The 2025 NFL Draft is approaching, and the Indianapolis Colts have the fourteenth overall pick. This is a breakdown of their team needs and potential players they could select in the Draft. Plus, an overview of their offseason so far and possible additions.
State of the Union
Heading into year three of the Shane Steichen-Anthony Richardson tenure, the Colts have been perfectly mid. A 17-17 record over the past two seasons has secured two runner-up finishes to the Houston Texans in the AFC South, a division where mid can take you far. This year feels like an inflection point for the coach-QB tandem that was supposed to inject life into this franchise.
Steichen has more or less delivered on the offensive promise he brought. Despite instability in the QB room, Indy has finished 10th and 14th in offense in the past two seasons, respectively. The killer blows are being dealt to the defenses which have placed 28th and 24th, resulting in the firing of defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Steichen has been around long enough to know who gets the pink slip after coordinator firings if things don’t turn around.
The leash may also be short for Anthony Richardson. The 4th overall pick was always viewed as a project player, but results have not inspired confidence. The limited exposure in his rookie year was fine behind surprise Pro Bowler Gardner Minshew, but results cratered in his sophomore campaign. He ceded starts to Joe Flacco while posting a 48% completion rate and an 8/12 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Suffice to say, a repeat performance may have the Colts looking elsewhere, assuming he wins the QB battle (more on that soon).
In short, there are questions abound in the Hoosier State. This offseason and the upcoming draft, for better or worse, will go a long way towards providing answers.
Free Agency Recap
Key Departures
G Will Fries – Pro Football Focus’ 4th-ranked guard this past season, Fries was due to get paid in a big way. Indianapolis came into the offseason with roughly $40 million in cap room. It’s unclear if the 5-year $87.7 million deal Fries got from Minnesota was too steep or simply not where they wanted to allocate resources. Considering the money allocated to Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith, I’d say it’s the latter. But the result is the same, and Indianapolis has a hole to fill at guard.
DE Dayo Odeyingbo – This is another case similar to Fries. Odeyingbo isn’t nearly the elite player Fries is, but plays a position of need on the edge and got big money from an NFC North team. Though his sack totals dipped from 8 in 2023 to 3 in 2024, he managed 42 total pressures, which placed him 42nd out of 211 edge rushers. The 3-year $48 million contract he inked with the Chicago Bears does seem a bit rich, but Indianapolis has yet to do anything to replace him.
Other Departures: DT Raekwon Davis
Key Additions
CB Charvarius Ward – The Colts are smartly betting that Ward’s down year was an aberration. Struggling personally after the death of his newborn, football was a secondary concern for Charvarius in San Francisco last season. The 3-year, $60 million deal GM Chris Ballard handed him will be a coup if he returns to his All-Pro form from 2023. As a Niners fan myself, I hope to see Mooney get back to his lockdown playmaking ways for Indy.
S Cam Bynum – I suppose this signing comes as some measure of revenge after the Vikings lured away Will Fries. The Colts handed the playmaking safety a 4-year, $60 million contract, doubling down on improving the secondary through free agency. In reality, the contract is more of a 2-year, $31 million pact with tons of signing bonus money up front, keeping them cap flexible in the short and long term. Bynum’s deep field playmaking ability will help keep a lid on what has been a leaky defense, and he should be moved around plenty in new DC Lou Anarumo’s creative scheme.
QB Daniel Jones – Though only the third-highest dollar amount dished out to a free agent by the Colts, Jones is by far the most interesting. His 1-year, $14 million deal indicates an open QB competition with Richardson during the spring. That kind of money doesn’t get thrown around for out-and-out backup quarterbacks. I understand the logic of bringing in competition for a struggling young QB, but this one creates issues. If Richardson beats out Jones, woohoo, he’s better than the guy who has been an abject disaster for the past two seasons as well. If Jones wins the competition, Richardson’s confidence will be shot. This may be a lose-lose QB competition for the Colts.
Other Additions: RB Khalil Herbert, DT Neville Gallimore, CB Corey Ballentine, LB David Long Jr.
