The Indianapolis Colts are likely locked in on a selecting a quarterback in the first round of the draft but then what? What’re Indy’s plans for its other picks?
At the beginning of the offseason, Chris Ballard said there’s no guarantee that the Indianapolis Colts select a quarterback in the first round of the draft. However, no one’s buying that. The expectation is that Indy will draft a quarterback at some point in the first four picks. Indy may sit at No. 4 and take a guy or the Colts may trade up to make sure they get the right guy. Either way, the Colts should have a new quarterback after the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
But then what? After Indy gets it’s quarterback in the first four picks, there'll be six more rounds and Indianapolis will have several more picks unless they trade them all away to move up. That’s unlikely, so what’s the plan of attack for the Colts after the quarterback is selected? Well, Indy was a 4-12-1 team in 2022, so that means it’s quite a few things that need to be addressed, not just quarterback.
Colts have a lot to address in draft besides quarterback
The biggest problem for Indianapolis this past season was the offensive line. If Indy wants to set its rookie quarterback up for success, the team needs to do whatever it takes to upgrade the offensive line. Drafting talented prospects is the most feasible option. With three major contracts already on the offensive line, the Colts are unlikely to make any major acquisitions in free agency. That’s why selecting an offensive linemen should be the top priority after quarterback.
Wide receiver and defensive line are probably the other two important areas Indianapolis needs to focus on. With Parris Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue entering free agency, Indy must be prepared to build its depth and talent in both of those position groups. Additionally, Michael Pittman Jr. is entering the final season of his contract and there’s no guarantee that he’ll be on the roster after the 2023 season. The Colts do have Alec Pierce but having multiple talented receivers is the key to a consistently productive offense.
If all of those things are addressed, Indianapolis can spend the later rounds building depth across the board but especially in the secondary. Indy has several young and talented defensive backs but there’s also some aging veterans and expiring contracts in the secondary. It’s never too early to start planning for the future.
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