The Indianapolis Colts are less than a month away from the 2024 NFL draft and with free agency essentially behind us, the mock drafts are becoming far more specific.
Currently holding the No. 15 overall pick in the draft, the Colts have several ways they can go about using the selection. They could focus on finding explosive weapons for quarterback Anthony Richardson or decide to add some much-needed depth and upside to the defensive side of the ball.
As the offseason progresses, we will round up the most recent mock drafts to see who the experts believe the Colts should or will take when they are on the clock at the end of April.
Here's our fifth mock draft roundup for the Colts of the 2024 offseason. You can check out the previous iterations below:
- 2024 mock draft roundup 1.0 (Jan. 15)
- 2024 mock draft roundup 2.0 (Feb. 11)
- 2024 mock draft roundup 3.0 (Feb. 24)
- 2024 mock draft roundup 4.0 (March 5)
ESPN
The Pick: DT Byron Murphy II, Texas
Mock Draft Date: March 27
Author: Matt Miller
Link to Mock Draft
Author’s Take: “General manager Chris Ballard could look at the receivers (maybe Texas’ Adonai Mitchell) or cornerbacks, but favoring the value of the draft’s top defensive tackle would be typical Ballard. Murphy — a 6-1, 310-pound interior rusher — has elite first-step quickness and unbelievable power. You can see it all over the Texas-Alabama tape from early last season. Lining up mostly as a 5-technique in college, Murphy would likely slide in next to DeForest Buckner in Indy’s four-man front.”
CBS Sports
The Pick: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Mock Draft Date: March 28
Author: Josh Edwards
Link to Mock Draft
Author’s Take: “Quinyon Mitchell plays a position of need for Indianapolis, but he has also displayed the athletic profile often coveted by general manager Chris Ballard. The Colts identified some young talent last year to serve as depth but Mitchell is a lockdown capable man coverage cornerback.”
The Athletic
The Pick: WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
Mock Draft Date: March 25
Author: Ben Standig
Link to Mock Draft
Author’s Take: “The FBS leader with 17 touchdown receptions last season adds size and speed to help second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. Going cornerback is the alternate path, especially with Alabama’s Terrion Arnold available, but solid Day 2 options exist..”
Pro Football Focus
The Pick: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Mock Draft Date: March 25
Author: Brad Spielberger
Link to Mock Draft
Author’s Take: “This is one of our favorite player-team fits in the first round, and all Mitchell has done in the pre-draft process from the Senior Bowl through the NFL scouting combine is check every single box and eliminate potential concerns.
Mitchell is arguably the best click-and-close zone cornerback in the class, with high-end athleticism and major competitiveness. He looked great playing in press coverage during drills at the Senior Bowl. One scout told us he had a case as the best player in Mobile this year, and he’s a picture-perfect fit in Gus Bradley’s heavy Cover-3 defense.”
USA TODAY
The Pick: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Mock Draft Date: March 27
Author: Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Link to Mock Draft
Author’s Take: “Winning an expensive bid for L’Jarius Sneed never seemed like a reasonable outcome for the Colts and ever-cautious general manager Chris Ballard. To address the shaky secondary, however, Indianapolis can import a dynamic playmaker in Mitchell, whose athletic traits and demeanor are custom-fit for a top-flight NFL cornerback..”
NFL.com
The Pick: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Mock Draft Date: March 27
Author: Bucky Brooks
Link to Mock Draft
Author’s Take: “GM Chris Ballard is all about drafting talented prospects with prototypical traits and athleticism. Mitchell’s game matches his supreme athletic talent. .”
Sporting News
The Pick: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
Mock Draft Date: March 19
Author: Vinnie Iyer
Link to Mock Draft
Author’s Take: “The Colts need more playmakers in Year 2 for Anthony Richardson, and after Chris Ballard was rather conservative in free agency, Bowers makes a lot of sense to clean up the committee at the position. He can fit the offense of Shane Steichen well (see Dallas Goedert) as a key complementary playmaker to the re-signed Michael Pittman Jr.”
NFL.com
The Pick: DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Mock Draft Date: March 28
Author: Charles Davis
Link to Mock Draft
Author’s Take: “DeJean goes a little earlier than some are expecting. The former Hawkeye's combination of athleticism, versatility and playmaking ability is too enticing for GM Chris Ballard to resist.”
ESPN
The Pick: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Mock Draft Date: March 19
Author: Mel Kiper Jr.
Link to Mock Draft
Author’s Take: “Finally, the first cornerback off the board. It’s not because this isn’t a good group of corners — it’s more about the elite prospects at other positions. I have four CBs in my top 25 overall but don’t have top-10 grades on any of them. The best of the bunch is Mitchell, who has been moving up since a spectacular performance in Mobile, Alabama, in early February at Senior Bowl practices. Then he ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the combine, making my list of risers. He had six interceptions over his final two college seasons.
As for the pairing in Indianapolis, the Colts don’t have a No. 1 corner and desperately have to add talent at the position. Luckily they’re in a good spot to do that in this draft.”
Pro Football Network
The Pick: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
Mock Draft Date: March 28
Author: Joe Broback
Link to Mock Draft
Author’s Take: “Imagine how good the Colts' secondary could be if they found the right player to complement Juju Brents. Their current starter already brings a great frame and skill set to the defense, and the right pairing could make this group electric..”
