Colts Come out of Combine with More Leverage

A strong showing by several top prospects give the Indianapolis Colts more leverage with the No. 4 overall pick.

The week of the NFL Combine started off a bit rough for the Indianapolis Colts. One of the top prospects in the NFL Draft Jalen Carter was arrested on charges of racing and reckless driving that resulted in the death of a teammate and staff member at the University of Georgia.

Those are misdemeanor charges in what could have been a lot worse for Carter, but if he were to move down the draft board, the Chicago Bears might want more in return to trade the No. 1 overall pick if an elite prospect like Carter isn't available.

But the week had a strong finish for the Colts who are all but guaranteed to take a quarterback. 

Alabama's Bryce Young is a player heavily linked with the Colts if they were to trade up to No. 1 overall. He measured 5'10 and 204 pounds, casting doubts on his ability to translate his college magic to the NFL.

Meanwhile Florida's Anthony Richardson put up historic testing numbers in Indianapolis. 

Richardson measured 6'4 and 244 pounds and ran a 4.43 forty with a combine record 40.5" vertical jump.

"He's taller than George Kittle, heavier than Haason Reddick... The Cam Newton comparisons are there." @KyleBrandt on Anthony Richardson pic.twitter.com/pD2knfL2tA

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) March 6, 2023

Richardson elevated himself into the conversation of being a top-five pick. While he's not nearly as refined a passer as players like Young and Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, it's hard not get exciting him when picturing him playing the role of Jalen Hurts in a Shane Steichen offense.

Hurts was much more accurate in college with a nearly 70% completion rate his final season at Oklahoma compared to Richardson's 53.8% last year at Florida.

But Richardson is three inches taller, 35 pounds heavier, and faster... much faster than Hurts at the same stage of the process. 

Richardson's good week could boost him into the top-three picks which would likely give the Colts a chance at Stroud or Young if he falls to four.

Steichen was hired from Philadelphia in part to draft and develop a quarterback of the future after the Colts have swung and missed on so many retreads including Matt Ryan last season. 

Young is the most polished, Stroud and Kentucky's Will Levis have the most physical ability, and Stroud fits somewhere in between. Doubt at the top of the board will give Colts the leverage to stay put at No. 4 if the right deal doesn't present itself.

The Colts need a quarterback.

But they might not have to give up the farm to move up to No. 1 to get one that Steichen can mold into the next star.