The Indianapolis Colts came away with nine selections in the 2024 NFL Draft, adding some intriguing talent to the roster on both sides of the ball.
Starting off their draft with edge rusher Laiatu Latu was a bit of a surprise considering it wasn't clear how the team felt about his medicals. It turns out they were content with it, and they viewed him as the best defender in the class.
Turning around on Day 2 to grab wide receiver Adonai Mitchell could turn out to be a massive steal. He'll come to Indy with a chip on his shoulder after falling in the draft.
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The Colts wrapped up Day 2 and began Day 3 with consecutive selections addressing the offensive line depth. They may not be the sexiest of picks, but those selections can go a long way.
Finally, the Colts added to the secondary with a pair of defensive backs late on Day 3, and they added an impressive athlete to the linebacker room. Waiting that long to add to the cornerback room certainly is a risk.
Here's how the experts around the NFL graded the Colts' draft haul in 2024:
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Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: B-
Latu and Mitchell were absolute coups to start the draft for GM Chris Ballard. Indy reached a little for offensive line and secondary help, but that extra depth was needed for the defense. Gould brings one more versatile weapon for second-year QB Anthony Richardson, too
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: B+
GM Chris Ballard has a thing for athleticism, and I dig that. But in the past he's picked extreme athletes who weren't actually good football players. Latu has an incredibly high ceiling because of his pass-rush arsenal, Mitchell was a fantastic find at No. 52, and Goncalves can be a quality swing tackle or guard.
Bortolini has potential because of his athletic chops, and Gould ab-so-lutely flies down the field. Carlies and Simpson are two totally different safeties. I love adding the blend of a rangy middle-of-the-field type and an in-the-box masher.
They might have gotten the draft’s best defender, UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu at No. 15 before getting a Round 1-caliber wideout in Adonai Mitchell at No. 52 – and he arrives with an ax to grind with the rest of the league. Mid-round O-line upgrades (Pitt’s Matt Goncalves and Wisconsin’s Tanor Bortolini) are rarely a bad idea, though a corner in one of those spots might have made more sense.
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus: A+
Mitchell will immediately provide Anthony Richardson with another weapon opposite Michael Pittman Jr. He is an immediate impact player in the red zone with his size and body control, and he brings incredible hands. Mitchell dropped just one pass over the past two years on 103 targets.
I like the players in Ballard's class, but I'm still curious about why he didn't take a corner earlier. That's a miss ... unless there's some sort of trade for a veteran coming down in the weeks after the draft.
Latu was the most consistent pass rusher in the draft class and will be productive if the neck injury he suffered while at Washington is not an issue moving forward. The team found a potential steal in Mitchell, provided his game matures, while trading down for two Day 3 picks. Trading up for Gonclaves seemed unnecessary, though he should be at least a solid swing tackle; he's been recovering from a foot injury but said after the draft that he feels 100%.
Bortolini looks like Ryan Kelly's heir apparent; he also has the experience, strength and athleticism to play guard until needed in the middle. Gould brings real value as a returner, especially with the new kickoff rules. Carlies moves from safety to linebacker for the Colts. Simpson could man corner or safety; the athletic defender played both spots in college. Abraham is the son of former NFL player Donnie Abraham and a tough-minded corner in his own right, but the team is still looking for depth at edge.
For more Colts coverage, check out Kevin Hickey's work on Sporting News.
