The Indianapolis Colts are heading into their bye in Week 14, and while there are still four games remaining in this season, it is fair to assume that attention is already shifting to the future. With a record of 4-8-1, Indianapolis is a long shot to make the playoffs and it is hard to imagine Jeff Saturday, in his first coaching stint above the high school level, rallying the groups.
This is a team who came into the season with some dark horse appeal as a Super Bowl contender but could finish closer to landing the No. 1 overall pick than a playoff spot. As things currently stand, the Colts have the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. With four other teams tied with four wins and three more with three victories, things will certainly get shaken up in the last five weeks of the regular season.
Likely heading toward a top-10 pick, which prospects could the team have their eyes on? Here are three players that the Colts should be eyeing with their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
3. QB Will Levis, Kentucky
Figuring out the quarterback situation is the No. 1 goal for the Colts this offseason. If they do not seek out a veteran to fill the void, such as making a run at Lamar Jackson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Geno Smith or Baker Mayfield in free agency, the draft will provide them a chance to do so. Where they land will have a major impact on who they can target, but given their spot right now, Levis may be in play.
The skill set is there for Levis to succeed at the next level with a huge arm and rushing ability. That is something the Colts should be looking for as the additions of Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan have as much to do with anything in correlation to their offensive line struggles the last two seasons.
Unlike other quarterbacks who are picked based on the projection of their tools, Levis has shown he can run an NFL-style offense. The last two offensive coordinators he had at Kentucky, Liam Coen and Rich Scangarello both have experience at the NFL level and Levis played well under each of them.
2. WR Jordan Addison, USC
The Colts’ offense could use a little more juice regardless of who is under center for them in 2023. Michael Pittman Jr. has shown the ability to be a No. 1 option and Alec Pierce has provided flashes during his rookie season as well. Both are big-bodied, contested catch types of receivers that can punish opponents with their sheer size.
Looking to diversify their wide receiver group, someone such as Jordan Addison would be a very good addition. Addison has excellent separation skills and should find success right away in the NFL with his ability to work himself open.
His diverse skill set would fit in well as he can operate in other areas of the field from where Pittman and Pierce excel. It would also help reset the clock at the position as Pittman enters Year 4 in the NFL and will be due a raise very soon.
1. EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia
The Colts’ pass rush has been one of the positives for the team this season. They have totaled 32 sacks, which is in the top half of the league. Leading the way is Yannick Ngakoue, who was acquired in a trade this offseason from the Las Vegas Raiders.
He has done well with 8.5 sacks thus far this season, but he is set to hit free agency in 2023 with his contract expiring. That could leave Indianapolis short-handed on the edge, making this a position of need that can be addressed in the draft.
Nolan Smith is one of the top EDGE prospects in this year’s draft class. The Bulldogs have been sending players to the NFL with frequency and Smith is the next in line to hear his name called. In addition to being a pass-rushing dynamo, Smith is also excellent at setting the edge against the run.
That kind of versatility is something that you bet on developing. He needs to add some more pass-rushing moves to his repertoire, but given his level of athleticism, Smith would be worth the gamble.
