The Indianapolis Colts will be looking to improve the offensive side of the ball when the 2023 NFL draft comes around in less than a week.
In Touchdown Wire’s latest three-round mock draft, that’s exactly what they focused on. Though passing on the cornerback position will be a risky move, it’s hard to be totally upset with how the Colts came out in this mock draft from Doug Farrar.
It started with Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud falling to the Colts at No. 4 overall.
Given new Colts head coach Shane Steichen’s history as Philly’s offensive coordinator, there’s a legitimate thought that Indy could be in play for Anthony Richardson or Will Levis so that Steichen could run the quarterback run-based offense he ran with Jalen Hurts, and to great effect — certainly with Richardson. But Steichen also has a history with Philip Rivers, and he still values the more “traditional” quarterback attributes just as much. Nobody in this class has better ball placement than Stroud, he’s more functionally mobile than people have thought, and he comes into the league able to run an NFL offense right away. I have compared Stroud to a more mobile Philip Rivers, so there you go.
Stroud falling to No. 4 would be a dream for the Colts. It may happen as Will Levis is moving up the boards in eyes of the betting market, but who knows what the board will look like when the event actually takes place.
At No. 35 overall, the Colts added a premier weapon in terms of explosiveness and playmaking ability at the wide receiver position in Marvin Mims Jr. out of Oklahoma.
Mims Jr. is a shifty slot receiver who has elite track speed and can be a vertical threat in Shane Steichen’s offense. He would immediately compete for a starting role as the slot receiver.
Rounding out the three-round mock is a bit of a surprise selection but one that definitely would have its intrigue. At No. 79 overall in this mock, the Colts took tight end Darnell Washington out of Georgia.
Having two of the most athletic tight ends to ever come out of the combine would be intriguing with Washington and Jelani Woods. Known more for his run blocking, Washington has upside as a receiver and red-zone target considering his size, length and elite athleticism.
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