Moore: Colts 2024 Mock Draft Post Pro Days

With pro days in the rearview mirror, the Indianapolis Colts could make a run at these players in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Author:
Andrew Moore
Apr 12, 2024

In this story:

Indianapolis Colts

NFL Draft

Mock Draft

Brian Thomas Jr.

Jaden Hicks

Chris Ballard

Cam Hart

Tanor Bortolini

Edefuan Ulofoshio

Jalyx Hunt

Ryan Flournoy

Kimani Vidal

Frank Crum

The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off in less than two weeks, and teams are beginning to finalize their big boards for the big event.

The Indianapolis Colts still have a few holes on their roster that need addressing. After re-signing all their top free agents, the Colts seem to be running it back in 2024 with mostly the same roster as 2023. However, adding explosive pass catchers and help in the secondary remain the top priorities for Indy heading into the draft.

Regardless of who the Colts take in the draft at the end of the month, those players are bound to be high-level athletes with tremendous upside. With all the college pro days in the books, here is our second Colts' mock draft ahead of the 2024 draft.

Round 1 Pick 15: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

undefined — LSU Tigers wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Army Black Knights.

Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

In our first mock draft of the year after the NFL Scouting Combine, I had the Colts taking Georgia tight end Brock Bowers at this pick. While I still believe the Colts would, and should, run the card in if Bowers is available at No.15, I have a feeling he will be gone. With Bowers off the board, the Colts take the next best pass catcher available in Brian Thomas Jr.

Thomas immediately gives the Colts a do-it-all vertical threat on the outside. At 6-3 and 209 pounds, he is an athletic freak (9.84 RAS) with the speed to get behind defenses and create explosive plays. Thomas can win at all three levels and led all of FBS in touchdowns in 2023 with 17, proving the wide receiver knows how to get into the end zone.

While some top cornerback prospects could be available at No.15, the Colts have poured a lot of resources into looking at wide receivers throughout the draft cycle. Wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne attended pro days at LSU, Texas, and Oregon to check out some of the top wideout prospects, showing Indy has a desire to take one early. Thomas gives Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson another weapon as they look to take the offense to a new level.

Round 2 Pick 50: Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State

TRADE: Colts send the No.46 (second round) pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for the No.50 (second round), No.172 (fifth round), and No.210 (sixth round) picks.

It would not be a Colts' draft without a trade-back. General manager Chris Ballard makes a deal with the Eagles and general manager Howie Roseman to fall back four spots in the second round and collect a couple of Day 3 picks. Even with the trade back, the Colts get an impact player.

Jaden Hicks is another great athlete (8.97 RAS) who provides the help at safety that the Colts desperately need. He is a great athlete with the speed to cover the deep zone or man up against tight ends and also makes plays versus the run with his closing ability. Hicks played at the Senior Bowl, an event the Colts take significant stock in, and could fight for the starting free safety job from the jump.

Round 3 Pick 82: Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame

Cornerback is a position many thought the Colts would add a veteran in free agency. But outside of re-signing Kenny Moore II, the Colts stood pat. The starting trio of Moore, JuJu Brents, and Jaylon Jones remains after Brents and Jones showed promise during their rookie seasons.

However, in this mock, the Colts continue to add to the secondary with another high-level athlete in the third round.

Cam Hart has elite size (6-3) and length (33-inch arms) at the cornerback position and uses his physicality to re-route wide receivers. His physicality is also on display when in press coverage. Hart, another great athlete (9.00 RAS) who took part in the Senior Bowl, could come in and compete for a starting cornerback spot with the Colts and contribute on special teams.

Round 4 Pick 117: Tanor Bortolini, IOL, Wisconsin

The Colts' offensive line rebounded in a big way under new offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. Quenton Nelson and Ryan Kelly made it back to the Pro Bowl, while Bernhard Raimann solidified himself as the team's franchise left tackle. But depth along the line is still in question, and the Colts need to plan for the future with Kelly heading into the back half of his career.

Tanor Bortolini was a star at the combine, showing off his athleticism (9.77 RAS) and explosiveness. He possesses sound technique in the run game and pass protection and is rarely out of position. Bortolini has position versatility and can play both center and guard. With Will Fries in the last year of his deal, Bortolini could have the inside track to start at right guard in 2025 and beyond.

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Round 5 Pick 151: Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB, Washington

Indy decided to part ways with former All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard last season when Leonard could not return to his former self after multiple back surgeries. Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed are entrenched as the team's starting linebackers, but depth is needed at the position.

Edefuan Ulofoshio fits the mold of a Colts linebacker. He may be undersized at 6-0 and 236 pounds, but Ulofoshio is a great athlete (9.67 RAS) with long arms (33-inch) and a high motor who makes plays all over the field. Ulofoshio is also solid in coverage, an area of need for the Colts, and can contribute on special teams as he continues to work on his game.

Round 5 Pick 172 (from Philadelphia): Jalyx Hunt, Edge, Houston Christian

The Colts love to take chances on Day 3 on small school prospects with high-end athletic traits. Last year, the Colts used a sixth-round pick on Titus Leo out of Wagner. This year, it is a fifth-round pick on Jalyx Hunt from Houston Christian, who the Colts got a good look at at the Senior Bowl.

Hunt is a former safety who has only played the edge rusher position for two years. His length (34 3/8-inch arms), speed, and athleticism (9.22 RAS) are enticing as a pass rusher, and he has shown an ability to bend around offensive tackles. Hunt will need to improve his play strength, but he is a developmental prospect worth taking a shot on in the later rounds and seems like a great fit at the LEO position.

Round 6 Pick 191: Ryan Flournoy, WR, SE Missouri State

Adding Thomas in the first goes a long way toward bringing more explosiveness to the Colts' offense. But the Colts want to add depth to their wide receiver group, with Ballard mentioning he did not do a good enough job of providing depth at the position last season. Providing that depth is another Senior Bowl and combine standout in Ryan Flournoy.

Flournoy meets all of the athletic thresholds (9.89 RAS) the Colts typically look for in wide receivers with his size (6-1, 202 pounds), speed (4.44 40), and explosiveness. Flournoy has a great football IQ and is at his best finding soft spots in zones where he can settle down and make the catch. While he will need to improve his route running and against press coverage, Flournoy gives the Colts solid depth at wide receiver and could potentially carve out a role on special teams.

Round 6 Pick 210 (from Philadelphia): Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy

The Colts are set at running back with Jonathan Taylor on a new contract extension. Evan Hull, who missed most of his rookie season due to a knee injury, is also expected to play a sizable role as the receiving back. But with Zack Moss departing for the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency, depth is still needed.

Kimani Vidal could become the true power back behind Taylor for the Colts. While a tad undersized at 5-8 and 213 pounds, Vidal gets north and south quickly and picks up tough yardage. He needs to work on being more patient as a runner, but the athletic traits (8.88 RAS) are there for him to succeed and carve out a role in the running back rotation.

Round 7 Pick 234: Frank Crum, OT, Wyoming

The Colts wrap up this mock by going back to the offensive line. Ballard and the Colts have shown they like to bet on late-round offensive linemen with high-end athletic traits, such as Fries and Jake Witt. They decide to add more competition with combine standout Frank Crum.

Crum is a massive offensive tackle at 6-8 and 313 pounds who racked up 49 starts at Wyoming. The uber-athletic Crum (9.86 RAS) is a bulldozer in the run game who takes others out of the play with his strength. He will need to develop his technique in pass protection if he wants to see snaps in a reserve role, but Crum could eventually provide depth at offensive tackle at a level similar to Blake Freeland.

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