INDIANAPOLIS – The finish line is in sight.
That would be 8 p.m. Thursday when the NFL’s seven-round, 257-pick draft gets underway.
It’ll start with the Chicago Bears reloading yet again at quarterback, almost certainly with Caleb Williams, and end Saturday with the New York Jets anointing the next Mr. Irrelevant with the No. 257 overall selection.
There will be a run on quarterbacks, and history could be made with QBs going 1-2-3-4. As many as six might be selected in round 1.
The Indianapolis Colts and general manager Chris Ballard aren’t in the market for a quarterback after selecting Anthony Richardson No. 4 overall last year.
So, what to do at No. 15?
“I wouldn’t rule anything out,’’ owner Jim Irsay told FOX59/CBS4. “We’re open-minded.’’
The Colts could move up if a player they covet starts falling to them, or they could slide back and accumulate additional picks if Ballard and his personnel staff don’t see much difference in a handful of players when the No. 15 slot is on the clock.
Ballard said last week his draft board included 19-21 players with first-round grades.
If the Colts aren’t certain what they’re going to do – so much likely will happen between Nos. 1-15 – how much credence are we to give to outsiders who have spent the past several months on their own player evaluations?
Mock drafts are everywhere and, not surprisingly, there’s no consensus on how the Colts will handle round 1.
In our view, they need to come out of the draft with a starting cornerback and a deep-threat receiver. We’d opt for a wideout with big-play skills in round 1 and look for the corner in round 2. The Colts must give Richardson every opportunity to succeed. He’s their future.
One interesting aspect of the final mock drafts we’ve listed: five of the 15 project Ballard trading up, which he has never done in round 1. Three trade-up scenarios target Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. The other two anticipate (guess?) Ballard making a bold move for LSU wideout Malik Nabers and Washington wideout Rome Odzune. One has Ballard trading down, way down to 29, and selecting N.C. State linebacker Payton Wilson.
Dive in:
Dane Brugler, The Athletic
*Selection: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo.
*Comment: It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Colts go with a pass catcher at 15, especially if Bowers is still available. But Mitchell is an ideal fit, too, considering his tape, on-ball production and traits.
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN
*Selection: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama.
*Comment: This is an easy match, right? Cornerback is the Colts’ biggest need and Arnold is my second-ranked corner. He had five interceptions last season as he developed into the Crimson Tide’s top defensive back. He played a ton of press coverage in college, so he understands angles and knows how to knock receivers off their routes. He would have a chance to be Indianapolis’ top CB as a rookie.
Field Yates, ESPN
*Selection: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo.
*Comment: I was impressed with how the Colts’ secondary held up last season with a largely young and inexperienced perimeter cornerback group, but they still need to address the position in this draft. Enter Mitchell, a fast perimeter cornerback whose nose for the football is impossible to miss. Mitchell’s four-interception game in 2022 – including two that were run back for touchdowns – was one of the most enjoyable performances to study for any prospect in the class. He looks like a receiver with the football in his hands and has elite speed (4.33-second 40-yard dash at the combine).
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
*Selection: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo.
*Comment: I’ll always look to connect the Colts to toolsy prospects. Mitchell ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and he was phenomenal at the Senior Bowl.
Eric Edholm, NFL.com
*Projected trade with Chicago: Colts acquire No. 9 overall pick and send Bears No. 15 in the package.
*Selection: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia.
*Comment: If the Bears could get more Day 2 ammunition, I think they’d strongly consider moving down here. For the Colts, it would be a rare move up, but if GM Chris Ballard wants Bowers, he might have to get aggressive to move in front of the Jets. Bowers would be an excellent security blanket for Anthony Richardson and could become Dallas Clark 2.0.
Chad Reuter, NFL.com
*Projected trade with Chicago: Colts obtain the No. 9 overall pick and a third-rounder and send No. 15 overall along with second- and fourth-round picks to the Bears.
*Selection: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia.
*Comment: Colts GM Chris Ballard and Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, who spent several years together in Indy, work together again on a deal that benefits both sides. Ballard gets one of the draft’s best offensive weapons.
Peter Schrager, NFL.com
*Projected trade with Chicago: Colts package No. 15 overall and a future second-round pick to acquire No. 9 from the Bears.
*Selection: WR Malik Nabers, LSU.
*Comment: (The Colts) move up six slots and pounce on Nabers, the star receiver out of LSU. In an AFC South that saw the Jaguars, Texans and Titans all aggressively attack free agency, Colts GM Chris Ballard shows he has some tricks up his sleeve, too.
Jordan Reid, ESPN
*Selection: WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU.
*Comment: Wide receiver or cornerback seem to be the two positions in consideration, and Thomas would bring a downfield dynamic that the offense has lacked. Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs were a solid 1-2 punch last season, but when you have Anthony Richardson’s huge arm under center, you need vertical threats. Alec Pierce has struggled, so I could see Indy looking to Thomas to create more explosive plays. Thomas led FBS in touchdown receptions last season (17) and 10 of those came on vertical patterns.
Pro Football Focus
*Projected trade with Detroit: Colts receive picks Nos. 29 and 61 and a 2025 third-round pick; Lions receive Nos. 15 and 117.
*Selection: LB Payton Wilson, N.C. State.
*Comment: It’s cliché to go “best athlete available’’ for the Colts, but Payton Wilson certainly ticked that box at the NFL Scouting Combine. Wilson was exceptional in his final season at NC State, earning grades above 75.0 in all three facets of defense, led by his 90.0 coverage grade with three interceptions and four forced fumbles.
Danny Heifetz, The Ringer
*Selection: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia.
*Comment: The Colts are overjoyed to land Bowers at No. 15. Tight end has mystified them for years. Gone are the days of tossing out Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox or having nine tight ends on their 90-man roster. Bowers can do everything. He gives coach Shane Steichen an unreal option and puts second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson in a position to succeed.
Vinny Iyer, The Sporting News
*Selection: CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson.
*Comment: The Colts brought back Kenny Moore and he needs some speedy downfield coverage in the secondary. They might think about adding more offense, but corner fills a key need and is the better value here.
Conor Orr, SI.com
*Projected trade with Chicago: Trade includes acquiring No. 9 pick from Bears for No. 15 overall.
*Selection: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia.
*Comment: The Colts look to make a statement with Bowers, who I’m honestly having a hard time slotting in this draft. I’ve seen him compared to George Kittle by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, but I’m wondering if that projection assumes Bowers will beef up a little bit and become a stronger blocker. I’m not saying he’s a bad blocker, but I’ve seen him get steered around at times. If he can become an integral part of a run game like Dallas Goedert was for Shane Steichen in Philadelphia, he would make for a great weapon and general offensive upgrade.
Steichen’s bread and butter as an NFL coach has been making the simple look complex. Bowers is a big part of that process, with an every-down mismatch on the field.
Brendan Donahue, Sharp Football Analysis
*Selection: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo.
*Comment: The Colts (met) with Malik Nabers, but it’s hard to see them pulling off a trade to move up to get him unless he falls past No. 6. In this scenario, they stay put and take their biggest need, which is in the secondary.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
*Selection: DE Jared Verse, Florida State.
*Comment: Their pass rush could use some more juice from the outside. When the Colts won a Super Bowl, they had Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. They need a player like Verse to try to get close to that.
John Breech, CBS Sports
*Projected trade with Tennessee: Colts send No. 15, No. 46 and No. 234 to the Titans for No. 7 overall.
*Selection: WR Rome Odunze, Washington.
*Comment: Surprise! The Colts need some receiving help and they get that in a major way by making a trade to land Odunze.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.
