6 potential late-round steals that should be on the Colts radar

The Indianapolis Colts have found a ton of talent on Day 3 of the NFL Draft in the past, and this year’s draft is shaping up to be no different.

As the 2023 NFL Draft draws near the Indianapolis Colts are finalizing visits with prospects and narrowing down the field of who they may take come April 27. While most of the focus has been spent on the Colts' 4th-overall pick, this isn't to say that Chris Ballard and the front office aren't prepared for the later rounds. In fact, this has been where Ballard has shined and found several diamonds in the rough.

Since Ballard took over in 2017 he has drafted 32 players on Day 3 (rounds 4 through 7). This has included the likes of Marlon Mack, Grover Stewart, Nyheim Hines, Zaire Franklin, EJ Speed, Isaiah Rodgers, Rodney Thomas II, etc. Ballard has proven his ability to move back in the draft, accumulating more picks, while still selecting talented players.

Let's take a look at some potential Day 3 (rounds 4-7) steals in the 2023 NFL Draft that Indianapolis may already have their eyes on.

Steals Colts can find in Round 4

Currently Indy only has one pick in the fourth round, 106th overall. This is the third pick in the fourth round to kick off Day 3.

Nathaniel "Tank" Dell is a name to be on everyone's radar as we wenter the 2023 NFL Draft. At 5-foot-8, 165 pounds, he is undersized for a wide receiver but makes up for it in explosiveness and route running. He finished last season at Houston with over 1300 yards and 15 touchdowns on over 100 receptions.

He primarily lined up in the slot which is a position the Colts have been looking to fill. He has shown he can stretch the field. He has lined up in several positions on offense and could be an all-around threat that will require specific defensive attention. His speed and quickness in his feet help him off the block and separate from defenders.

The knock on Dell is his size/frame and his lack of a specific role. While some may see this as an advantage it could very easily lead to Dell being beat out on certain teams that already have good skill players on offense. However, with the slot being a position of need and new head coach Shane Steichen wanting to stretch the field, Dell could be an asset Indianapolis acquires.

If Chris Ballard could build the mold for his ideal edge rusher then Yaya Diaby would almost fit perfectly in that mold. At 6-foot-3, 263 pounds, with an arm length of 33 7/8" and hand size of 10 3/8", he checks the box for size in Ballard's book and also has the inherant athletic traits he is looking for as well. He ran the 40-yard dash at the combine in 4.51 seconds which ranked sixth among defensive ends.

Like Dell, Diaby is coming off his most productive collegiate season recording 7.5 sacks and 33 total tackles for the Louisville Cardinals. He shines as a pass rusher when he can use his arms and strength to get past a blocker.

The Colts are an ideal landing spot for Diaby where he can be a rotational pass rusher while he works to develop his skills in the run game. He can benefit from the veteran presence on the defensive line while also getting time in the mix with Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo. Being able to work with Colts' legend Robert Mathis wouldn't be terrible either.

Steals Colts can find in Round 5

The Indianapolis Colts have three picks in the fifth round as of right now, picks 138, 162, and 176 overall. Another prospect to watch in these rounds (5 or 6) is Chris Rodriguez Jr who had their drills run by Colts' scout Mike Lacy during his pro day.

Emil Ekiyor Jr played in over 40 career games at Alabama and projects to be an early starter in the NFL. The Colts need to bolster their offensive line having a revolving door at some positions last season. They also have had an inability to protect the quarterback which won't bode well if they draft the future quarterback of the franchise in this draft as well.

Ekiyor has been a member of very proficient offensives that has featured some key prospects all across the unit. He has a quick first step in the run game and plays physically wanting to punish defenders. Does that sound familiar Colts fans? He as just as aggresive in pass blocking and uses his quickness to pickup stunts and twists.

This prospect was a participant in the Colts' local pro-day since Ekiyor hails from Indianapolis, Indiana. He went to Cathedral High School in Indy where he was a four-star recruit to Alabama. A homecoming may be on the horizon for Ekiyor come draft day.

Its obvious that the Colts are thin in the secondary after trading away Stephon Gilmore and the uncertainty surrounding Kenny Moore II and the rest of the group. Starling Thomas V is the kind of under-the-radar guy that Ballard likes to pickup. He also could be a diamond in the rough for Indianapolis. He has lightning-fast speed and the team has already had a top-30 visit with him.

Starling comes in at 5-foot-10 and 196 pounds but brings with him a lot of playing experience. He played in 12 games his freshman year, started all 14 his sophomore year, and missed one year with a knee injury. He then came back for his junior season and earned honorable mention for his efforts as cornerback and punt returner.

He followed that up with his senior season earning first-team All-Conference-USA honors by posting 30 tackles and 15 pass breakups (led the team) in 13 starts. Starling stays physical through the catch but can sometimes be prone to leaning and lunging. He has played primarily on the outside by may shift to the slot in the NFL based on his size. May not be a bad insurance policy with the uncertainty surrounding Moore's future with the team.

Steals Colts can find in Round 7

Currently, the Indianapolis Colts do not have a pick in the sixth round so we now jump to Round 7. With that being said, Starling Thomas V could be taken in the sixth round instead but Indy could jump early on him to ensure they land him.

Nick Hampton is the idea of an underdog when you look at his time playing football. He left high school as a two-star recruit. He made it to Appalachian State and redshirted his freshman season adding muscle to his then 210-pound frame and preparing for what lied ahead. Fast forward to his senior season where he was named a team captain and finished his time at App State tied for fourth all-time in program history with 26.5 sacks.

He now weighs in at 236 pounds at 6-foot-2. His arm length measured 33 5/8" and his hand size is 9 1/2". His 40-yard dash time of 4.58 seconds tied for 11th out of edge rushers at the 2023 NFL combine. His vertical jump of 35.5" ranked seventh amongst the position group.

Hampton will continue to add muscle mass but could contribute early as a pass-rusher. He has great bend on the edge and can impress early by getting to the quarterback. Something the Colts have lacked in recent seasons. He could be another welcomed addition to a young, developing defensive line in Indianapolis.

Another prospect on the defensive side to look out for in the closing round of the 2023 NFL Draft is Ventrell Miller out of Florida. The Colts still have a solid linebacking core despite losing Bobby Okereke to the New York Giants this offseason. Miller will be added depth in a room that could provide some early opportunities to contribute. Indianapolis has already met with Miller and expressed some interest.

This 6-foot-0, 232-pound linebacker has played in over 40 career games for the Gators amassing more than 240 tackles in his career. He has been described as having a high football IQ and great instincts to respond to blocks and schemes. Miller isn't afraid to get physical and plays a downhill in the run game.

He could improve in his pass coverage, but having the instincts to identify and respond to plays goes a long way in helping that. His lack of athleticism is a concern but he more than makes up for that in the mental side of the game. Miller would be able to grow and develop on the Colts without the expectation of making an immediate impact.

READ MORE: 3 cornerbacks Colts can draft to replace Stephon Gilmore