Where do the Colts need to invest premium picks?
Watching the 2024 Indianapolis Colts was certainly a roller coaster. From Anthony Richardson getting benched, to the team being in the playoff picture, to one of the worst losses in franchise history, there is a lot to look back on from last year. For now, let’s look forward at how the Colts can put last year behind them and work to get better. There are two main areas of need in my opinion that are worthy of premium picks. Whether Chris Ballard and his team agree is yet to be seen.
Assembling a strong rookie class can work wonders for a franchise. Look no further than the Philadelphia Eagles. They needed some help defensively, so they drafted two players that have contributed and made their defense top-notch in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Those two players would have been great additions to any team but especially the Colts who need cornerback help in a big way. Jaylon Jones and Sam Womack just aren’t cutting it. Cornerbacks are hot commodities, and when a team has a good one, they keep them. That is why finding that talent in the first round should be a top priority for Ballard.
Although cornerback is my number one, and I would prefer to use a second rounder here, there is one other position I could be swayed into using a first round pick: tight end. The Colts have to upgrade this position. There is literally no explosion from this group. Their output was incredibly low to non-existent, and Anthony Richardson needs a big-time reliable tight end to increase his production. Brock Bowers put up 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. Without crunching the numbers, I bet that is better than the entire tight end group for the Colts. (Ok, I peeked, and it looks like those numbers could be around 4X times better!) Upgrade here, and the offense could take off.
The ultimate hope is that Chris Ballard won’t only rely on the draft to improve the roster and that he will use free agency as well. That is the hope, but I am not holding my breath. If he fails to address these holes in free agency, then he must do so in the draft. Double dipping in both areas would actually be best case scenario because one to two upgraded players at each position would be ideal. Ballard has to see what I am seeing, so I fully expect these to be part of his overall focus. Then again, nothing he does would surprise me.
