The Indianapolis Colts were noticeably thin in presence at the pro days of most of the top quarterback prospects in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
Rather than sending a contingent of observers like some other teams, many trips for the Colts featured just one scout to observe. However, that doesn't mean they aren't doing their due diligence.
According to Peter King of Football Morning in America, the Colts are working out Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis this week:
Very big week for Indy. The Colts, who pick fourth and 35th in the top 50, are working out Young, Stroud, Richardson and Levis. By Saturday, they should have their list of quarterbacks in order—and coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard should know if Richardson or Levis is worth selecting here.
The Colts are in a good but not great spot. After going the last five seasons with five different starting quarterbacks, they need to get off the QB-go-round and settle on one long-term—but if they don’t believe in Richardson or Levis, they can’t force it. There may be the option of trading down or picking Hendon Hooker (the Tennessee quarterback is coming off ACL surgery and is likely to miss most of 2023), which would mean Gardner Minshew playing to start the season in a year that’s pretty important for Ballard after four straight years without a playoff win.
Albert Breer of The MMQB also detailed that the Colts worked Young and Stroud out in Southern California on Monday.
While the NFL Draft is always a crapshoot, it does seem as if Stroud and Young — widely considered the top two QBs in the draft — will be off the board for the Colts if they stay put at pick No. 4, leaving a strong likelihood of them landing either of Richardson, Levis, or even later in the draft with Hendon Hooker, who they've already met with.
Richardson perhaps has the highest ceiling of any quarterback in this draft. With a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) tied for the best ever among quarterbacks, he has an elite blend of size and speed. He has a powerful arm and can throw off-platform from many different angles. His escapability is more than just that of a scrambler, as he avoids sacks in the pocket with the best of 'em. However, with just 13 career starts at quarterback under his belt, he still has quite a bit of room to grow. He's considered a raw, boom-or-bust prospect.
Levis is a solid prospect but doesn't quite give as much polish as guys like Stroud or Young, and is plenty athletic but not a game-breaker like Richardson. Still, he is a football junkie who's always working to improve his game.
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