In the 2023 draft, the Colts pinned their future on QB Anthony Richardson. Despite injuries and back-ups, the Colts managed to finish .500 over the past two years. They were 9-8 in 2023 and 8-9 last year. Yet, they gave up more points than they scored in each of those seasons.
They are drafting in the middle of the first round, at no.14. And they have a very boring draft overall, with seven picks in seven rounds. Sometimes less is more, a team sometimes finds themselves with so many picks they feel they have to control the board, moving up and down. Former Patriots HC Bill Belichick was famous for that…often to his own detriment.
This team has the no.14, 45, 80, 117, and 151 picks in the first five rounds. The biggest question mark on offense is actually Richardson himself. They have one of the best RBs in the game, Jonathan Taylor, and an average WR room. Their needs, in order of importance, are at TE, CB/S, LB, and T. With those needs, this draft should fall perfectly for them.
With their first pick, Penn St. TE Tyler Warren will more than likely be available to them. And he’s a no-brainer. With their second and third-round picks, they will be able to get two players to help their secondary for the next decade. Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison and Louiville’s Quincy Riley will be there for them. In the fourth round, they should take Ole Miss DE Jared Ivey. And, in the fifth round, they can address their need at O-Line by taking Wisconsin’s Jack Nelson.
This team isn’t that far away, and a solid draft will help them tremendously. There is an expression that a solid TE is a QBs best friend. If they get Warren, he’ll be Richardson’s best friend for life. And the reality is, with the offensive weapons already at his disposal, if Richardson can’t improve his accuracy issues with Warren, they’ll have to seriously consider cutting bait with their young QB and go QB hunting in the 2026 draft.