9 players on the Colts' first-round wishlist for the 2024 NFL Draft

The Colts recently hosted LSU star WR Malik Nabers for a top-30 visit in Indianapolis. Their need for a WR who can stretch the field and help add more explosive plays is evident. And if they want an explosive WR, Nabers could very well be their number one WR in the class. He would pair well with Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs in the WR room, with each having a stronghold on their individual roles. 

Washington WR Rome Oduzne is a unique WR prospect. Odunze can play in the X or Z WR role on the outside. If he starts to slip in the draft, some fans may not look at Odunze and think he wouldn't complement Pittman Jr.'s game as well as Nabers. And while I agree with that statement, Odunze would open up more options and flexibility for the Colts offense. Odunze has plenty of speed and big play ability to play the Z role primarily and can slide into the X, which would open up more ways to use PIttman Jr., or it would give the Colts a WR room that can seamlessly fill an injured starter in the rooms snaps for the time being. 

If the Colts are going to draft an edge rusher in the first round, I think it needs to be the player at the top of their list due to the talent already on the roster there. And based on Dallas Turner's size, atheism, and college tape, I would be shocked if he isn't the Colts' top-edge rusher in the class. With the right coaching, Turner checks a lot of boxes that could lead to him developing into one of the NFL's top pass rushers. And with the Colts hiring one of the greatest defensive line minds in college football in Charlie Partridge, I think Indianapolis could be a great landing spot for Turner. 

Colts Wishlist Players:  Stay at pick 15

It may not be as exciting as trading up for one of the names mentioned above, but the Colts are projected to have multiple talented prospects on the board at 15 when they get on the clock. So, if they chose to stand pat at 15, here are the players I think they should target. 

Some may be shocked to see Brock Bowers landed in this section and not as a trade-up target. But at the end of the day, I think three are too many other solid options for the Colts to consider for them to trade up for Bowers. Dont let that take away from the fact that Bowers would be an excellent fit in the CoColts'eavy RPO offense, and if he is the on the board at 15, I think most people around the NFL would be shocked if they let him go past pick 15. The Colts would also now have Bowers and Josh Downs as quick route-winning weapons to utilize on third down. If you pair that with Richardson's running ability, they could have one of the best third-down conversation rates in the league as early as next season. 

If the Colts elect not to trade up for one of the top three WRs in this year's class, LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. is the best fit for the team at pick 15. Thomas Jr. led the FBS with 17 receiving touchdowns last season, and his combination of size and speed projects him best as a deep-threat WR early in his career as a Z WR. His route tree could use some tuning, and once it's polished more, Thoams Jr. could be a WR who can play either outside WR role. And who knows, Thomas Jr., with a full route tree, might just compete with the top three WRs in this class when their careers are all said and done. 

The Colts' struggles in the secondary last year led many to believe they would look to add a veteran CB or safety. But at the moment, the team is expected to start second-year CBs Juju Brents and Jaylon Jones, which has led CB to be a popular position mocked to the team in the first round. If they go that route, two players make sense for the team to consider at pick 15. The first is Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell, who began his draft cycle with a strong week at the Senior Bowl, where he had arguably the strongest week of any defensive player. He followed it up with a strong showing at the 2024 Scouting Combine, where he ran a blazing fast 4.33 40-yard dash and recorded a 38" vertical and 10'2" broad jump. His elite athleticism, paired with his ability in zone coverage, there's a solid reason to believe he would be the top CB on the Colts board. 

The second CB the Colts should consider at pick 15 is Terrion Arnold. Arnold graded out as my top CB in the 2024 class, while Mitchell and he graded out very closely. What gave Arnold the edge on my board is his technique is more polished, and he projects well in both man and zone coverage, though he isn't as strong in zone as Mitchell. Both players would be great options for the Colts, so it just comes down to what they want to prioritize at the spot: speed and zone coverage ability (Mitchell) or a technically sound CB who would open up more possibilities in coverage for Gus Bradley and the Colts defense (Arnold). 

Colts Wishlist Players: Trade Down

The Colts currently own all seven of their draft picks for the 2024 NFL Draft but no extras. We all know how much Ballard loves trading back to land more picks. With so much talent on day two of the draft this year, it could be smart to trade back in the first round to land an extra day two pick and potentially more. If they choose to trade back, two players stand out as players the team could target. 

If the Colts choose to trade down, the first player that comes to mind is Texas WR Xavier Worthy. Many know him best for breaking the 40-yard dash record at the Scouting Combine this year, but I know him as the top WR in Texas offense since the moment he stepped on campus. Worthy producing year in and year out by leading Texas in receiving all three years eases my concerns I have about his slender build at 165 lbs and just over 5'11". Worthy can line up on the outside as a speedy Z WR role that will make safeties play even deeper to prepare for his speed or in the slot where he is quick in and out of his breaks. An offensive mind like Shane Steichen could use Worthy in multiple ways and think of all the pre-snap motions the Colts could utilize with Worthy and Downs on the field together.  

Iowa's Cooper DeJean shouldn't be listed as one position in the NFL draft because he can play all over the secondary. He projects well at safety, slot CB, and even as an outside CB, dependent on the defense he lands in. Most defenses around the league will have him at safety or in the slot. But the Colts cover three heavy zone scheme would be one of the few that also would let him compete at outside CB. With the Colts having a need at FS and outside CB, DeJean could go into training camp and compete for both spots, which would allow the team to figure out where he fits best in their defense. On top of his defensive ability, he also provides great experience as a returner, and with the new rule changes in that area, he could carve out an early role as the team's return man.