The Indianapolis Colts have a few needs heading into the 2024 NFL Draft. Unlike last year, a starting quarterback isn’t one of them.
Indianapolis has their franchise quarterback. The team selected former Florida Gators star Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick in 2023. Richardson missed most of his rookie campaign after suffering a shoulder injury. Yet, he’ll return to the field next season and could put together a major bounce-back year.
Veteran Joe Flacco will serve as Richardson’s primary backup. Sam Ehlinger is the third quarterback on the roster. While the Colts QB room is just fine, what other positions must be addressed in the draft?
Indianapolis Colts Top 3 NFL Draft Needs
Cornerback
Cornerback is the Colts’ biggest need. Last season, the team ranked 22nd in yards per pass attempt allowed. The Colts re-signed Kenny Moore II this offseason. He was very productive in 2023, coming up with a memorable performance against the Carolina Panthers in which he produced a pair of pick-sixes. Moore will serve as the slot cornerback and JuJu Brents will start on the outside.
Fellow CB’s Dallis Flowers and Jaylon Jones are both good players, but the Colts need to upgrade the position in the draft. The Colts own the 15th overall pick. Plenty of mock drafts have used the pick on either Alabama’s Terrion Arnold or Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell. Either cornerback could become an impact player and help the secondary immensely.
Safety
Safety is also one of the Colts’ biggest weaknesses. Fortunately, they were able to bring back their best player at the position: Julian Blackmon. After visiting the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers in free agency, Blackmon re-signed a one-year deal with Indianapolis. The 2020 third-round pick is coming off a career year. In 15 games last season, he racked up 88 tackles (five for loss), four interceptions, eight passes defended, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
Besides Blackmon, the Colts safety room includes guys like Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas II, and Daniel Scott, who missed his rookie year due to injury. Cross and Thomas have shown promise, but are not proven. It would be in the Colts’ best interest to draft a safety, especially with Blackmon only being signed to a one-year contract. Both Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin and Georgia’s Javon Bullard should be draft targets.
Wide Receiver
Heading into the offseason, retaining Michael Pittman Jr. was certainly the Colts’ biggest priority. They re-signed the talented wide receiver to a three-year, $70 million deal with $46 million guaranteed. Pittman is coming off the best year of his NFL career. The USC product caught 109 passes for 1,152 yards last season.
Josh Downs, who the Colts drafted in the third round of last year’s draft, looked great as a rookie. The former North Carolina Tar Heel had 68 receptions and 771 yards. Their other young buck Alec Pierce hasn’t blossomed into a big-time star. However, it’s too early to label him a bust just yet.
While Pittman, Downs, and Pierce are a quality trio, the Colts must add another wideout. Someone like LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. or Texas’ Xavier Worthy makes a ton of sense.
Watch: Xavier Worthy Film Study
Main Photo Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
