As a lead-up to the 2023 NFL draft, we've broken down the current depth chart of every NFL team and identified the biggest draft and team needs for the Indianapolis Colts.
You can find additional team-by-team draft needs articles and other draft content on our 2023 NFL Draft hub.
Who did the Colts pick in the NFL Draft?
The Indianapolis Colts selected Anthony Richardson (QB, Florida) with the 4th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Colts added Julius Brents (CB, Kansas State) with the 44th pick.
Indianapolis selected Josh Downs (WR, North Carolina) with the 79th pick.
Colts Draft Needs: Top Positions of Need in 2023
- Quarterback
- Cornerback
- Wide Receiver
What Picks do the Indianapolis Colts have in 2023?
The Indianapolis Colts have nine picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, including:
- Round 1 (4)
- Round 2 (35)
- Round 3 (79)
- Round 4 (106)
- Round 5 (138)
- Round 5 (162)
- Round 5 (176)
- Round 7 (221)
- Round 7 (236)
Indianapolis Colts Draft Capital Stats
Our Sharp Draft Value Rank is a valuation of draft capital based on a combination of average performance delivered and average dollars earned on second contracts.
This is based on two public models: performance delivered based on draft slot (the AV model created by Chase Stuart) and contractual earnings in non-rookie deals based upon draft slot (the OTC model created by Brad Spielberger and Jason Fitzgerald).
- Colts Sharp Draft Value Rank: 8 of 32 teams
- Colts AV Model Draft Value Rank: 8 of 32 teams
- Colts OTC Model Draft Value Rank: 7 of 32 teams
Indianapolis Colts Draft Value vs Other Teams:
The Colts' draft value is 24% higher than the league average of all 32 teams. Seven other teams have more draft value entering the 2023 NFL Draft.
Indianapolis Colts Draft Prediction:
The Colts are predicted to draft Will Levis (QB, Kentucky) with their 1st round pick (#4 overall) according to the most recent mock draft from Ryan McCrystal.
Another mock draft expert, Brendan Donahue, also has the Colts predicted to draft Will Levis (QB, Kentucky) with their 1st round pick according to his most recent mock draft.
Indianapolis Colts Strength of Schedule, 2023
The Indianapolis Colts have the fourth easiest NFL strength of schedule for the 2023 NFL season.
Indianapolis Colts Offense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs
Rich Hribar breaks down the offensive depth chart by position for the Indianapolis Colts, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
2022 Indianapolis Colts Offensive Rankings
Quarterback Depth Chart, Colts:
- Gardner Minshew
- Nick Foles
- Sam Ehlinger
The Colts have thrown a lot at the wall here over the past several seasons, and they are still in need of a franchise quarterback.
Indianapolis has had a different starting quarterback open the season in each of the past six years and this season will be no different.
The team added Gardner Minshew to the fold this spring on a one-year contract.
Minshew was with new coach Shane Steichen for the past two seasons with the Eagles where Steichen was the offensive coordinator.
Minshew fills many lanes here. He can be a bridge option to a rookie quarterback (whether this season or next), a viable backup, and a serviceable spot starter.
What Minshew is likely not, however, is a long-term solution at the position. And to be fair to the Colts, his contract suggests they do not view him in that capacity.
Minshew’s teams have a 2-10 record with him as a starter over the past three seasons including a 1-3 record with the Eagles.
His 44.5% success rate ranks 34th among passers over that span who have 100 or more pass attempts.
Nick Foles is also under contract for 2023 while Sam Ehlinger has two years remaining on his rookie contract.
Ehlinger received a touch of playing time last season. The Colts went 0-3 in his starts with Ehlinger throwing for just 5.7 yards per pass attempt, taking 13 sacks, and throwing three interceptions in those contests.
Running Back Depth Chart, Colts:
- Jonathan Taylor
- Zack Moss
- Deon Jackson
- Darrynton Evans
- Jake Funk
- Aaron Shampklin
2022 was a season to forget for Jonathan Taylor.
A year after he was the runner-up for Offensive Player of the Year with a league-leading 2,171 yards from scrimmage and league-high 20 touchdowns, Taylor mustered up 1,004 yards and four touchdowns over his 11 games played.
