The Indianapolis Colts did a great job of filling the holes on their roster in the 2023 NFL Draft. There were a handful of positions that needed addressing and they were able to find value while selecting players that fit a need. It was a much-needed performance for general manager Chris Ballard, who was lucky to retain his job with a new coaching staff being hired.
Ballard and that coaching staff, led by former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, have to be ecstatic about getting a potential franchise quarterback in Anthony Richardson. A quarterback was their top need and they addressed it with the highest-upside player.
Another need that the Colts had was in their secondary. After trading Stephon Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys they were dangerously thin at cornerback. Dallis Flowers and Isaiah Rodgers were atop the depth chart, but they now have some competition.
With their second-round pick, Indianapolis selected Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents. In the fifth round, they doubled down on cornerbacks, selecting Darius Rush out of South Carolina. Rush has excellent size for a cornerback, standing 6’2” and weighing 200 pounds.
He graded out as an eventual long-term starter, providing the Colts with excellent value on their Day 3 selection. They should be excited about his outlook given the professional player comp that he received. According to CBS Sports scouting reports, Rush’s pro player comp is Richard Sherman.
Sherman was one part of the vaunted Legion of Boom with the Seattle Seahawks from 2011-2017. Injuries derailed the second half of his career, but for multiple years, he was someone that teams did all they could to avoid throwing at.
He and Rush possess similar builds and it would be quite impressive if the South Carolina product ever reached that level. Rush has been playing cornerback for only a few years as he switched from wide receiver after the 2018 season.
What Rush lacks in experience he more than makes up for it with his length and athleticism, traits you cannot teach. If the Colts’ coaching staff can coach him up, they are going to be getting quite a player with the fifth-round pick.
