Colts 7-round 2023 NFL mock draft 4.0: Post free-agency fixes

The Indianapolis Colts select C/G Jarrett Patterson with the 136th overall pick in the fifth round

You may be asking yourself, another Fighting Irish lineman? Well, it was worked out so far for the Indianapolis Colts. Why not keep dipping into that pool? Here, Indy gets a versatile offensive lineman that they can plug-n-play and potentially fill holes at the guard or center positions. Jarrett Patterson has good size at 6-foot-5" and 306 pounds.

Patterson was a starting center at Notre Dame during his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. During his senior season (2021) he was named a team captain and had not allowed a sack in his collegiate career. In his graduate season (2022) he made the move over to left guard but retained his captain status.

The Indianapolis Colts select WR Rakim Jarrett with the 138th overall pick in the fifth round

Two picks later the Indianapolis Colts decided to invest back in the offense but this time added a skill position weapon. The team needs to fill a hole vacated by Campbell and, in that same vein, is desperately looking for someone to step up in addition to Pittman Jr. At 6-foot-0" and 192 pounds Rakim Jarrett may be the slot receiver Indianapolis is looking for.

He ran a 4.44 forty at the combine to go with a 35.5" vertical and a 10' 9" broad jump. Jarrett has been described as a better athlete than receiver at this point but under the tutelage of the great Reggie Wayne, he could develop some real skills. If he plays his cards right he could see the field early if he shows up and beats out the lack of competition in the room.

He lined up in the slot for 297 snaps out of 314 passing snaps last season which meant he spent about 95 percent of his passing snaps in the slot. He finished his three seasons at Maryland ranked 11th in Terrapin history in career receptions with 119, 12th in program history in career touchdowns with 10, and 13th in program history in career yards with 1,552.

The Indianapolis Colts select G Chandler Zavala with the 162nd overall pick in the fifth round

The Indianapolis Colts double-dip on the offensive line in the fifth round selecting Chandler Zavala from NC State. This guard comes in at 6-foot-5" and 325 pounds. This could be added depth for the Colts or a potential candidate to start at the right guard position. If Indianapolis does decide to move on from current center Ryan Kelly then the team could potentially be looking at its new center and right guard in the fifth round.

Zavala began his collegiate career at Fairmont State where he was a two-year starter at left guard. Here he started 20 games and played in 23 from 2017 to 2019. He joined the Wolfpack in 2021 and played in five games before suffering a back injury that required season-ending surgery.

The rushing game suffered while Zavala was out, going from 172 yards per game down to 93. He returned in 2022 where he started 12 games only allowing one hit and three hurries but no sacks. He exclusively played the left guard position at NC State as well.

The Indianapolis Colts select WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton with the 176th overall pick in the fifth round

This is the pick that the Indianapolis Colts got in return for sending Gilmore to the Cowboys. Instead of adding depth to the position vacated by Gilmore, the Colts decided to only pick offensive players in the fifth round and stayed true with this pick. Bryce Ford-Wheaton fits the athletic, tall profile the team is assembling in the passing game.

Ford-Wheaton measured 6-foot-4" and 221 pounds at the combine and ran a 4.38 forty with a 41" vertical and 10' 9" broad jump. His forty time was 13th out of all participants and fourth best amongst receivers. He led all receivers in the vertical jump and was seventh overall. He has the athletic ability and size to win the 50-50 balls that Alec Pierce was brought in to win.

He spent the majority of his time in West Virginia lined up out wide. Every season he improved leading the team by his senior season with 62 receptions on 105 targets for 675 yards and seven touchdowns. In WVU history he ranks 12th in career receptions (143), is tied for 15th in career receiving touchdowns (13), and 18th in career yards (1,867).