ESPN Shakes Things Up in Latest Colts Mock Draft
With the Senior Bowl in the books, it's time for a new round of Indianapolis Colts mock drafts. Up until this point, there had been a common theme among the top-draft analysts when it came to mocking the Colts.
NFL.com and ESPN had repeatedly gone with an offensive weapon dating back to October. ESPN's Jordan Reid had the Colts taking Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman with his first mock draft. Nate Tice did the same in late December.
The second-time around, Reid went with playmaking-tight end Brock Bowers from the Georgia Bulldogs, following a familiar theme of offensive weapons for quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Draft analyst Matt Miller just released a two-round mock draft on ESPN+, and he shakes things up a bit by going defense in the first round for the Colts.
He stayed in Tallahassee, Fla., but instead of going with Coleman, Miller had the Colts choosing edge rusher Jared Verse at No. 15.
"I'm going off the assumption the Colts will franchise tag wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and that would open the door for a pass-rusher here," wrote Miller on ESPN+. "The Colts have used recent draft picks on defensive ends in the first and second rounds with mixed results, and despite posting 51 sacks in 2023 (ranking fifth), they still lack a premier player at the position. Verse is a true 4-3 defensive end at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, and he posted nine sacks in 2023. With Verse opposite Kwity Paye and flanking DeForest Buckner, the front four could be a handful in Indy."
Re-signing Pittman doesn't necessarily negate the chances that the Colts will go for another offensive weapon. Bowers is considered one of the best players in the draft regardless of position, and he might be too tempting to pass up if he's available (Miller has him going one-pick earlier at No. 14 to the Saints).
Miller didn't completely go off the reservation when it comes to offensive playmakers for the Colts. He added wide receiver Malachi Corley of Western Kentucky in the second round.
"Corley is one of my favorite receivers in the class thanks to his after-the-catch ability and versatility," Miller wrote on ESPN+. "At 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, there are obvious Deebo Samuel comparisons; Corley averaged 8.8 yards after the catch per reception in 2023. He could either soften the blow of losing Michael Pittman Jr. in free agency or help round out what would be a fantastic receiving trio alongside Josh Downs and Pittman."
Alec Pierce taking strays from ESPN.
Corley was also a standout at the Senior Bowl and would offer a different type of receiver than anything the Colts have on the roster.
The Colts surpassed most expectations with their 9-8 record and remaining alive in the playoff race until the final whistle. Another productive draft class and the return of Richardson could be enough to get the Colts over the hump in 2024.