Among the 42 running backs with 100 or more carries last season, Taylor was 39th in EPA per rush (-0.16) and 37th in success rate (34.4%). 19.3% of his runs failed to gain yardage (34th).
All of these struggles came attached to 38.5% of his carries coming against light boxes, which was the second-highest rate in the league.
Now, Taylor deserves a few hall passes here, especially following up on his monstrous 2021 season and elite collegiate pedigree.
First, he injured his ankle in Week 4 and was just never the same.
He missed the following two games and then re-injured the same ankle coming back, which forced him out in Week 9.
He then re-injured that ankle once again upon return in Week 15 and was shut down for the remainder of the season.
Taylor had offseason surgery to repair his ankle in late January and is looking to be 100% to kick off this season.
The Colts also were just a terrible offensive environment overall in 2022.
That issue potentially still exists this season when Taylor is in the final year of his rookie contract.
With Taylor being a second-round draft pick, there is no fifth-year option available here as the two sides attempt to work out a long-term deal.
Taylor has stated already that he is willing to bet on himself this season and not hold out for a new contract.
The Colts could still have the franchise tag as an emergency card to play next offseason, but as of right now, the only running back the team has signed for 2024 is Aaron Shampklin.
The team has restricted free agent rights to Darrynton Evans, Jake Funk, and Deon Jackson.
Wide Receiver Depth Chart, Colts:
- Michael Pittman
- Alec Pierce
- Isaiah McKenzie
- Ashton Dulin
- Vyncint Smith
- Mike Strachan
- Malik Turner
- Kristian Wilkerson
- Ethan Fernea
The Colts did not get much out of this unit in 2022 partially due to quarterback play and partially due to the talent at the position.
Indianapolis wideouts collectively combined for 1.49 yards per route run (31st), 10.9 yards per catch (30th), and 3.6 yards after the catch per reception (27th) in 2022.
They caught 10 touchdown passes (24th) and had 2,498 yards (20th) despite ranking 10th in routes run and 11th in overall targets.
Michael Pittman enters the final season of his rookie contract still without a breakout under his belt.
Pittman was 12th in the NFL in targets (141) and 10th in receptions (99) in 2022 but was 25th in receiving yards (925) with just four touchdowns.
His 9.3 yards per catch were the same as Cade Otton’s and ahead of only Greg Dortch (9.0) and Russell Gage (8.4) among the 51 wide receivers to catch 50 or more passes last season.
No player can be looking more forward to the system change under Steichen and the new quarterback play than Pittman.
Pittman averaged just 6.9 air yards per target in 2022, 127th among all wide receivers to run 100 or more routes.
Just 6.2% of his routes (132nd) and 4.3% of his targets (138th) were on routes or throws 20 yards or further downfield.
26.5% of Pittman’s routes were hitch routes, second in the league.
There is some “chicken or egg?” in play with how much of Pittman’s lack of output through three seasons is on his shoulders or the quarterback play and system. But he has been a target earner the past two seasons, and the team still has next to nothing around him.
He is a sound bet to lead this team in targets again in 2023 with a new system and quarterback, providing another opening to cement his talent before a new contract opportunity.
The Colts selected Alec Pierce in the second round (53rd overall) last season. As a rookie, Pierce caught 41-of-78 targets for 593 yards and two touchdowns.
Pierce was third among all rookie wideouts last season in routes run (477), but he ranked 10th in targets per route (16.4%) and 12th in yards per route run (1.24).
Pierce will get another good look at playing time in his second season under the new regime.
The Colts lost 91 targets from their team last season with Parris Campbell leaving via free agency. Those targets were the second-most on the team behind Pittman.
The team added Isaiah McKenzie after he was released by the Bills, but the Colts do not have a clear option to claim that large target share in 2023.
McKenzie will be in his eighth NFL season, averaging 9.5 yards per catch and never commanding more than 65 targets in a season. At best, McKenzie is a lateral move from Campbell, but the team needs to aim higher at the position.
The only wideouts here signed beyond this season outside of Pierce are Ashton Dulin, Vyncint Smith, and Mike Strachan, who have combined for 60 receptions in the NFL.
