Moore: Post-Pro Days Colts 7-Round Mock Draft

With the pro days of marquee players now in the books, it's time to release a seven-round Indianapolis Colts mock draft.

We are officially 20 days away from the kickoff of the 2023 NFL Draft, and rumors are running wild on how the anticipated event will unfold.

The Indianapolis Colts find themselves at the center of many of those rumors. The Colts are expected to select a first-round quarterback for the first time since 2012 when Andrew Luck became the face of the franchise.

The top two picks in the draft by the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans are widely expected to be quarterbacks as well. With the Colts unable to control their destiny, how will things shake out for Indy come April 27?

Round 1 Pick 3: QB Anthony Richardson - Florida

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TRADE: Colts send No.4, No.79 (third round), and a 2024 second-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for the No.3 pick.

The Cardinals have made it known they are open to trading the No.3 pick. While the teams will go back and forth to gain leverage, the deal will ultimately get done between the Cardinals and Colts. With the trade, the Colts are in the clear to draft their next franchise quarterback: Anthony Richardson.

Richardson could be the alien the Colts have been searching for at quarterback since Luck retired. Richardson is arguably the most athletic quarterback prospect the NFL has ever seen with his combination of size, speed, and explosiveness. Richardson also has the strongest arm in the class, making every throw a possibility. 

Richardson is not a perfect prospect and has issues with his mechanics and accuracy that need to be cleaned up. But he is not as raw as people might think and has shown improvement in college with more reps and experience. With new head coach Shane Steichen at the helm directing his development and the system he will be in, the sky’s the limit for Richardson in Indy.

Round 2 Pick 38: Cody Mauch - North Dakota State

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TRADE: Colts send the No.35 pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for the No.38 and No.100 (third round) picks.

In typical Ballard fashion, the Colts trade back in the second round to help recoup some of the draft capital they gave up when trading up for Richardson. Indy trades back and still grabs help for an offensive line that struggled last season.

Cody Mauch will compete for the starting right guard spot immediately with Will Fries. While Mauch played mostly at tackle at NDSU, he projects better along the interior in the NFL. Mauch is a very athletic offensive lineman who excels at creating holes in the running game. He is also an effective communicator and good at picking up the blitz, something the Colts struggled with last season.

Round 3 Pick 100: CB Darius Rush - South Carolina

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By picking up a third-round pick in the trade with the Raiders, the Colts can address a need on the defensive side of the ball. Darius Rush is a tall, long cornerback that would fit very well in Gus Bradley's defense. At 6'2", 198 pounds, and with almost 33.5-inch arms, he has the size the Colts covet in their cornerbacks. He also ran a 4.36 40-yard dash, showing off blazing speed.

Rush is still a little raw in his development, as he switched from wide receiver to cornerback only two years ago. However, he has impressive ball skills and is not afraid to get physical. Although he will need to clean up his technique, Rush should be a willing tackler right away and help defend against the run.

Round 4 Pick 106: WR Jonathan Mingo - Ole Miss

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The Colts start the 2023 NFL Draft with three of their first four picks on the offensive side of the ball. The Colts re-signed Ashton Dulin and added former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie while allowing Parris Campbell to leave in free agency. Indy still needs to add another weapon to help out their rookie quarterback.

Jonathan Mingo fits the build of a Chris Ballard-type receiver. Mingo meets the size threshold at 6'2" and 220 pounds, as Ballard has only drafted wide receivers over 6'0" and 200 pounds since he joined the Colts. Mingo is also a freak athlete with a 4.46 40-yard dash time and 39.5-inch vertical.

Mingo would be a big slot receiver in Steichen's offense. He is a solid route runner who can catch contested throws and is a weapon after the catch. His ability to block in the running game is also a plus for a Colts team that values blocking from their receivers.

Round 5 Pick 138: DE YaYa Diaby - Louisville

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You can never have enough pass rushers, and the Colts are hoping they found a diamond in the rough in YaYa Diaby. At 6'3" and 263 pounds, Diaby is a power rusher who uses his quick twitch ability to get after the quarterback.

Diaby is another athletic freak – see where I'm going here? – with long arms that allow him to attack opposing offensive linemen. He shows great lateral burst that makes him hard to block on twists and stunts. While he needs to develop a better plan as a pass rusher, Diaby has all the physical tools to be successful in the NFL.

Round 5 Pick 162: OT Nick Saldiveri - Old Dominion

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The Colts are very happy with the progress third-round pick Bernhard Raimann made at left tackle last season. It certainly was not a smooth journey for Raimann, but the rookie was solid to end the year, and Indy believes he will continue developing. That said, depth is still needed at offensive tackle, and the Colts want someone to push Raimann at left tackle.

Nick Saldiveri could end up being a diamond in the rough for the Colts. The size, length, and athletic ability are all there for Saldiveri, as he has shown great promise as both a run blocker and pass blocker. Saldiveri just needs time to refine his footwork and become more consistent in this area. With patience and the right coaching, Saldiveri could develop into a starting-caliber player on the Colts’ offensive line.

Round 5 Pick 169: LB Dorian Williams - Tulane

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With the departure of Bobby Okereke in free agency, the Colts will need to add some depth at linebacker. When looking at two of the three starting linebackers for Indy in Shaquille Leonard and E.J. Speed, the Colts love long, athletic linebackers that can cover from sideline to sideline. Staying in that mold, Dorian Williams would fit seamlessly into the Colts' linebacker room.

Williams may be undersized as a linebacker at only 6'1" and 228 pounds, but his length (33.75-inch arms) and speed (4.49 40-yard dash) are exactly what the Colts covet at the position. Williams has great range and has shown good recognition while in zone coverage. Williams could come in as a third linebacker when the Colts are in their base 4-3 while seeing action on special teams as well.

Round 7 Pick 221: DT Dante Stills - West Virginia

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The Colts are always looking to add more pass rushers on the defensive line. After picking up Diaby in the fifth round, Indy goes for an athletic interior rusher in the seventh.

Dante Stills has the body type to play inside and out on the defensive line. In five seasons at West Virginia, he tallied 23.5 sacks while displaying quickness and agility in his play. The Colts may need to test him out at different positions to see where he fits best, but Stills could immediately contribute on special teams.

Round 7 Pick 236: CB Starling Thomas V - UAB

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When it gets to the later rounds on Day 3 of the draft, the Colts like to take players with standout athletic traits. How about 4.3 speed?

That is what Starling Thomas V brings to the cornerback position. Thomas is an athletic and physical corner that can make plays on the ball. He would be able to contribute on special teams right away as he continues to work on his game and provide quality depth to a cornerback room that desperately needs it.

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

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