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

After filling some holes in the first part of free agency the Indianapolis Colts will look to the 2023 NFL Draft to fill out the rest of their roster.

The Indianapolis Colts, led by current general manager Chris Ballard, were a little more active than usual during the opening of the NFL's free agency period signing five outside free agents during the opening days. The Colts first signed kicker Matt Gay to a four-year $22.5 million contract completing the largest free agency signing of any kicker in NFL history.

Indianapolis followed that up with a few more equitable signings, agreeing to terms with former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Gardner Minshew on a one-year $3.5 million deal. Ballard was also able to land some help on the defensive line in former San Francisco 49er Samson Ebukam and former Cleveland Brown Taven Bryan. Recently the Colts dipped into the wide receiver market, signing former Buffalo Bill Isaiah McKenzie.

While these signings added some depth and filled some holes, Indy brought back a few of their own. On the defensive end, the team retained Tyquan Lewis, EJ Speed, and Tony Brown. On the offensive side, they retained Carter O'Donnell and Ashton Dulin. During this time the team released Matt Ryan, traded Stephon Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys, and had Parris Campbell and Bobby Okereke sign with the New York Giants. The Las Vegas Raiders also did the team a favor by taking back Brandon Facyson.

The Indianapolis Colts are going to at least explore the idea of a quarterback in this draft and why not. There are at least three or four guys that should be taken early in the draft, with the potential to have three go in the first four picks and potentially all four in the first five picks. Nevertheless, Ballard and the Colts will at least explore this option.

However, there are plenty of more holes and depth pieces to fill on the roster. The team is not thin in the cornerback room with Gilmore out and Kenny Moore II having a contract dispute or uncertain future with the team. There is also a hole vacated by Okereke leaving which may be filled by a combination of EJ Speed and depth on the roster. Then there is the receiving room which has been a topic of discussion for what feels like the last few seasons. Campbell leaving doesn't help that any either especially after having the first productive season of his career last year.

Let's look through another seven-round mock draft after some initial free agency signings to see what Indianapolis may do on draft night.

The Indianapolis Colts select QB Anthony Richardson with the 4th overall pick in the first round

In this mock draft, the quarterback situation played out similarly to how it was described above. The Carolina Panthers took Bryce Young, quarterback out of Alabama, with their first overall pick leaving the Houston Texans to select CJ Stroud, quarterback from Ohio State, with the second overall pick. However, based on recent happenings at pro days, it is looking more likely that the Panthers will select CJ Stroud with their first-overall pick or could trade out seeing some of the quarterbacks as equals. The Texans could also only be sold on one quarterback and pass on others.

Nevertheless, depending on how you rank them, the top two quarterbacks are off the board and the Arizona Cardinals at third overall selected Will Anderson Jr, an edge rusher out of Alabama. This left the Indianapolis Colts sitting at fourth overall with players like Will Levis (quarterback Kentucky), Christian Gonzales (cornerback Oregon), and Tyree Wilson (edge Texas Tech). In this mock draft, I had the Colts select quarterback Anthony Richardson out of Florida.

I was fortunate enough to attend the 2023 NFL Combine in person on the day Richardson performed. He competed against Stroud and would have been in the same group as Young had he performed as well. Richardson blew away the competition in the athletic drills setting several combine records. His 40 1/2-inch vertical jump was the best by a quarterback since 2003. His 10' 9" broad jump tied that record-holding quarterback (Matt Jones, Arkansas) that was set in 2003. He also ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash which placed him fourth out of all QBs who have run the forty at the combine since 2003.

Richardson weighed in a 244, filling out a 6-foot-4 1/4" frame. He looked built compared to the other quarterbacks and let his athletic feats shine in this domain. In the passing drills, he was able to air out the ball deep to receivers but struggled a few times with accuracy. He was competing, essentially, directly with Stroud who had some accuracy issues of his own but showed a more polished form.

Chris Ballard has always liked drafting athletic players and Richardson fits that mold. His height at this position is also something that will benefit the team. Richardson balled out in his last season at Florida throwing for over 2,500 yards with a 53.8% completion percentage. He threw the ball over 300 times last season scoring 17 touchdowns with nine interceptions. He was sacked 13 times en route to a passer rating of 131.0.

He was also active on the ground rushing 103 times for 654 yards and nine touchdowns. His longest run was 81 yards which landed him tied for 23rd out of all college players for the longest run of the season. Three quarterbacks ranked higher than Richardson with Boise State's Taylen Green having the longest run of any quarterback at 91 yards. In Richardson, the Colts are getting someone that new head coach, and quarterback whisperer, Shane Steichen can mold and develop into a dominant force in the league.

