Building Shane Steichen's Colts Offense: Day 3 Fits

It's going to take more than a quarterback to build Shane Steichen's Indianapolis Colts offense. Here are seven more options for Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft.

For the first time since 2018, the Indianapolis Colts will be entering this season under a new head coach, former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen.

When hiring an offensive-minded head coach, you are also bringing on board their system and identity. Steichen’s success with the Eagles over the past two years is important to note, as well as his time with the Los Angeles Chargers as their OC from 2019-20.

So after studying each offense that Steichen had a large hand in creating, it is fair to make assumptions and predictions of what he could be bringing to the Colts. One area that seems highly likely is Steichen’s past experience of attacking defenses vertically will come with him to Indianapolis.

Multiple elements on the roster need tuning if that reality is to come to fruition. With the 2023 NFL Draft around the corner, there are multiple fits throughout the draft that fit Steichen’s offense. In this three-part series, we will be looking at prospects in Rounds 2 & 3 as well as Day 3 that fit the Colts’ new offense.

If you missed it, check out Round 2’s piece HERE and Round 3’s piece HERE. Today, we finish the series by looking at fits on Day 3 of the draft.

DAY-3 FITS

WR Trey Palmer, Nebraska

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Trey Palmer out of Nebraska shined at the NFL’s Scouting Combine, where he recorded the fourth-fasted 40-yard dash time with his 4.33 speed. That time shouldn't come as a surprise to NFL teams, though, as his speed at Nebraska this past year was evident throughout his tape. Palmer was the clear best playmaker for the Cornhuskers and used his speed to create unreal separation against man coverage. Though he spent extensive time on the outside at Nebraska, his size (6’0", 192lbs) projects more as a slot at the NFL level.

This works well for the Colts as they are in need of adding impactful players at the slot position, as at the moment, other than newcomer Isaiah McKenzie they have no proven production at the spot.

While Palmer spent most of his time in the slot, his speed and ability to separate at a high level would help him in the slot. The Colts need a vertical threat that can take the top off the defense, and while Palmer was a YAC machine, his ability to get downfield behind safeties for big plays was a huge part of his game.

OC Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan

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Olusegun Oluwatimi, out of Michigan, is one of the most underrated prospects in this draft class. It's not often you see a player that projects as a Day-1 starter at center getting Day-3 projections, but that's been the story for Oluwatimi, a very experienced starter in multiple blocking systems.

Oluwatimi is one of the better pass-blocking centers in this class. His ability to identify stunts and move side to side with ease will help him translate to the next level faster than many realize.

The concern people have for Oluwatimi is whether he has the strength to hold up in run protection at the next level, and while there are instances on tape where this shows up, I believe it's overstated. The effort Oluwatimi plays with in the pass-and-run game is something you wish every player on your roster possessed. Whether the run game is his strength or not, when his team needed him to hold up in big situations, he more than held his own and got the job done for Michigan in the run game. With the Colts, he wouldn't have to start right away with Ryan Kelly returning, which allows him a redshirt year to perfect his craft and be groomed to be the center of the future for the incoming top-5 pick rookie quarterback.

OG Chandler Zavala, North Carolina State

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Chandler Zavala, out of North Carolina State, is one of the best athletes in this class on the offensive line, according to RAS Football. Zavala moves laterally as well as anyone in this class. To put him on the other side of Quenton Nelson at the guard spot for the Colts would give the team a level of athleticism to send either in pull situations. He is a very disciplined lineman, as he didn't receive a single holding penalty in his 17 starts at NC State.

His arm length is shorter than most teams would want, but the Colts have drafted and had success with short-armed linemen (Bernhard Raimann, Braden Smith). While Zavala’s ceiling as a prospect is through the roof, he has some technical issues in his game that will need to be coached up for him to reach it. His bend and consistency with his pad level are areas where he needs improvement. If the Colts went the Zavala route, they might want to pair him with a veteran right guard as well to give him the proper time to be tuned by the coaching staff.

