The 2024 NFL Draft is less than a week away, and the fate of the Indianapolis Colts universe is at stake — or at least that’s what some people outside of the team facility like to think this time of year. But for those on the inside, they’re not as dramatic.
Colts GM Chris Ballard never gives the noise much credence, regardless of the countless mock drafts that keep fans and media preoccupied. He’s well aware of the pressure he’s under to get the Colts back to the playoffs.
Ballard briefly slipped away from his work Friday to conduct his annual pre-draft news conference. Here are my five biggest takeaways from his 20-minute meeting with the media:
Ballard remains high on young CBs
I’ve sounded the alarm all offseason about the Colts’ need to add another starting-caliber cornerback to pair with veteran nickel Kenny Moore II and 2023 second-round pick JuJu Brents. But Ballard isn’t sounding the alarm with me. Indianapolis didn’t sign a veteran cornerback in free agency, and although Ballard said his team is always looking to add talent, he didn’t sound like someone desperate to draft a cornerback – like Alabama’s Terrion Arnold, Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell or Iowa’s Cooper DeJean – in the first round.
“It’s kind of like the ass-whipping y’all gave the O-line two years ago,” Ballard said, comparing the criticism to his cornerback room. “Y’all just (said), ‘The O-line sucks. They can’t play.’ I kept going, ‘Man, the second half of the season, I didn’t think it was that bad.’ There were some individual moments, of course, but I thought they got better as they played.”
Despite Moore being the only proven cornerback on the roster, Ballard dismissed the notion the Colts are too young and inexperienced in the secondary. He noted that 2022 undrafted free agent signee Dallis Flowers, who began last year as a starter before tearing his Achilles in Week 4, should elevate the room upon his return. He also commended Brents and 2023 seventh-round Jaylon Jones for their growth as rookies.
Ballard acknowledged his comments from January, when he said he put defensive coordinator Gus Bradley in a tough spot last year by relying on so many young players in the defensive secondary. He doesn’t think that will be the case going forward.
“When I made that statement, the injury part of it played into it, and then we gave him a bunch of rookies,” Ballard said. “Well, now they’re no longer rookies. … I think they’ve grown up. Look, once you’ve played 16, 17 games in this league, you’ve grown up to the fact that you’re no longer a rookie. I think we’ll see better play out of them.”
For what it’s worth, Brents played just nine games last year due to injuries and started eight. Jones started 10 out of 17 games, and Flowers has started five of the 17 games he’s appeared in across his first two seasons. I understand Ballard’s perspective, but I’m not sure it’s enough evidence to bank on.
Would Colts trade up?
The first of Indy’s seven picks is No. 15. Trading up to draft Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. would be like something out of a movie given his father’s legacy with the Colts, but this isn’t Hollywood.
In theory, adding any of the top three receivers in this year’s class — Harrison, LSU’s Malik Nabers or Washington’s Rome Odunze — is exciting, but keep in mind that Ballard lauded the depth of this year’s wide receiver class. He previously compared it to the 2020 class, which featured first-round picks CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson and Brandon Aiyuk, as well as second-round picks Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr., whom the Colts recently signed to a big contract extension.
Even more noteworthy than the depth of this year’s class is Ballard’s track record. He’s never traded up in the first round, and he’s actually developed a reputation for trading back. Since the Colts only have one pick in each round of the draft this year, it seems more likely than not that he’ll stick with his usual philosophy.
“I just go off history. The more picks you have, the better chance you have to hit,” Ballard said Friday. “Of course, you’re not gonna hit on all of them, but it gives you more of a chance to hit. We’ve moved up. We moved up (in the second round) for Jonathan Taylor. When we see one that’s in striking distance we think we can go get, we’ll do it.”
Asked directly Friday if he’d consider trading up in the first round, Ballard joked that he, “just said we’re gonna move back,” but didn’t completely shut down the idea. So, for any Harrison truthers out there, I guess you can keep hope alive for a few more days.
“I think it would depend,” Ballard continued. “(It’ll) have to be somebody within striking distance that we felt really was unique and a difference-maker.”
Depth in the draft
The Colts have between 19 and 21 prospects with first-round grades, Ballard said.
It’s worth acknowledging, however, that there are fewer first-round graded players Indianapolis would even consider drafting due to team needs. For example, USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jaden Daniels and North Carolina’s Drake Maye are all projected as consensus first-round picks, but obviously the Colts wouldn’t draft a QB in the first round since they already have Anthony Richardson.
With that in mind, the Colts’ draft positioning will likely depend on how many first-round graded prospects overlap with their biggest team needs and are still available. Ideally, even if 14 of their first-rounded graded prospects are gone before they’re on the board at No. 15, they’d still have a solid pool to choose from.
Indy will then have to weigh the value of simply drafting the best player versus filling the biggest team need. Tight end probably isn’t a pressing issue for the Colts, but if Georgia tight end Brock Bowers — ranked No. 7 on The Athletic’s latest consensus big board – is still there, he may be worth selecting at No. 15. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Colts tried to trade back because they feel like there isn’t a huge talent gap between picking at No. 15 or in the later teens/early 20s.
“I do think you’re gonna see a lot of offensive players taken early in the first round,” Ballard said. “I’m not saying it’s a weak defensive draft, but it is a really strong offensive draft, especially at the top of it.”
GO DEEPER
Colts pre-draft depth chart: 2024 roster looks like 2023 version; will running it back work?
None of this works without Richardson, and he can’t carry the Colts by himself. The Colts are preparing for their dual-threat QB, who was limited by injuries to four games during his rookie season, to thrive in Year 2. Ballard said it was “a good feeling” to already have a quarterback in place unlike last year, and now it’s time to maximize him.
Indianapolis didn’t make any significant upgrades in free agency, banking on Richardson and star running back Jonathan Taylor, who missed seven games last year due to injuries, to return and elevate the offense. However, Ballard noted that Richardson’s development will come down to the playmakers he puts around him, and, more importantly, the protection he gets up front.
“I remember Andrew (Luck) used to tell me all of the time, ‘Chris, just keep me protected. Give me guys that’ll catch it and get to the right spot, and I’ll make the rest work,’” Ballard said. “Most of the really good (quarterbacks), that’s how they roll. Do they want the superstar (playmaker) out there? Absolutely. But protection to me is always first and foremost.”
The Colts are returning all five of their starters from last year’s stout offensive line, but contingency plans are always needed in case one of them goes down. In addition to the wide receiver class, Ballard praised the depth of the offensive linemen in this year’s draft. If I had to guess, I’d say the Colts will draft a receiver on Day 1 or 2 and a backup offensive lineman early on Day 3.
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Drew Ogletree rejoins team
Ballard announced Friday that tight end Drew Ogletree was removed from the commissioner’s exempt list and has rejoined the team. Ogletree was arrested and jailed in December after being charged with two felonies for domestic violence, according to state records. Both charges were dismissed in March.
Ballard said he felt “absolutely comfortable” with the information he received about Ogletree’s alleged domestic violence incident. The 25-year-old has two more years left on his contract.
Ogletree, a sixth-round pick by the Colts in 2022, missed his entire rookie season after tearing his ACL during training camp. He made his NFL debut last year, recording nine catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games.
Ogletree’s return should have little to no impact on the Colts’ draft approach.
Hear from GM Chris Ballard ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. https://t.co/LQa48W4VUK
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 19, 2024
(Photo of Ballard: Kara Durrette/Getty Images)
