Colts 7-round 2023 NFL mock draft 4.0: Post free-agency fixes
. TE | Miami (FL). . 221. . Will Mallory. player. 46
The Indianapolis Colts select TE Will Mallory with the 221st overall pick in the seventh round
The trade with the Bears actually helped the Indianapolis Colts as they are currently without a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Ballard took the opportunity to snag a few more picks in the fifth round to get his guys. Now we round things out in the seventh and final round where the team has two selections. The first selection went to Will Mallory, a tight end from The U.
Will Mallory can SCOOT🙌
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 4, 2023
pic.twitter.com/KGOh0pImY0
Mallory was listed as 6-foot-4 1/2" and 239 pounds at the combine where he ran a 4.54 forty with a 36.5 vertical and 10' 1" broad jump. Mallory played in over 10 games each season (5) in Miami. He ended his time there with 115 receptions for 1544 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Drake Thomas. 46. player. . . LB | North Carolina State. . 236
The Indianapolis Colts select LB Drake Thomas with the 236th overall pick in the seventh round
The Indianapolis Colts finished their draft by adding some depth at the linebacking position with Drake Thomas. This was their second player drafted from NC State in this mock draft. Replacing Okereke will be a team effort and Thomas has the opportunity to arrive and fill some holes. The linebacking core in Indianapolis seems to be full of surprises as Speed and Zaire Franklin seemed to pop off out of nowhere and Jojo Domann, an undrafted free agent signing last season, showed promise as well.
NC State LB Drake Thomas runs through Maryland’s center to pancake him on the way to a TFL in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
— Seven Rounds in Heaven (@7RoundsInHeaven) December 30, 2022
Thomas is one of the most aggressive downhill thumpers in the 2023 NFL Draft class. pic.twitter.com/M93QBgyowX
Out of his 815 defensive snaps last season, Thomas dropped into coverage for 329 snaps while rushing the passer on only 196 snaps. The other 290 snaps were spent defending against the run. His hands were active in 2021, registering three interceptions. In 2022, he had 101 total tackles, which made two consecutive seasons with at least 100 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and four passes deflected.
That wraps up this mock draft for the Colts. This draft follows some initial signings in free agency that helped fill some holes but still didn't get all of them. This draft helped solidify the future at quarterback while adding some key pieces on both sides of the ball. Ballard had a classic trade in this draft loading up on picks in rounds where he has found several diamonds in the rough in previous drafts.
For those of you that are curious, Mr. Irrelevant in this draft, otherwise known as the last person selected, was Eku Leota, an edge rusher out of Auburn, to the Houston Texans with the 259th overall pick.