WR Rakim Jarrett, Maryland

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Rakim Jarrett, out of Maryland, offers an exciting run-after-catch receiver option in this class. His 4.44-speed flashes on his tape as he takes screens and underneath work and turns them into big plays constantly. His ability as a route runner is more polished than your typical Day-3 wide receiver prospect, which would offer the Colts various options on deploying his skill set.

Jarrett is also a relentless blocker for his size, which would be a welcomed trait to this receiver room. He also would offer the Colts a player on Day 3 with special teams experience, as he did spend time as a returner for the Terps.

The question with Jarrett is whether his speed and route running could translate to vertical success with the Colts in Steichen’s offense. Taking the top off the defense from the slot position is important. While Jarrett made big plays happen at Maryland, many of them were made via his ability with the ball in his hands, which makes it notable that he is coming off a year where he had the most drops of his college career with 8. He has all the traits to do it, it'll just be up to him and the coaching staff to get him there. But his traits and work ethic add up for the exact type of prospect you bet on come Day 3 of the draft.

RB Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina

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While the Colts likely won't be looking for a three-down bell cow running back in this draft class, a back with pass-catching ability would be an excellent addition. Keaton Mitchell, out of East Carolina, has terrific speed, which he showed with his 4.37-second 40-yard dash. He uses his speed to hit small holes quickly off the snap. He is also very patient with the ball in his hand and can hit his top speed quickly, which gives blockers time to clear the way for him in the passing game.

He may not be your typical “run between the tackles” back, but Mitchell's speed and ability with the ball in his hands would enhance the options available in Steichen's offense. Coaches will also love the fact that while Mitchell had the ball in his hands a ton at East Carolina, he had zero fumbles this past season. Pairing Mitchell’s speed and pass-catching ability with Jonathan Taylor would have the upside of being one of the best pairings possible in this class.

OG Andrew Vorhees, USC

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The draft process for Andrew Vorhees, out of USC, hasn't gone as planned. After a heartbreaking moment at this year's Scouting Combine occurred during drills, resulting in Vorhees tearing his ACL. He won't see any time on the field during his rookie year as goes through rehab to get back to 100%. Without this injury, though, Vorhees wouldn't be in this article as he almost certainly would have heard his name reasonably early on Day 2 of the draft.

If the Colts were to go this route, they’d need to find competition for the starting spot at right guard elsewhere for 2023, but the upside with Vorhees, if he can 100% recover here, is high. He has really nice size for the position and has collegiate experience at both right and left guard. His strength is very evident as he moved defenders at ease in both the pass and run game. Even after tearing his ACL, he elected to perform the bench press at the Combine where he recorded 38 reps, which was the most for the entire event.

That decision shows you the level of competitor Vorhees is, and I don't think NFL teams will take that lightly. That level of fire is the type of player I’d bet will attack his rehab the right way and should see him back at full strength in 2024 when he gets on an NFL field.

WR Jaylen Wayne, South Alabama

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Jaylen Wayne, out of South Alabama, may sound familiar to Colts fans. His cousin, or as he explained to me, his “uncle because he's too old,” is none other than Colts legend and current receivers coach Reggie Wayne.

Jaylen Wayne is an ex-basketball player who converted to football during the second half of his high school tenure. When he got to the college level, he was tried out at multiple positions as he was still so raw that coaches weren't sure what he was just yet. He would eventually end up playing strictly receiver and the speed and athleticism he possess from his basketball days shone on tape.

Wayne spent time on the outside and inside, but his speed helped him separate at a higher rate from the slot. He offers more size than your typical slot, as he measured in at 6’2", 216 at his pro day. It's always good to come off your best season the year you head to the NFL Draft, and that's precisely what Wayne did after career-highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. This past year, he broke South Alabama’s season record for receiving touchdowns with 9.

An important thing to note is that this past year was his first season with a quarterback that prioritized stretching the field, that QB being Carter Bradley, who just so happens to be the son of Colts defensive coordinator, Gus Bradley.

Check out our full interview from earlier this draft cycle with Jaylen Wayne HERE.

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