With the 2024 NFL Draft just a few weeks away, it's time to take another look at how the Indianapolis Colts may go about their selections at the end of the month.
In our earlier rendition of a mock draft, we had the Colts trading back from the No. 15 overall pick. In this one, we have them staying put mostly because of who was on the board at the time.
Using the mock draft simulator from Pro Football Network, here's the Colts' latest haul in a fresh, new mock draft.
Fresh NFL mock draft for the Colts
Round 1 | No. 15 overall | TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
Trading back is very much in the realm of possibilities but if Bowers happens to slip to them, it might be difficult to move off the pick. Bowers is an elite playmaker at the tight end position, and there's little doubt Shane Steichen would understand how to maximize his potential as a receiving threat. This type of addition could seriously further the development of Anthony Richardson.
Round 2 | No. 52 overall (from LAR) | LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
Trade Details
- Colts receive: No. 52, No. 99
- Rams receive: No. 46, No. 191
Linebacker is far from a need for the Colts, but that hasn't stopped Chris Ballard from using Day 2 capital at the position before. Cooper is the exact type of linebacker Ballard falls in love with and as E.J. Speed enters the final year of his contract, there's a decent chance Cooper is brought in to take over the starting role in 2025.
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Round 3 | No. 82 overall | WR Devontez Walker, North Carolina
There will be analysts split on Walker's true upside as a complete receiver. For the Colts, though, he's an extremely intriguing prospect as someone who can bring playmaking ability as a deep threat. He's explosive, athletic and shows off innate tracking abilities on deep balls. He would compete with Alec Pierce for the Z role as a vertical threat.
Round 3 | No. 99 overall (from LAR) | CB Khyree Jackson, Oregon
It's not ideal to lean so heavily into the youth at cornerback, but Jackson is a near-perfect fit for Gus Bradley's defensive scheme. He has elite size, length and explosiveness to work as a boundary corner opposite Julius Brents.
Round 4 | No. 117 overall | EDGE Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian
This is a selection purely based on athleticism and upside, something Ballard loves doing on Day 3. At 6-foot-4 and 252 pounds, Hunt has 34 3/8-inch arms to go along with a 4.64 in the 40-yard dash, a 37.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-8-inch broad jump. He's a pure speed rusher who needs time to develop a deeper pass-rush package, but the upside is intriguing.
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Round 5 | No. 151 overall | G Zak Zinter, Michigan
Whether Zinter will actually fall this far remains to be seen. He's likely a fringe Day 2 pick if not for the broken tibia and fibula he suffered in November. As long as the medicals check out, he would be an intriguing addition to the interior offensive line with Will Fries entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Round 7 | No. 234 overall | S Ryan Watts, Texas
The Colts re-signed Julian Blackmon on a one-year deal so they have their starting tandem set. Watts is an elite athlete in every sense of the phrase. Some may view him as a cornerback, but it wouldn't be a shock at all to see Ballard take a shot on him regardless.