The Indianapolis Colts NFL draft picks 2023 is a list of the players that the Colts selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, which was held from April 27 to April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Colts had nine picks in the draft, including the fourth overall pick, which they used to select Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. The Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, and are members of the AFC South division of the NFL.
History: The NFL draft history dates back to 1936, when the first annual player selection meeting was held by the NFL. The draft is a process in which the NFL teams select eligible college football players to join their rosters. The draft order is determined by the previous season’s standings, with the worst team picking first and the Super Bowl champion picking last. The draft consists of seven rounds, with each team having one pick per round, unless they trade their picks with other teams. The draft is one of the most popular events in the NFL calendar, attracting millions of viewers and fans.
Here is a 2023 NFL draft pick-by-pick breakdown for the Indianapolis Colts draft picks 2023:
Round 1, No. 4 overall: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida. Richardson is a dual-threat quarterback who has a strong arm and great mobility. He led the Gators to a 10-2 record and a Sugar Bowl victory in his junior season, throwing for 3,214 yards and 28 touchdowns with only six interceptions. He also ran for 1,027 yards and 14 touchdowns on 154 carries. He has the potential to be a franchise quarterback for the Colts, who have been searching for a long-term solution at the position since Andrew Luck’s retirement.
Round 2, No. 44 overall: Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State. Brents is a tall and athletic cornerback who excels in press-man coverage. He transferred to Kansas State from Iowa, where he played in 22 games and had two interceptions. He started all 12 games for the Wildcats in his senior season, recording 41 tackles, three interceptions and nine pass breakups. He has good ball skills and instincts, but needs to improve his tackling and consistency.
Round 3, No. 79 overall: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina. Downs is a speedy and elusive wide receiver who can play in the slot or outside. He had a breakout season for the Tar Heels in his sophomore year, catching 77 passes for 1,117 yards and eight touchdowns. He also returned punts and kickoffs, averaging 11.8 yards per punt return and 23.4 yards per kickoff return. He has great hands and route running ability, but needs to add some strength and size to his frame.
Round 4, No. 106 overall: Blake Freeland, OT, BYU. Freeland is a massive and powerful offensive tackle who can play on either side of the line. He started all 13 games for the Cougars in his junior season, helping them rank fourth in the nation in scoring offense and sixth in total offense. He has good footwork and balance, but needs to work on his technique and leverage.
Round 4, No. 110 overall: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT, Northwestern. Adebawore is a disruptive and versatile defensive tackle who can play anywhere along the front. He had a productive senior season for the Wildcats, registering 45 tackles, nine tackles for loss and six sacks. He has a quick first step and a strong bull rush, but needs to develop more moves and counter moves.
Round 5, No. 138 overall: Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina. Rush is a long and lean cornerback who has good speed and agility. He played in nine games for the Gamecocks in his senior season, making seven starts and recording 28 tackles, two interceptions and six pass breakups. He has good length and ball skills, but needs to improve his physicality and awareness.
Round 5, No. 158 overall: Daniel Scott, S, California. Scott is a hard-hitting and instinctive safety who can play both free and strong safety positions. He played in eight games for the Golden Bears in his senior season, making six starts and recording 36 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups. He has good range and closing speed, but needs to work on his coverage skills and angles.
Round 5, No. 162 overall: Will Mallory, TE, Miami. Mallory is a athletic and reliable tight end who can contribute as a receiver and blocker. He caught 25 passes for 329 yards and four touchdowns for the Hurricanes in his senior season, while also helping in pass protection and run blocking. He has good hands and body control, but needs to improve his route running and strength.
Round 5, No. 176 overall: Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern. Hull is a explosive and elusive running back who can make big plays with his speed and vision. He led the Wildcats in rushing in his senior season, carrying the ball 144 times for 1,006 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also caught 15 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. He has good burst and agility, but needs to add some bulk and durability.
