It's safe to say that most Indianapolis Colts fans aren't too fond of general manager Chris Ballard. There have been calls for Jim Irsay to fire him for quite some time, as the Colts have failed to regain their dynasty status since losing Peyton Manning. Under
Under Ballard, the Colts have been to the playoffs just one time. He's overseen a quarterback carousel that has now become notorious, with 12 starting quarterbacks in less than 10 years. His strategy in past years has been to ignore free agency, instead preferrring to run it back with his current roster, leading to massive depth issues that let the team easily become decimated with injuries.
And while Ballard prioritizes the draft, he hasn't shined much there, either. There have been some great picks under his leadership, and others that are still causing raised eyebrows. 2025 is largely seen as his last chance to redeem himself, and he's taken a good first step with the first-round signing of Tyler Warren. But where does Warren measure up among all of Ballard's first-round picks?
Honorable Mentions:
There are several picks from Ballard's tenure that stand out, but were taken in the second round. They include Alec Pierce, Michael Pittman Jr., and Rock Ya-Sin. Pierce and Pittman are still major playmakers for the Colts, with Pierce specifically having exploded in 2024, but Ya-Sin ended up being underwhelming. He had a decent rookie season, and was named to the Pro Football Focus All Rookie Team, but regressed in his second year. He was then traded after the 2021 season to the Las Vegas Raiders.
#6: Malik Hooker, 2017
Hooker entered the NFL with high expectations, and at first, it seemed he might live up to them. He initially did well in his rookie season, but injuries cut that season short by Week 7. He continued to struggle with staying healthy in his second and third seasons, and while he played well whenever he was actually able to be on the field, it just wasn't enough.
In 2020, he tore his Achilles, and that was the beginning of the end for him. The Colts declined his fifth-year option, and he signed with the Dallas Cowboys instead.
#5: Anthony Richardson, 2023
This was a controversial pick from the very beginning. There was no doubt that the Colts needed to find a franchise quarterback, but Richardson was young, inexperienced... and freakishly athletic. His rookie season started out with decent enough promise, but was cut short by injuries. In 2024, he simply wasn't able to rebound, and struggled with consistency and accuracy. Though he showed flashes of greatness, it wasn't enough. He ended up benched mid-season for several weeks in favor of Joe Flacco, and though he did show signs of improvement upon his return, things have still been looking grim.
It's not over yet for AR5, who could theoretically still make a comeback. How he performs in this upcoming 2025 season will determine if this draft pick ends up being a bust or not.
#4: Kwity Paye, 2021
Paye is an interesting player that has been productive, but not extraordinary. He hasn't had the superstar status one might expect out of a first-round pick, but he's a hard worker that has shown consistent improvement each year. He's done well in stopping the run and making sacks, but struggles in pass rush production and pressures.
His time in Indianapolis might also be coming to an end; the Colts haven't picked up his fifth-year option yet, and they only have until May 2nd to do so.
#3: Laiatu Latu, 2024:
This will likely end up being a good pick for the Colts, as Latu still shows a lot of promise. He did well in his rookie season, including being named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team. His pass rush rate was particularly good, coming in at 14%, ranking him third among rookie pass rushers.
However, he failed to live up to the sky-high expectations that the league had for him; even before the season started, there was buzz that he was a shoo-in for Defensive Rookie of the Year. That did not happen, but there is still time for Latu to grow into his role with the Colts.
#2: Tyler Warren, 2025
Tyler Warren is a monster tight end that was highly sought-after by multiple teams, and the Colts being able to get him was a major win for Ballard. By the time pick #14 came around, Warren was easily the best player still available.
He's a tough, physical, aggressive, angry player who will - hopefully - revitalize the Indianapolis tight end room, which is notoriously bad. He can block, he can catch, and from what we've seen at Penn State, he can thrive in just about any scheme you put him in. He would have to be a major bust to fall from this spot.
#1: Quenton Nelson, 2018
There's no denying who should come in first place. Quenton Nelson is a beast who has been named All-Pro five times, and to the Pro Bowl every year since being drafted - the only player in Colts history to do so. He was one of the best guards in the league in 2024, and in his entire career, he's allowed just three sacks.
Nelson isn't a very public figure, preferring to hype up his teammates rather than take the spotlight himself. But he's a phenomenal player, one of the best offensive linemen in the league, and there's no doubting that he'll end up a Hall of Famer one day. This was, by far, Ballard's best pick.