The Indianapolis Colts select CB Emmanuel Forbes with the 35th overall pick in the second round

Since the Colts are now thin at cornerback they could take an early pick to try to solidify some depth at this position. Trading Gilmore away really depleted the cornerback room with really only Isaiah Rodgers Sr. and Moore being your standout players. Moore essentially plays the nickel which really only leaves Rodgers as your go-to outside corner. Investing early in a player like Emmanuel Forbes could make dividends for the Colts' secondary.

The immediate knock on Forbes is his size. He weighed in at 166 pounds at the combine with a height of 6-foot-1. This isn't a great stat as Forbes is undersized for making big tackles. However, if all he needs to do is gain muscle mass then the team needs to rely on their athletic training department and get the job done. This will also take some want on Forbes' part to get bigger and stronger to play at a high level in the NFL. The rest of the traits are already there.

Forbes ran a 4.35 forty at the combine with a 1.48 10-yard split. That's fast. In fact it was the sixth highest out of all positions at the combine and fourth out of cornerbacks. However, this was somewhat expected based on Forbes' measurements. That being said, if Indianapolis was to take Forbes he would come in as one of the taller cornerbacks with both Rodgers and Moore being under 6'.

He has let his performance on the field speak for itself. As a freshman,that he earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team ending the season tied for third in the FBS with five interceptions returning three of those for scores which led the nation. He followed that up with an All-SEC selection in his sophomore season. In 2022, he finished tied for third in the nation with six interceptions. During his time he also set an FBS record of six pick-sixes. In his last season with the Bulldogs, he posted 46 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and even blocked a kick.

The Indianapolis Colts select EDGE Andre Carter II with the 79th overall pick in the third round

This is a pick of interest even after the signing of Ebukam during the free agency period. The Indianapolis Colts have had recent struggles at the defensive end position but could change that around with a pick like Andre Carter II.

The Colts have struggled to pressure the quarterback and always seem to be facing issues with key players on their defensive line. Investing an early pick in this position will help establish depth without having to force a player into a starting position when they still need time to grow and develop. This seems to be the perfect situation for Carter. He can sit behind Ebukam and Kwity Paye learning from them. He will get his chance to mix it up with Dayo Odeyingbo and Tyquan Lewis and could step up should one of these guys see an injury.

Carter weighed in at 256 pounds at the combine with a height of 6-foot-6 1/2". Apparently, when he came on to campus at West Point he only weighed 225 pounds. That is a significant jump in four years and shows that he's willing to put in the work in the weight room. He had his most productive season in 2021 ranking second in the FBS and setting a school record with 15.5 sacks. He rounded out that season with 44 total tackles, four forced fumbles, and even one interception. Carter saw more attention last season only registering three sacks with 37 total tackles.

Chris Ballard loves to make trades on draft day and this year is no different. Sitting at 106 gives the Indianapolis Colts a prime opportunity to move back in the draft and accumulate some picks in the zone where, arguably, Ballard does his best work.

In this mock draft, the Chicago Bears were willing participants and were able to give up their third-to-last pick in the fourth round and first pick in the fifth round. This allowed Chicago to have the first and fourth picks in the fourth round, stocking up on some talent. In this scenario, they select Trey Palmer, a wide receiver from Nebraska.

The Indianapolis Colts select DL Keondre Coburn with the 133rd overall pick in the fourth round

This is where the draft can get really interesting. After the trade with Chicago, Ballard and the Indianapolis Colts now have three of the next six picks in the hot zone, historically, for the GM. Here are some highlights of players he's picked in this range: Marlon Mack, Grover Stewart, Nyheim Hines, Khari Willis, EJ Speed, Danny Pinter, Kylen Granson.

Here the Colts decide to bolster their defensive line, yet again, by selecting Keondre Coburn out of Texas. The 6-foot-2" 332 pound defensive lineman has been described as wide and athletic. This would be an interesting pick as DeForest Buckner has been a name floated out in trade rumors and Stewart will need to be paid for his production soon. As the end of the line seems to be getting younger the interior seems to be a step behind. Ballard has tried to add depth here in previous drafts, taking two last year, but none have seemed to pop off yet.

Coburn could be that difference maker. He has started in almost all of the team's games after redshirting his freshman season, playing in 51 games, starting 45. He was an honorable mention to the All-Big 12 team in 2020 and 2021 but closed out his collegiate career strong in 2022. Here he earned a spot on the second-team All-Big 12 team but was named Big 12 defensive lineman of the year. He had 28 total tackles (10 solo), 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and one forced fumble.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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