Round 6, No. 211 overall: Titus Leo, DE, Wagner. Leo is a raw and athletic defensive end who has a lot of upside and potential. He played in only four games for the Seahawks in his senior season due to COVID-19, but still managed to record 18 tackles, six tackles for loss and four sacks. He has a impressive frame and wingspan, but needs to polish his skills and technique.
Round 7, No. 221 overall: Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M. Jones is a fast and physical cornerback who can play both inside and outside. He played in 10 games for the Aggies in his senior season, making nine starts and recording 31 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups. He has good instincts and competitiveness, but needs to work on his footwork and discipline.
Round 7, No. 236 overall: Jake Witt, OT, Northern Michigan. Witt is a developmental and versatile offensive tackle who can also play guard. He started all 11 games for the Wildcats in his senior season, earning All-GLIAC honors. He has good size and strength, but needs to improve his agility and balance.
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Colts have won two Super Bowl championships, four conference championships, and 16 division titles in their history.
The NFL draft is an annual event in which NFL teams select eligible college football players to join their rosters. Each team is assigned a draft order based on their performance in the previous season and other factors. The draft consists of seven rounds, with each team having one pick per round, unless they trade or forfeit their picks.
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The last five top draft picks for the Indianapolis Colts are as follows:
- 2023 (No. 4 overall): Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida. Richardson is a dual-threat quarterback who has a strong arm and can make plays with his legs. He led the Florida Gators to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Orange Bowl in 2022. He threw for 3,276 yards and 28 touchdowns with only six interceptions, and ran for 1,034 yards and 14 touchdowns.
- 2022 (No. 53 overall): Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati. Pierce is a big-bodied receiver who can stretch the field and win contested catches. He was a key contributor for the Cincinnati Bearcats, who went undefeated and reached the College Football Playoff in 2021. He had 62 receptions for 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns.
- 2021 (No. 21 overall): Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan. Paye is a versatile defensive end who can rush the passer and stop the run. He has a quick first step and a powerful hand technique. He was a standout player for the Michigan Wolverines, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2020. He had 16 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in his college career.
- 2020 (No. 34 overall): Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC. Pittman Jr. is a tall and physical receiver who can make tough catches in traffic and run after the catch. He was a star player for the USC Trojans, earning second-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2019. He had 171 receptions for 2,519 yards and 19 touchdowns in his college career.
- 2019 (No. 34 overall): Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple. Ya-Sin is a lockdown cornerback who can cover any receiver and break up passes. He has good speed and agility, as well as excellent ball skills. He was a standout player for the Temple Owls, earning first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2018. He had five interceptions and 12 pass breakups in his college career.
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FAQs
Q: Who is Anthony Richardson, the Colts’ first-round pick?
A: Anthony Richardson is a quarterback from Florida who has a strong arm and can make plays with his legs. He led the Florida Gators to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Orange Bowl in 2022. He threw for 3,276 yards and 28 touchdowns with only six interceptions, and ran for 1,034 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Q: Why did the Colts trade their third-round pick to the Broncos?
A: The Colts traded their third-round pick (No. 75 overall) to the Broncos in the 2022 NFL draft in exchange for the Broncos’ fourth-round pick (No. 106 overall) and fifth-round pick (No. 141 overall). The Colts used those picks to select BYU offensive tackle Blake Freeland and South Carolina cornerback Darius Rush.
Q: How did the Colts acquire Washington’s third-round pick?
A: The Colts acquired Washington’s third-round pick (No. 79 overall) as part of the trade that sent quarterback Carson Wentz to Washington in March 2022. The Colts used that pick to select North Carolina wide receiver Josh Downs.
Q: What are the strengths and weaknesses of Julius Brents, the Colts’ second-round pick?
A: Julius Brents is a cornerback from Kansas State who has good size, speed, and ball skills. He can play both man and zone coverage and has a knack for making big plays. He had six interceptions and 15 pass breakups in his college career. However, he also has some durability and consistency issues, as he missed some games due to injuries and had some lapses in technique and discipline.
