In a draft that left fans scratching their heads, the Indanapolis Colts managed to secure an impressive F grade, solidifying their position as the laughingstock of the Vintage Football League. With a projected record of 3-10-2, it seems the Colts are destined for a season filled with disappointment and regret. Despite their 5th place draft order, the team failed to make any impactful selections, leaving them with a roster that inspires more yawns than cheers.
While the Colts did manage to snag Jonathan Taylor at pick 19, slightly outperforming his ADP of 23, their questionable decision to draft Anthony Richardson at pick 5, a player with an ADP of 119, left many scratching their heads. It's clear that the Colts have a unique strategy of building their team around a single franchise, as evidenced by the 8 players they drafted from the same team. Perhaps they believe that unity and camaraderie will make up for their lack of talent. Unfortunately, it seems more likely that this team will be known for their impressive ability to lose in spectacular fashion. Better luck next time, Indanapolis Colts. Or maybe not, because luck doesn't seem to be on your side.
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ADP Analysis
Bars above zero indicate a pick was selected later than a player's ADP. Bars below zero show players that were taken earlier than their ADP.
Inside the Draft
Player Outlooks
- Round 1, Pick 5 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 44 - 2022 Rank: 744
The Colts couldn't pass up Richardson's tremendous athletic upside with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The rookie out of Florida is raw, having completed only 53.8 percent of his passes last season, but Richardson has one of the most impressive physical profiles ever among QB prospects. Richarson has a cannon for an arm at 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds, plus he boasts 4.44 speed and set the QB record at the NFL Combine with a 40.5-inch vertical jump. Indianapolis also brought in Gardner Minshew in free agency, but it's likely just a matter of time until Richardson is handed the reins to the offense, and the rookie should be involved in short yardage and goal-line packages from the get-go. Even under the tutelage of head coach Shane Steichen, who oversaw the meteoric rise of fellow dual-threat QB Jalen Hurts as Philadelphia's offensive coordinator over the past two seasons, Richardson will likely struggle as a passer early in his NFL career, especially with few established targets to throw to besides Michael Pittman in a run-first offense centered around RB Jonathan Taylor. Still, Richardson's rushing ability (nine rushing TDs in 2022) makes him the most intriguing member of this rookie QB class from a fantasy perspective, as Justin Fields proved last year that you don't need to be a proficient passer to find significant fantasy success as a QB in the modern NFL.
- Round 2, Pick 19 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 49 - 2022 Rank: 145
Taylor has more fantasy risk than any of the top running backs this year thanks to offseason ankle surgery and a contract dispute. He started training camp on the PUP list, still working his way back to full strength after a season-ending high ankle sprain in Week 15 last year. His contract situation might be an even bigger issue. Taylor demanded a contract extension; the Colts refused but gave him permission to seek a trade. He's since moved to the regular-season PUP list, making him ineligible for the first four games of the season, though the Colts can still trade him in the meantime. If he returns to the Colts, he'll look for a delayed bounce-back year after last season's disappointment. Expectations were sky high heading into 2022 after he led the league in rushing yards (1,811) and rushing touchdowns (18) in 2021, but his season was derailed by injuries and poor play from the imploding Indianapolis offense. A Week 4 ankle sprain limited his effectiveness for a time, but his production also suffered from the ineptitude of the players around him -- the biggest culprit being QB Matt Ryan. Taylor's touchdowns dropped to four after he posted 12 and 20 in his first two seasons, and his 3.6 yards per target was less than half of his career average of 7.3. Quarterback remains a question mark for Indianapolis this season, but it's hard to imagine fourth overall pick Anthony Richardson faring worse than the now-retired Ryan. The big questions now are whether Taylor will be ready to play by Week 5 and if he'll still be a member of the Colts at that point.
- Round 3, Pick 33 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 68 - 2022 Rank: 193
After racking up 1,082 yards on 129 targets in 2021, Pittman dipped to 925 yards on 141 targets last season. The decline in efficiency can be attributed to abhorrent quarterback play by the combination of Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger and Nick Foles. Entering his fourth NFL season, Pittman once again profiles as the clear No. 1 WR for the Colts, but the team's QB situation remains murky. Indianapolis signed Gardner Minshew and drafted Anthony Richardson fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Minshew probably represents an upgrade over the options throwing Pittman the ball last year, but Richardson will likely claim the starting job before long, and the question marks about Richardson's accuracy coupled with his running ability could lead to declines in both passing volume and efficiency. Still, the Colts could find themselves playing from behind often, and the lack of established targets behind Pittman suggests the 25-year-old wide receiver should remain busy after ranking 12th league-wide in targets last season despite missing one game.
