Colts seven-round mock draft: Indianapolis trades down and picks a sleeper QB

A pursuit of Lamar Jackson? Attempt to commerce up? Keep put? Probably commerce down?

The quarterback potentialities for the Colts are quite a few and intriguing forward of subsequent month’s NFL Draft. Indianapolis holds the fourth total choose, its highest choice since taking Andrew Luck No. 1 total in 2012.

Whereas ending a years-long quarterback carousel is a high precedence, Indianapolis additionally has loads of work to do to enhance a staff that went 4-12-1 in 2022 and fired its coach midseason. The staff has been comparatively quiet in free company. 

This is FOX Sports activities’ seven-round mock draft for the Colts: 

Spherical 1, No. 4 total: TRADE!

The Colts commerce again within the draft, sending the fourth choose to the Eagles for Nos. 10 and 62 (second spherical), a 2024 third-rounder and 2024 sixth-rounder.

Spherical 1, No. 10 total (by way of Philadelphia): Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee 

The Colts have not dominated out a pursuit of Jackson, however latest feedback by proprietor Jim Irsay make it appear unlikely. Chatting with reporters on the NFL house owners conferences in Phoenix, Irsay decried absolutely assured contracts (Jackson is reportedly in search of one, or near it) and doubled down on his long-preferred stance of growing homegrown quarterbacks, pointing to the success of the Chiefs (Patrick Mahomes), Payments (Josh Allen) and Eagles (Jalen Hurts). 

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At No. 4, too, the Colts are in a harmful spot for his or her hopeful quarterback of the longer term. There are two quarterback-needy groups forward of them within the Panthers (No. 1) and division-rival Texans (No. 2). A 3rd staff may make a take care of the Cardinals to leap to No. 3. Indianapolis has no management in a call that might have a years-long affect on the franchise. 

By buying and selling again to seize Hooker, the Colts accomplish two issues: They get extra draft capital to construct a staff that wants helps on each side of the ball, and so they nonetheless safe a quarterback with first-round expertise. 

Hooker was a Heisman hopeful earlier than tearing his ACL in November, an completed and poised quarterback with the mobility required on the place in immediately’s recreation. The FBS chief in yards per try final season, Hooker accomplished 68.8% of his passes for six,080 yards and 58 touchdowns with simply 5 interceptions throughout two years at Tennessee after three seasons at Virginia Tech. 

Hooker’s age is a little bit of a priority (he’ll flip 26 earlier than the tip of the 2024 season), but when he is successful, the Colts are nonetheless taking a look at a decade-plus of quarterback stability. And whereas Hooker recovers from his ACL harm, veteran Gardner Minshew — signed to a one-year deal in free company — is the perfect bridge quarterback. He spent the previous two seasons in Philadelphia with new Colts coach Shane Steichen, so he’ll have a agency grasp of the playbook and terminology. 

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Spherical 2, No. 35 total: O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida 

The Colts’ high-priced offensive line was a catastrophe final season. It gave up 60 sacks, second-most within the league, and took an enormous step again in run blocking, limiting alternatives for star tailback Jonathan Taylor when he was wholesome. Indianapolis ranked twenty second in adjusted line yards, a complicated metric that quantifies offensive-line duty on working again carries, in line with Soccer Outsiders. 

Surprisingly, the Colts have not added to the offensive line in free company, making it a precedence to handle early within the draft. 

The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Torrence is a plug-and-play starter at proper guard, the spot of most concern on Indianapolis’ O-line. After three seasons at Louisiana, he was a consensus All-American and first-team All-SEC choice at Florida in 2022. 

Torrence did not hand over a sack in his school profession. Professional Soccer Focus additionally gave him an 89.9 run-blocking grade final season, main all FBS inside offensive linemen who performed at the least 325 run-blocking snaps. 

Spherical 2, No. 62 total (by way of Philadelphia): Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford

After buying and selling Stephon Gilmore to the Cowboys, the Colts have an enormous void at cornerback. 

At 6-foot and 191 kilos with 32-inch arms, Kelly has superb dimension and size for his place. He does not have blazing velocity — he ran a 4.52-second 40-yard sprint on the mix — however he generally is a mismatch drawback in press man conditions. He had a robust exhibiting on the Senior Bowl, being named the nationwide staff’s CB observe participant of the week by vote of the nationwide staff’s vast receivers. 

Kelly had six go breakups for Stanford final season. His father, Brian, performed 11 years as a defensive again within the NFL and gained a Tremendous Bowl with the 2002 Bucs. 

Spherical 3, No. 79 total (by way of Washington): Matthew Bergeron, OT Syracuse 

Normal supervisor Chris Ballard believes 2022 third-round choose Bernhard Raimann, who had an up-and-down rookie season, may very well be the Colts’ long-term left deal with. However it could be sensible for Indianapolis so as to add depth on the spot. 

A two-time All-ACC choice with 39 profession begins at offensive deal with, Bergeron may supply robust competitors. He performed 669 of 686 profession snaps at left deal with. 

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 318 kilos, he has guard potential as properly. 

TRADE!

The Colts ship choose 162 (fifth spherical) and a 2024 fourth-rounder to the 49ers for No. 102 total, the final collection of the third spherical. 

Spherical 3, No. 102 total (by way of San Francisco): Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

Indianapolis signed Isaiah McKenzie after shedding Parris Campbell in free company, however the staff nonetheless wants to consider a long-term No. 3 receiver to pair with Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. McKenzie signed for only one 12 months. 

Along with his 6-foot-2, 220-pound body, Mingo has drawn some similarities to A.J. Brown and former NFL star Anquan Boldin. He is a flexible, bodily receiver who’s a big-time playmaker with the ball in his arms. Mingo’s 7.3 yards after the catch per reception mark at Ole Miss final season tied for fifth within the FBS. He had 51 receptions for 861 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2022. 

Spherical 4, No. 106 total: Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama

The Colts may use extra depth at inside linebacker, with Bobby Okereke signing a four-year, $40 million take care of the Giants in free company and All-Professional Shaquille Leonard battling a nerve challenge in his again the final couple of seasons. 

The 6-foot-1, 227-pound To’oTo’o was a first-team All-SEC choice as a senior, beginning all 13 video games for the Crimson Tide and totaling 93 tackles (eight for loss) and a couple of.5 sacks. He transferred to Alabama after two seasons at Tennessee. 

Spherical 5, No. 138 total: Byron Younger, DT, Alabama

Defensive-line reinforcements have been the Colts’ most seen motion to this point this offseason — veteran defensive finish Samson Ebukam and defensive deal with Taven Bryan have been added in free company — however they may look so as to add one other younger participant within the combine. Ballard has mentioned that the staff tries to have a defensive-line rotation of eight or 9 gamers. 

The 6-foot-3, 294-pound Younger had a career-high 47 tackles (5.5 for loss), 4 sacks and two passes defended beginning all 13 video games for Alabama final season. 

Spherical 7, No. 221 total: Payne Durham, TE, Purdue

Indianapolis finds one other massive physique for its tight finish room in its yard within the 6-foot-6, 253-pound Durham, an in a position blocker coming off a profession pass-catching season for the Boilermakers (56 receptions, 560 yards, eight touchdowns). 

Spherical 7, No. 236 total (by way of Tampa Bay): TRADE!

Indianapolis sends its final scheduled choose to the Seahawks for a 2024 sixth-round choose.

Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a 12 months and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You’ll be able to observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.

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