A recent mock draft has the Colts making an extremely unlikely pick at No. 4

While it’s still unclear what order prospects will be picked in the 2023 Draft, one expert is predicting the Indianapolis Colts will make a surprising selection.

As the 2023 NFL Draft nears, everyone is trying to figure out what order the prospects will come off the board. Will the draft start with four straight quarterback selections, or will two quarterbacks be drafted early and then chaos ensues? The NFL world will find out on April 27, and the Indianapolis Colts will be one of the teams shaping the first round.

Indy currently has the No. 4 pick in the draft and the team very clearly needs a quarterback. The Colts could sit at No. 4 and select a QB but some experts believe they will trade up to No. 3 for a quarterback, while other analysts are convinced that Indianapolis passes on a QB in the first round entirely. Indy could even trade back.

Will Brinson of CBS Sports may have one of the more unique plans for Indianapolis. In a recent mock draft, Brinson saw the unexpected happening. After Bryce Young was selected at No. 1 in this draft, Brinson projected Will Anderson Jr. to the Houston Texans. So naturally, there was a trade up to No. 3 for CJ Stroud.

The Tennessee Titans traded up for Stroud in Brinson’s mock draft, and that left the Indianapolis Colts taking defensive tackle Jalen Carter at No. 4. Other draft analysts have floated the idea of Indy taking defensive players, but Carter seems like a really unlike pick.

Colts select Jalen Carter in CBS Sports mock draft

Carter is an extremely talented player, and has a case to be the best prospect in this draft class. However, it would be a huge surprise if the Colts selected Carter, for several reasons. For starters, both Anthony Richardson and Will Levis were still on the board in this mock, so people would be shocked to see Indy pass on quarterbacks.

Additionally, Carter has had one of the worst pre-draft evaluation periods of any prospect. His in-game talent is undeniable, but all of the concerns that have emerged in the last few months makes Jalen Carter an unlikely pick for Chris Ballard.

Another factor is the fact that the Colts still have DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart on the interior defensive line. Both guys are playing elite football right now, and even though Stewart has one season remaining on his contract, it doesn’t seem like Indianapolis would plan ahead by drafting Carter at No. 4.

Jalen Carter is a talented prospect and should be a tremendous impact player for a franchise. It’s just unlikely for that franchise to be the Indianapolis Colts.

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