- Round 4, Pick 47 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 237 - 2022 Rank: 268
Pierce is coming off a boom-or-bust rookie season. The 2022 second-round pick out of Cincinnati caught 41 of 78 targets for 593 yards and two touchdowns, including seven catches for 243 yards and a touchdown on his 15 deep targets. Pierce ranked third on the team in targets as a rookie, but the speedy big-play threat is penciled into a starting role opposite Michael Pittman (141 targets in 2022) after the Colts let Parris Campbell (91 targets) walk in free agency. Indianapolis added slot receivers Josh Downs and Isaiah McKenzie to replace Campbell, but the team's most impactful offseason changes came under center. The Colts parted ways with Matt Ryan and brought in fourth overall pick Anthony Richardson, as well as free agent Gardner Minshew. Richardson's strong arm and Pierce's 4.41 speed could make for an intriguing downfield combination, but it remains to be seen if the raw rookie has the accuracy to consistently link up with the second-year wideout.
- Round 5, Pick 61 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 241 - 2022 Rank: 777
Downs was highly productive at UNC, but the 2023 third-round pick's measurables are nothing to write home about. His 4.48 speed isn't all that impressive given his size at 5-foot-10, 175. But Downs played faster than his 40 time suggests in college en route to 195 catches, 2,364 yards and 19 touchdowns in 24 games his last two seasons. Downs will compete with former Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie for the starting job in the slot for a Colts passing game with few established pass catchers after Michael Pittman. If Downs beats out McKenzie, he and second-year wideout Alec Pierce would likely see the majority of targets behind Pittman, but there may not be all that many looks to go around. The Colts are planning to implement a run-first approach around RB Jonathan Taylor, especially if rookie fourth overall pick Anthony Richardson starts right away at QB. The strong-armed Richardson should contribute to the run-heavy nature of Indianapolis' attack with his legs, and there are questions about his accuracy, so Downs could have an easier path to early success if Richardson loses the QB competition to veteran Gardner Minshew.
- Round 6, Pick 75 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 1894 - 2022 Rank: 397
Granson led all Colts TEs with 31 catches last season, but rookie Jelani Woods wasn't too far behind with 25, and Woods finished with more yards (312-302) and touchdowns (3-0). The Colts also employed Mo Alie-Cox in their TE rotation, and all three are due to return in 2023. Indianapolis crowded the TE room further by drafting Will Mallory in the fifth round. Granson isn't even a lock to make the roster, and the 2021 fourth-round pick is still searching for his first NFL touchdown. Then again, it's possible that Granson will emerge as the top tight end in a Colts offense that will be operating with a new coach (Shane Steichen) and new QB (Anthony Richardson or Gardner Minshew).
- Round 7, Pick 89 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 296 - 2022 Rank: 32
Gay signed a record-setting four-year, $22.5 million contract with the Colts in the offseason. Even if the pressure of signing the biggest free agent deal for a kicker in NFL history doesn't get to Gay, his volume figures to be depressed on a run-first offense led by a rookie QB in Anthony Richardson, especially since the Colts averaged just 17.0 PPG with veteran Matt Ryan under center in 2022. Gay made 74 of 80 field-goal attempts with the Rams over the previous three seasons, including 12 of 15 from 50-plus yards, so he figures to remain reliable when given opportunities.
DEF - Round 8, Pick 103 - Bye 11
2023 Rank: 247 - 2022 Rank: 57
Of the Colts' seven Pro Bowlers in 2021, three played on defense. All three of DT DeForest Buckner, LB Shaquille Leonard and CB Kenny Moore are still on the team, but Leonard and Moore both missed extensive time due to injury in 2022. Indianapolis drafted CB Julius Brents in the second round to replace the departing Stephon Gilmore, but the biggest key to improvement on defense may be out of DC's Gus Bradley's control. The Colts gave up the third-most PPG (25.1) last year despite being in the middle of the pack in yards allowed due to the team's turnovers and struggles on offense. Potential improvement on the offensive side spearheaded by rookie QB Anthony Richardson and a healthy Jonathan Taylor -- if the latter's feud with the front office is sorted out -- could lead to a fresher and more effective Indianapolis defense in 2023.
- Round 9, Pick 117 - Bye
2023 Rank: - - 2022 Rank: -
- Round 10, Pick 131 - Bye
2023 Rank: - - 2022 Rank: -
- Round 11, Pick 145 - Bye
2023 Rank: - - 2022 Rank: -
- Round 12, Pick 159 - Bye
2023 Rank: - - 2022 Rank: -
- Round 13, Pick 173 - Bye
2023 Rank: - - 2022 Rank: -
- Round 14, Pick 187 - Bye
2023 Rank: - - 2022 Rank: -
- Round 15, Pick 201 - Bye
2023 Rank: - - 2022 Rank: -
- Round 16, Pick 215 - Bye
2023 Rank: - - 2022 Rank: -
Team Forecast
Bye Week Points Lost
Each bar represents the total projected season points for each player that's on bye that week. This chart shows any potential bye week issues.
Schedule by Opponent Points
Week-by-week schedule with each opponent's projected season points. This chart shows any difficult or easy stretches in the schedule.