Tight End Depth Chart, Colts:
- Jelani Woods
- Mo Alie-Cox
- Kylen Granson
- Pharaoh Brown
- Nikola Kalinic
- Andrew Ogletree
- Jalen Wydermyer
Tight end is the one offensive area where the Colts have some functional depth.
Jelani Woods also provides some upside.
Woods was selected in the third round (73rd overall) last season, catching 25-of-40 targets for 312 yards and three touchdowns.
While the counting stats were modest, Woods was targeted on 19.3% of his routes (12th among all tight ends to run 200 or more routes) while averaging 1.51 yards per route run (also 12th among that group).
Woods only played more than 60% of the snaps in two games as a rookie and more than 38% of the snaps just four times, but he flashed for 8-98-0 on nine targets in the game he played the most snaps of the season in Week 12 against the Steelers.
In the other game in which he played more than 60% of the snaps, Woods caught 3-of-5 targets for 43 yards.
The team also has Mo-Alie Cox and Kylen Granson signed for the next two seasons, each of whom played more snaps than Woods did in 2022.
Through five NFL seasons, Alie-Cox has just 89 receptions and is primarily used as a blocker.
He blocked on 51.9% of his snaps in 2022 compared to a 39.6% rate for Granson and a 34.2% rate for Woods.
Offensive Line Depth Chart, Colts:
LT: Bernhard Raimann/Carter O’Donnell
LG: Quenton Nelson/Arlington Hambright
C: Ryan Kelly/Wesley French/Dakoda Shepley
RG: Will Fries/Danny Pinter
RT: Braden Smith/Jordan Murray
What once was a strength of this team has now been an issue on offense for the past two seasons.
The Colts were dead last in ESPN’s pass block win rate (49%) last season while ranking 23rd in run block win rate (71%).
At Pro Football Focus they fared a touch better in the passing game, ranking 23rd in collective pass-blocking grade.
Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, and Braden Smith have all signed high-end contracts at their positions and for multiple seasons. All three are locked in as 2023 starters again.
Smith was still solid in 2022, ranking 16th among all tackles in overall grade at Pro Football Focus. His 4.7% pressure rate allowed was 24th among 95 qualifying tackles.
Kelly was more towards the baseline, ranking 16th among 39 centers to play at least 20% of their team snaps.
Nelson was 20th among all guards in overall grade at Pro Football Focus a year after ranking 26th. Those are not deplorable grades, but Nelson is also the highest-paid player at his position in terms of guaranteed money.
Left tackle is a major problem area here and needs competition or an outright upgrade.
The Colts used all of Bernhard Raimann (704 snaps), Matt Pryor (249 snaps), and Dennis Kelly (191 snaps) at left tackle in 2022.
Raimann was selected in the third round (77th overall) last season and started 11 games. He allowed a 6.8% pressure rate (61st) and was credited with seven sacks allowed (86th).
Right guard is also a problem area.
Will Fries led the team with 641 snaps played at right guard in 2022, ranking 70th in overall grade among guards at Pro Football Focus.
Fries was 107th in run blocking grade.
Taken in the seventh round of 2021, Fries should have added competition entering the season.
Indianapolis Colts Defense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs
Dan Pizzuta breaks down the defensive depth chart by position for the Indianapolis Colts, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
2022 Indianapolis Colts Defensive Rankings
Interior Defensive Line Depth Chart, Colts:
- DeForest Buckner
- Grover Stewart
- Taven Bryan
- Eric Johnson
- McTelvin Agim
- Chris Williams
DeForest Buckner remains a force inside.
He recorded a tackle on 16.1% of his run snaps with 14 run stuffs on the season. That came with 22 quarterback hits, which tied for 19th among all defenders.
Bucker’s contract runs through 2024, but there is no guaranteed salary after 2023.
Grover Stewart was one of the league’s top run defenders.
He was ninth at the position in ESPN’s run stop win rate and had 17 run stuffs on the season.
Stewart played 68% of the defensive snaps last season but is in the final year of his contract.
Overall, the Colts were 10th in EPA per play against the run last season.