Team Needs
Tight End – It’s no secret that the Colts will be sniffing around tight ends in the draft. Even if they had retained Mo-Alie Cox, the positional group is filled with TE2/3 types with no real receiving upside. As the Colts continue to build on this receiving crew, a big body that can block and work up the seams would be a plus for whoever wins the QB competition. It’s certainly a good draft to need a tight end, but the free agent options are dire. Short of adding some talent come April, they’ll have to be content with what they have.
Defensive Line – This isn’t a DeForest Buckner issue; his 81.9 overall PFF grade keeps him among the elite interior linemen. Grover Stewart also had a strong year alongside him, but the question marks come on the edge. With Dayo Odeyingbo’s departure, Indianapolis is counting on production from two former first-round picks in Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu. The former produces solid sack numbers but grades out average with pressures. The latter put on a strong rookie campaign but would need a major breakout for this defensive line group to come together. Samson Ebukam is back after a torn Achilles ruined his past campaign and did have a career high in sacks during his first season in Indianapolis, but I’m not counting on the 30-year-old speed rusher coming off a devastating injury. Another body in the rotation would help safeguard against a lack of breakouts.
Complementary Secondary Pieces – Ward and Bynum are massive upgrades in the secondary and should bring the group back towards average, and Kenny Moore II is one of the premier slot corners in the game. Still, the group is lacking a well-rounded starting group. JuJu Brents can’t stay healthy long enough to capitalize on his potential. Jaylon Jones and Corey Ballentine can provide some solid depth, and Nick Cross wouldn’t be the worst starting safety in the league. Two strong starters and two below-average starters are fine on the whole, but this group could be a strength with the right moves. They should be in the mix for a CB2 type and an extra option at safety.
Potential Draft Picks
LB Jihaad Campbell (Alabama) – This is, far and away, my favorite draft fit for Indianapolis. As previously discussed, the new DC is going to get creative and move pieces around. Indianapolis has a stud inside linebacker in Zaire Franklin, but nothing to speak of for their off-ball linebackers. Jihaad is one of the best all-around defenders in the class, with the ability to rush the passer, stuff the run, and a developing ability to play in coverage. He can be the chess piece that connects this defense by supplementing the pass rush, capitalizing on the room Buckner and Stewart create to stop the run, and covering over the middle. He could look like a star in this system.
CB Jahdae Barron (Georgia) – On the cover, this may seem redundant with Kenny Moore II dominating slot/nickel reps. Most have projected Barron as a big slot-type corner, but I think Indy would be wise to try him outside. We’ve seen projected slots like Trent McDuffie turn into All-Pros in recent years, and I’m willing to believe the first-team All-American can hack it outside on some level. With Charvarius Ward taking the toughest assignments and Cam Bynum covering the back end, Barron wouldn’t have a massive burden. It gives him a chance to see if his physicality can play outside and turn this into a dangerous group. Even if he doesn’t stick full time out there, DC Lou Anarumo can move him around the backfield to find spots.
TE Colston Loveland (Michigan) – I go back and forth on the two projected first-round tight ends. Tyler Warren has the gaudy numbers to match the size, but there’s something about Colston Loveland. He was a crucial receiving option for the 2023 national champion Michigan Wolverines. Colston works well in short areas, across the middle, and deep up the seams. You can even motion him out as a big slot and match him up on corners. I also think the blocking will come along as a boost to Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith, already two formidable tackles. Loveland fills a major need and ties this receiving group together. It’s a bonus that Indianapolis could probably still get him if they trade back a few picks and gather some extra draft capital.
Day 2 Targets: Shavon Revel Jr. CB (East Carolina), Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State), Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame), Carson Schwesinger LB (UCLA), Harold Fannin Jr. (TE, Bowling Green), Princely Umanmielen (DE, Ole Miss).
Day 3 Targets: Gunnar Helm (TE, Texas), Denzel Burke (CB, Ohio State), Kyle Williams (WR, Washington State), Jonas Sanker (S, Virginia), Danny Stutsman (LB, Oklahoma), Luke Kandra (G, Cincinnati), Jake Majors (C, Texas), Trevor Etienne (RB, Georgia), Elijah Williams (DE, Morgan State), Tonka Hemingway (DT, South Carolina).
