INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts tried to trade up into the top of the first round of the NFL Draft.

Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard has never traded up in the first round before, but there were persistent rumors leading up to the draft that the Colts wanted to move up in this draft.

Apparently the speculation was right. Ballard acknowledged shortly after midnight that Indianapolis tried to get other teams to move picks in the run of 14 offensive players that came off the board on Thursday night.

“We had some serious, serious discussions,” Ballard said. “With big offers, by the way.”

Indianapolis ended up staying at No. 15 and taking UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu, the first defensive player off the board after an unprecedented run of offensive players and a player the Colts believed was the best defensive player in the draft.

Were the Colts trying to move up for one of those offensive stars?

“Well, we were going up for a good player,” Ballard said. “I told you I thought we took the best defensive player. You can kind of put that together.”

Ultimately, Indianapolis wasn’t able to complete a trade because teams weren’t willing to move all the way back to the middle of the first round.

Especially with quarterbacks, offensive tackles and wide receivers flying off the board.

Ballard understands the position. When the Colts initially held the No. 3 pick in 2018, Indianapolis was willing to trade down with the Jets because New York held the No. 6 pick, allowing the Colts to still pick a premium player in Quenton Nelson.

From the sounds of it, a move down to No. 15 seemed like it would cost too much.

“We made a push,” Ballard said. “You’ve got to get two to tango. Nobody was moving. There were some good players up at the top of the draft. (The teams) sitting there, you ask yourself, is it worth it moving back to 15 and missing out on (those guys).”

Here is a 2024 NFL draft pick-by-pick breakdown for the Indianapolis Colts:

Round 1 (No. 15 overall)

Round 2 (46)

Round 3 (82)

Round 4 (117)

Round 5 (151)

Round 6 (191)

Round 7 (234)

Indianapolis Colts’ recent top draft picks

• 2023 (No. 4 overall): Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
• 2022 (No. 53 overall): Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
• 2021 (No. 21 overall): Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
• 2020 (No. 34 overall): Michael Pittman, Jr., WR, USC
• 2019 (No. 34 overall): Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple

Previous drafts: 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020

The 2024 NFL Draft is Thursday-Saturday, and the Indianapolis Colts are scheduled to have seven picks, one in each round, as they try to build on a 9-8 season that left them just outside the AFC playoffs.

The Indianapolis Colts chose eight players in the 2022 NFL Draft, four on offense and four on defense. This group includes three starters, most notably the quarterback’s blind-side protector. Development among this group will be critical if the Colts hope to contend for the 2024 playoffs.

Insider: Who will the Colts take in the NFL Draft? Latest seven-round mock draft for Indianapolis

Colts 2022 draft grades

(With round, overall pick, player, position)

2, 53, Alec Pierce, WR

Grade: C

Between some early drop issues and dealing with multiple quarterbacks, it hasn’t been a smooth start. Pierce got fewer targets in 2023 than in his rookie year, but they were longer shots. He had 32 catches (16.1 yards per) with 2 touchdowns in ’23.

2, 73, Jelani Woods, TE

Grade: B-

The former quarterback showed flashes in his rookie season, catching 25 passes (12.5 yards per) for 3 TDs. Hamstring injuries cost him 2023.

3, 77, Bernhard Raimann, LT

Grade: B

Raimann came in with a tough assignment: After playing for Central Michigan, make the quick transition to the NFL. Raimann struggled protecting any of the Colts’ QBs in 2022 but took massive steps in his second season.

3, 96, Nick Cross, S

Grade: C-

Cross saw little playing time on defense in his first two seasons, cracking the starting lineup late in 2023, when he had 39 tackles, 1 interception and 2 passes defended.

Colts draft order: When they pick in NFL Draft 2024

5, 159, Eric Johnson, DT

Grade: C+

He has been a backup on the defensive line, getting in on 15 tackles in 2023.

6, 192, Drew Ogletree, TE

Grade: C-

Ogletree missed 2022 with an ACL injury and had 9 catches (16.3 yards per) for 2 TDs in 2023 before an arrest for alleged domestic battery landed him on the commissioner’s exempt list. The charges have been dropped, and he is back with the team.

6, 216, Curtis Brooks, DT

Grade: F

He never played for the Colts.

7, 239, Rodney Thomas II, S

Grade: B+

Thomas was one of the Colts’ pleasant surprises in 2022, snagging 4 interceptions and defending 6 passes while getting in on 52 tackles. He started 15 games in ’23 with 2 INTs, 4 passes defended and 34 tackles.