Chris Ballard Gives Insight into Colts' Plans Ahead of NFL Draft

General manager Chris Ballard left some nuggets about what the Indianapolis Colts are thinking heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Only six more days remain before the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft officially begins. As we get closer to draft day, rumors and smokescreens become more and more prevalent. It is hard to trust anything that comes out between now and when the draft begins.

The Indianapolis Colts currently sit with the No.4 pick and will almost assuredly use that pick on a quarterback. General manager Chris Ballard will be the man in charge of making the final call on which player the Colts will choose. Ballard himself admitted that lies are quite common this time of year.

“Everybody is lying," Ballard said in his pre-draft presser on Friday. "I might be the most honest, unfortunately. But everybody is lying ... I think you know me well enough. Usually if you ask a question, I’ll either dance around it or give you an answer. Today, I’m a dancer.”

For the most part, Ballard has been pretty honest over the years regarding what the Colts are thinking ahead of the NFL draft. That does not mean he will come out and reveal how the Colts have their draft board ranked. However, it does give us some context into what Indy is thinking as they head into one of the most important weekends of the year.

One of the biggest rumors that has been floated around is that the Colts have focused in on one specific quarterback they would like to take. Numerous national media outlets have reported they have heard from various league sources – not Colts sources – that Indy is targeting Kentucky quarterback Will Levis. Levis may end up being the pick for the Colts, but Ballard is adamant that the rumors are not coming from the team itself.

"I just always love to read the reports that the Colts love this guy, and they love this guy and they’re dialed in on this guy," Ballard said, smiling. "Like, who’d that come from? It didn’t come from me. Who’s it coming from? Who’s telling them who we love and who we don’t love? They don’t know.”

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Since Ballard became the Colts' GM in 2017, the organization has been pretty tight-lipped regarding its major decisions and deals. Ballard mentioned how numerous players were linked to the Colts before the 2018 NFL Draft when they selected Quenton Nelson, who has been an All-Pro guard for most of his tenure in Indy. In 2020, the deal the Colts made with the San Francisco 49ers for All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was kept under wraps for almost a month before the trade was made official.

With this in mind, why would the Colts suddenly become an organization filled with leaks right before making their most important draft pick in at least a decade? Maybe even in the last 25 years? It is highly unlikely that is the case.

"There’s always this assumption that we’ve targeted one player," Ballard pointed out. "This is the main assumption right now, that we have targeted one guy to go get. I don’t know if that’s an accurate assumption. Matter of fact, I say it’s not. So, I think you have to wait until draft. You can’t, like before the fact – you’ve got to wait until draft day and see how things unfold and then be able to react accordingly.”

It would be a different story if the Colts had the No.1 overall pick and could choose any player they wanted. Leaks would not matter because no other team could jump them and prevent the organization from taking their guy. But the Colts sit at No.4, and while the team goes through all the various scenarios ahead of time to prepare for what is to come, nothing is certain until Indy is on the clock.

"No idea, and I don’t think anybody does," Ballard admitted when asked if he had an idea how the first three picks would go. "Everybody thinks they do. I mean of course, everybody thinks they do and everybody has an inside source who is giving them information of what’s going to be done. I think as you all know, just look at the mock drafts and tell me how accurate they are after the draft. Nobody knows. Nobody is giving out information.”

The Colts can only control what they can control, which is making sure they have clear evaluations on all of the prospects and have a conviction in their process. Ballard admitted that the Colts have 17 players graded as first-round talents. However, that does not mean only 17 players from this draft class will develop into good players. Ballard and the Colts feel like there is plenty of depth in this draft, including at positions of need.

"It’s a good o-line draft," he explained. "I’ll tell you, tight ends is about as good as I’ve seen. Like, it is an excellent tight end draft. Secondary, cornerback in particular, really good depth. O-line I thought was really good. Defensive line, defensive end especially I thought really good depth in the draft. Players that are going to go in spots, fourth, fifth round that are going to play and be really productive, good players.”

© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Colts have needs at multiple positions where Ballard thinks this draft is deep. It is no secret how the offensive line struggled last season, even with a resurgence back to league average to end the year. While the Colts are comfortable with the progress of Bernhard Raimann and believe he can develop into a franchise left tackle, right guard and depth remain a concern. But if the Colts believe quality players will be available on Day 3, an offensive line selection could come later in the draft.

"Like to add (offensive linemen)," Ballard answered. "Yeah, we’d like to add some depth for sure.”

Indy is also in need of a new starting cornerback on the outside after Stephon Gilmore was traded to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason. With Kenny Moore II expected to handle slot duties again and Isaiah Rodgers Sr. holding down one of the outside corner spots, a new starting cornerback may be warranted with a high draft pick. Do not be surprised if the Colts add multiple cornerbacks throughout the weekend.

But the focus will be on the quarterback and who the Colts end up selecting at the top of the draft. Whoever the Colts choose to, hopefully, be the face of the franchise, there is still a long way to go before that comes to fruition. He has to be the right fit, and an offense will need to be tailored around his strengths to give him the best chance at success.

"I think it comes down to who fits you and what you can work with," Ballard said candidly. "I think that’s critical, and what your coaching staff can work with – what they think they can do with them and how they can build an offense around that player to make him work no matter who it is. It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is. I mean you’re going to build an offense different for Peyton Manning (than) you’re going to build for Michael Vick. It’s just going to be different. I think it comes down to who you believe you can build the offense around the best and win games with.”

Colts fans are ready to meet their new quarterback and the rest of the rookies they will cheer on at Lucas Oil Stadium this fall. The draft cannot get here soon enough.

Want more Colts content? Check out the latest episode of the Horseshoe Huddle Podcast!

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