Colts 7-round 2023 NFL mock draft 3.0: Chris Ballard gets uncharacteristic

I, aka Chris Ballard, had to make at least one trade back otherwise this wouldn't be a Ballard draft. This time around, Ballard reloads for the beginning of Day three in the 2024 Draft. If there’s one thing we learned about Chris Ballard during his tenure as general manager, it’s that he loves stacking up on other picks.

The Indianapolis Colts draft EDGE Karl Brooks in the fifth round (164th overall)

After getting that patented Ballard trade-back out of the way, it's time to return to Eric DeCosta-mode (Ravens GM). Back to another best pick available and the Bowling Green standout, Karl Brooks, is headed to Indianapolis.

Karl Brooks played five years at BGSU, thanks to an extra year of elgibility from the shortended 2020 season. He got better every year, both at his craft and statistically, and this year was the highest-rated edge defender in all of college football from PFF's player grades.

As a pass rusher his senior year, Brooks tallied 60 total pressures, which included 43 quarterback hurries, five quarterback hits, and an impressive 12 sacks on the season.

At 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, it makes sense that Brooks would profile as an interior defensive lineman in the NFL. He lacks the ability to create leverage off the snap while lacking the now-traditional dip-and-bend ability as any modern day EDGE should. Despite that, and while continuing with the BPA theme, a shot at the healthy and productive BGSU product could find a home in Indianapolis.

This would be the second defensive lineman selected for Indianapolis in this class, helping Indy to have one of the deepest units, with DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart already returning.