Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, the biggest need for the Indianapolis Colts is a quarterback. They have been seeking continuity at the position since Andrew Luck surprisingly announced his retirement ahead of the 2019 season. That has left Indianapolis scrambling for years, but it is time to address that need.
Armed with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, the Colts are hoping that the draft board falls in their favor. The Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans are both expected to select quarterbacks with the first and second pick. The Arizona Cardinals don’t need one at No. 3 but could trade the pick to a team that does.
That would be a worst-case scenario for the Colts, who could get aggressive and swap picks with the Cardinals. Or, they could wait it out and if things don’t go their way, pursue Lamar Jackson after the draft.
One way or another, there will be a new starting quarterback in Indianapolis for the 2023 season. While quarterback is the biggest need, it is far from the only one that the Colts have. Another position that needs addressing is cornerback.
Last season the Colts allowed 68 percent of pass attempts to be completed against them, which was 31st in the NFL. It is hard to imagine that number improving after the team traded Stephon Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys.
Whether or not the Colts stick at No. 35 in the second round or make a move into the back end of the first round, they could target a cornerback. Two players to keep an eye on are Kelee Ringo out of Georgia and Julius Brents out of Kansas State.
Ringo is long and athletic with the tools to become an excellent boundary cornerback in the NFL. He leaves a little something to be desired when it comes to playmaking and he needs to cut down on his penalties, but it will be hard for teams to pass up on and ignore the speed/size/athleticism combo he possesses.
Brents is someone that excels in zone coverage. He also possesses a rare blend of size and length for a cornerback, as some project that he could eventually move to the safety position. That kind of versatility is something that will be appealing to plenty of teams. Not afraid to mix things up in the run game as well, Brents possesses all the tools to become a great player in the secondary.