Buckner and Stewart make things easier for the rest of the linemen, a group that provides decent enough depth behind them.
EDGE Depth Chart, Colts:
- Kwity Paye
- Samson Ebukam
- Dayo Odeyingbo
- Tyquan Lewis
- Khalid Kareem
- Kameron Cline
- Rashod Berry
Kwity Paye had 10 quarterback hits in each of his first two seasons. The biggest difference was those hits came in 15 games in 2021 and 12 games in 2022.
Paye had a solid pressure rate in 2022 and continues to develop as a pass rusher.
Samson Ebukam has been an impactful rusher through stops with the Rams and 49ers.
Last year, he set career highs with 13 quarterback hits and five sacks. He’s a solid complementary piece who can create pressure.
In his second year, Dayo Odeyingbo played 45% of the defensive snaps. He played 10 games as a rookie but was recovering from a torn Achilles, making 2022 his first real season at full strength.
Over the final four games of the season after the Colts’ bye, Odeyingbo recorded a hit on 2.3% of his pass rushes with 3.5 sacks.
Off-ball Linebacker Depth Chart, Colts:
- Shaquille Leonard
- Zaire Franklin
- E.J. Speed
- Cameron McGrone
- Grant Stuard
- JoJo Domann
- Segun Olubi
- Forrest Rhyne
Shaq Leonard played just three games in 2022 after recovering from a nerve issue in his back. After his return in Week 4, other injuries on top of the nerve issue forced him to miss more time and led to another surgery.
He’s expected to be healthy for 2023.
Zaire Franklin broke out playing as the second linebacker next to Bobby Okereke, who is now on the Giants.
The Colts used nicked on 81% of defensive snaps, per TruMedia, which left Okereke and Franklin on the field together often.
Franklin played 98% of the defensive snaps. He was third in tackles that produced a positive play for the defense, and his 16 run stuffs ranked 14th.
Franklin also ranked 12th among linebackers in yards allowed per coverage snap.
E.J. Speed played 30% of the defensive snaps.
He was a high-volume tackler — a tackle on 26.5% of his run snaps — but under 50% of his tackles produced a positive play for the defense.
Cornerback Depth Chart, Colts:
- Kenny Moore
- Isaiah Rodgers Sr.
- Dallis Flowers
- Darrell Baker Jr.
- David Vereen
- Tony Brown
- Kevin Toliver II
Kenny Moore has been a solid player in the slot and has thrived with Gus Bradley.
Moore didn’t live up to his highly productive 2021 season, but no one on the Colts really did. Injuries kept Moore out of the final five games of the 2022 season.
The outside will completely roll over without Stephon Gilmore and Brandon Facyson.
Isaiah Rodgers played 37.8% of the defensive snaps and flashed when he was on the field.
Rodgers was 20th among outside corners in adjusted yards allowed per coverage snap in 2022.
Dallis Flowers played 15.3% of the defensive snaps as a 25-year-old undrafted rookie.
He was also a great kick returner with a league-leading 31.1 yards per return.
Safety Depth Chart, Colts:
- Julian Blackmon
- Rodney Thomas II
- Nick Cross
- Trevor Denbow
- Henry Black
- Marcel Dabo
Julian Blackmon has not been able to consistently stay on the field.
While he was healthier in 2022 than he was when he played six games in 2021, Blackmon played just 63% of the snaps over 14 games last season.
He split his time between playing deep and in the box and could be served better playing closer to the line of scrimmage, especially with Rodney McLeod gone.
Rodney Thomas played the majority of snaps as the deep safety in the Colts’ single-high defense.
Indianapolis used middle of the field closed coverages on 61% of their defensive snaps, per TruMedia.
Thomas, a 2022 seventh-round pick, had four interceptions on six passes defensed in 2022.
The Colts’ third-round pick, Nick Cross, only played 10% of the defensive snaps as a rookie.
He won a starting job in training camp and played 100% of the defensive snaps in Week 1.
That dropped to 65% in Week 2, and he did not play more than 4% of the defensive snaps in any other game.
Gus Bradley recently attributed that to Cross “thinking too much” as a rookie.
