Experts grade the Colts’ 2023 draft class

Day 1: The Colts keep at Decide 4 and swing for the excessive ceiling of Anthony Richardson. Whereas Richardson was inconsistent as a passer, he’s arguably probably the most unimaginable athlete on the quarterback place we’ve ever seen. He compelled 39 missed tackles in 2022.

Day 2: Brents is within the group of lengthy, athletic prospects that the Colts have gravitated to on protection over the previous a number of years. There aren’t too many cornerbacks on the market at 6-foot-3 with 34-inch arms and a 42-inch vertical. Brents’ manufacturing and grading profile don’t overly impress, however he has traits price betting on right here for Indianapolis.

Downs was WR5 on each the PFF Massive Board and the consensus massive board however comes off the board right here to Indianapolis as WR12. He’s undersized, even for the slot, however he is without doubt one of the higher beneath separators on this class and wins in contested conditions over the center of the sector. Downs hauled in 13-of-18 contested targets for UNC in 2022.

Day 3: The Colts want reinforcements alongside the offensive line and land the 6-foot-8 Freeland, who examined off the charts with ninety fifth percentile or higher scores within the vertical leap, broad leap, quick shuttle and three-cone. Freeland’s athleticism can be finest utilized as a run blocker in area, incomes a 90.2 zone blocking grade in 2022, however he might want to enhance as a cross protector on the NFL degree.

One of many extra puzzling fallers of the draft after a ton of buzz following a ridiculous mix efficiency that was really probably the greatest we’ve seen, Adebawore wants refinement on the NFL degree and might now develop behind a crop of excellent defensive linemen with the Colts. Adebawore earned an 80.3 pass-rush grade in 2022 however quite a lot of that manufacturing got here from pure athletic benefits. He wants to enhance his hand utilization and counter strikes past simply velocity to energy.

Rush, a former highschool quarterback and school huge receiver in the beginning, is an unimaginable athlete nonetheless studying the nuances of the cornerback place. At 6-foot-2 and 198 kilos, Rush ran a 4.36-second 40-yard sprint and earned an 80.3 protection grade in 2022. When he’s in place, he has a knack for making performs on the ball, as properly. That is the developmental sort prospect you search for on Day 3.

Scott graded higher in 2021 (81.8) than in 2022 (66.8) however completed robust in his final three video games. He’s a flexible and clever security who’s succesful sufficient within the slot as properly. He’ll add depth to the Colts’ secondary in addition to a surefire contributor on particular groups.

Mallory provides reputable receiving capacity and never a lot as a blocker. He’ll give C.J. Stroud a risk up the seam and brings reputable versatility within the slot. He simply must grow to be satisfactory within the run sport.

Jones is massive, robust and younger — a very good mixture of adjectives for a late-round cornerback. He matches finest in a Cowl 3 scheme and, fortuitously, he lands with Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who runs extra Cowl 3 than some other defensive play-caller.

Witt is without doubt one of the uncommon prospects who PFF doesn’t have information or grades on, however he got here in at 211th general on our closing massive board. He’s an athletic sort out — stunning, given Indianapolis’ technique on this draft — who can be one other developmental challenge for the Colts.