The Indianapolis Colts are widely expected to address the defensive side of the ball, and specifically the cornerback position, in the first round of the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. However, there's one particular player that could cause the Colts to flip the script.
If Georgia tight end Brock Bowers is still available when the Colts are on the clock with the No. 15 overall pick, that could be the direction they decide to go in, according to ESPN's Matt Miller. Bowers is considered by many pundits as the top tight end prospect in the draft, so there's a good chance he'll be off the board before the Colts pick, but if not, things could get interesting.
From ESPN:
"Cornerback stands out as one of the Colts' biggest needs and realistic targets at No. 15 -- as long as Brock Bowers is off the board. One source with a rival team believed the Colts would 'run the card in' if Bowers is available. If he's off the board, though, finding a starting outside cornerback in this draft is noted as the team's priority."
Bowers is an intriguing option for Indianapolis
The Colts definitely need some additions in the secondary, but they could also use an upgrade at the tight end spot, and Bowers would definitely provide that. Indianapolis' TE depth chart currently includes Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, Jelani Woods and Will Mallory.
During his three seasons at Georgia, Bowers had 2,538 receiving yards and 26 receiving touchdowns. He also added five rushing touchdowns. At 6'4" and 240 pounds, Bowers has solid size for the position, and his skill set projects to translate well to the NFL.
With quarterback Anthony Richardson entering his second season, pairing him with a young, talented tight end who could grow into a safety blanket of sorts could prove to be a wise move. However, this year's tight end class isn't especially deep, so again, there's no guarantee that Bowers will be available for the Colts to select.