going to have a ton of pressure to create a quality draft for this squad. This team has plenty of needs, specifically at the quarterback position, and that choice by a team can have long-term effects that last plenty of years.
With knowing what this draft pool has, it is important to know who will not fit with your franchise, and with a new head coach in Shane Steichen, this new group of players will have to fit with his scheme. He will also be calling the plays, so acquiring a great franchise quarterback is crucial when it comes to ensuring this new coach will make a proper impact.
So when it comes to making a crucial decision, you also have to know who not to draft just as much as who you should draft in this situation. This is not meant to put down the players mentioned, and the choices as to who the Colts should avoid is scheme and fit based, rather than these players not having the talent, because these players can fit well with other teams.
Ballard has had solid drafts in the past throughout his tenure, but he will need to make sure this is one of the best, as the tide of the Colts as a franchise could be changed in just one day through this NFL Draft.
3. Colts should avoid C.J. Stroud, Quarterback, Ohio State
C.J. Stroud is a guy that some felt could be the absolute number one pick in this year's NFL Draft at one point, now that has trended towards Bryce Young. Stroud has not emerged as a guy that can make a lot work with nothing, while guys like Anthony Richardson have stepped up to be that.
While he will most likely have success at the NFL level, he has not shown a ton of mobility and improvisation that this Colts' system needs. If one is talking about Ohio State, the Colts may be better off snagging another receiver from that school in Jaxson Smith-Njigba, a player that could absolutely change an offense with his elite route-running.
Yes, Stroud was impressive against Georgia, and showed that he could play on the big stage, but it seems that Setichen is trying to recreate the offense that he had with the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles, and Richardson just seems to fit that better.
This team is going to need a quarterback who can be physical and take hits near the endzone on sneaks when the time comes for that, and there are better options than Stroud in this draft and the next to accomplish that.
While the sky will not fall in Indianapolis if Stroud is the fourth player off the board, the Colts should still look elsewhere here.