Grading all 12 picks by the Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft

The Indianapolis Colts selected 12 players in the 2023 NFL Draft and here are the immediate grades for each of Indy’s selections.

After many months of anticipation, the 2023 NFL Draft has finally come and gone, and it lived up to expectations. From three quarterbacks going in the first four picks, to wild trades, the three-day event was chaotic but a lot of teams got better. The Indianapolis Colts were one of those teams.

Indianapolis drafted 12 total players, including a quarterback at No. 4, which was extremely necessary. The Colts kept things even, taking six offensive players and six defensive players. Overall, it was a pretty good draft for Indy, as the team addressed several needs.

Let’s take a look at the grades for each specific pick.

Colts draft QB Anthony Richardson at No. 4: A+

Indianapolis started the draft off with a bang, selecting Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. Richardson was the perfect pick for the Colts at No. 4. Indy obviously needed a quarterback, and Richardson was the best option for Indianapolis at four. Fortunately, that’s who Indy had its eyes on all along.

Richardson will bring a combination of size, athleticism, and a stong arm to Indy’s quarterback position. He does have some things to work on as a passer but Richardson knows that, and he’s ready to get to work. With quarterback guru Shane Steichen as his head coach, Richardson has the chance to develop into a star.

Adding him to an offense with Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, and the other potential weapons on the roster, and Steichen should be able to put together a fun offense.

Colts draft CB Julius Brents at No. 44: A+

Brents was another great selection for Indianapolis. After quarterback, cornerback had quickly become Indy’s next biggest need after trading Stephon Gilmore and losing Brandon Facyson in free agency. To address that need, Indy traded back twice in the second round and then ultimately drafted Julius Brents.

Brents is an Indianapolis native, playing high school football at Warren Central. However, Indy selecting Brents is about more than a great story of the hometown kid playing for his hometown team. He was a tremendous corner prospect and has great size and athleticism.

He’s 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds with 34-inch arms. He has the ideal build of a Colts corner in 2023. His athleticism also matches what Indy wants in prospects. He ran a 4.53 40-yard dash, recorded a 41.5-inch vertical jump, and an 11-foot-6 broad jump.

Now with the Colts, Brents will have the opportunity to start as a rookie. Indianapolis already had a good defense last year, and if Indy can remain solid at cornerback, the defensive unit should be even better this season.

Colts draft WR Josh Downs at No. 79: A+

Indianapolis had to select a receiver eventually and Indy ended up getting a really good one in the third round. Several teams believed Josh Downs would be off the board way earlier than he was, and the Colts were one of those teams, because they spent 30 minutes trying to trade up for him. Ultimately, he fell to them at No. 79, and has the potential to be the steal of the draft.

Downs played three seasons at the University of North Carolina, playing in 28 games and catching 202 passes for 2,483 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s quick, fast, shifty, and also seems to catch everything. He’ll now bring a different dynamic to Indy’s wide receiver room.

At 5-foot-9, Downs is much different than Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce who are 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-3 respectively. He also has a different play style. All together, these three, along with Ashton Dulin and Isaiah McKenzie, will make up Indy’s wide receiver room.

With all of the young and promising tight ends that Indianapolis also has, Anthony Richardson will have quite a few weapons to work with as he transitions to the NFL.

Colts draft OT Blake Freeland at No. 106: B+

The fourth round arrived and Chris Ballard didn’t slow down. Addressing Indianapolis’ need for an offensive linemen, Indy drafted BYU’s Blake Freeland. Freeland is a 6-foot-8, 302-pound linemen with experience at both right and left tackle. With the way Indy’s offensive line played last season, his addition was very necessary.

The reason Freeland’s grade is only a B+ is because Indy’s biggest offensive line need is at guard, specifically right guard. With NC State guard Chandler Zavala still on the board when Freeland was selected, there’s an argument that Zavala may have better addressed Indy’s needs. Still, Blake Freeland is a really good pick.

Colts draft DT Adetomiwa Adebawore at No. 110: B+

It took until the fourth round, but Chris Ballard wasn’t going to leave the draft without a defensive lineman. With the 110th pick, Indianapolis drafted a guy that could be the steal of the draft: Northwestern defensive tackle Adetomina Adebawore. Adebawore is a 6-foot-2, 282-pound defensive tackle that played four seasons at Northwestern.

In those four seasons, Adebawore played in 36 games and recorded 97 tackles, 24.5 for a loss, and 12.5 sacks. However, his testing was far more impressive than his production, clocking a 4.49 40-yard dash as a 282-pound defensive linemen. He’ll have the opportunity to learn behind DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart as he tries to put his athleticism on display in the league.

Colts draft CB Darius Rush at No. 138: A

Darius Rush is another great selection for Indianapolis. Even after taking Julius Brents in the second round, Rush still makes a lot of sense because cornerback depth is important. Additionally, the Colts were able to get Rush much later than people thought he would be drafted.

Another ideal cornerback for Indianapolis’ defense at 6-foot-2, 198 pounds. He’s coming from the talented South Carolina secondary, and will have a chance to be a contributor for Indy as a rookie.

Colts draft S Daniel Scott at No. 158: C

Daniel Scott is a talented safety from Cal, and is expected to be a big impact player on special teams immediately. That’s likely why Indy drafted Scott; the Colts take pride in their special teams. However, this grade is only a C because of Indy’s safety depth.

Indianapolis has Julian Blackmon, Rodney Thomas II, and Nick Cross at safety. All three are young and have been very promising early in their career. With other needs still unaddressed, the selection of Daniel Scott was surprising.

Colts draft TE Will Mallory at No. 162: C

The drafting of Will Mallory is graded a C for the same reason. Mallory is a 6-foot-5, 239-pound tight end, that helped make this one of the deepest tight end classes in recent memory. However, the Colts already have Mo Alie-Cox, Jelani Woods, Kylen Granson, and Andrew Ogletree. It seems like this pick could’ve been used differently.

Regardless, Mallory will now be thrown into this deep room and has a chance to be in the mix. In five years at Miami, Mallory caught 115 passes for 1,544 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Colts draft RB Evan Hull at No. 176: C-

This is another baffling selection. With Jonathan Taylor, Zack Moss, Deon Jackson, and Darrynton Evans all on the roster, this selection had to be made for special teams, and the slim possibility that Evan Hull can emerge as a contributor. However, with several needs still unaddressed, this just doesn’t seem like a good pick for the Colts.

The grade isn’t a reflection of Hull, who put together a nice four-year career at Northwestern, racking up 2,417 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Colts draft DE Titus Leo at No. 211: B+

This grade is all upside and need. Coming out of Wagner, Titus Leo isn’t the biggest name but Indianapolis needs more defensive ends, and Leo has a very promising future. At 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, Leo is a former wide receiver, so he has a ton of athleticism that could help him turn into a productive pass rusher in the NFL.

Colts draft CB Jaylon Jones at No. 221: B

Again, Indianapolis needs cornerbacks, so Indy can’t necessarily be faulted for drafting the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Jaylon Jones out of Texas A&M in the seventh round. However, Indy didn’t add a guard or depth linebacker to this point, so the pick could’ve been used differently.

Colts draft OT Jake Witt at No. 236: B-

It’s hard to fault Indianapolis for drafting linemen, because the offensive line was atrocious last season. The 6-foot-7, 302-pound former basketball player and former tight end, Jake Witt, will give Indy more depth at tackle. However, needing help at right guard, it’s tough to understand why Indy passed up on a player like Emil Ekiyor, who was still available.

READ MORE: Re-grading Colts 2022 Draft class after one season