Back In Play – Indianapolis Colts 2024 Draft Profile

The Indianapolis Colts had one of the most miraculous turnarounds that no one saw coming. The hiring of head coach Shane Steichen seems like the right one as he has the Colts playing their best football.

This roster is now in a place where the right pieces could mean competing for a playoff berth and a magical run. Here is how they can maximize the draft to do just that.

 

Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice

Cedric Johnson, Edge, Ole Miss

 

The Colts have gone through the most change on the defensive side of the ball, namely the defensive backfield. There are no signs that point to veteran nickel Kenny Moore II will leave in free agency, but they do need to shore up the outside cornerback spot.

Indy has plenty of length after taking JuJu Brents in last year’s draft. They should look to add an equally long athlete to pair with in the form of Clemson standout Nate Wiggins.

Wiggins is a smooth man-to-man corner with elite long speed. He shows the physicality to take on blockers at the point of attack in the run game, and has the awareness to create turnovers as well. Wiggins showed his explosive athleticism at the NFL Combine, running a hand-timed 4.25s 40-Yard Dash. He and Brents would give the Colts the most athletically gifted cornerback duo in the NFL.

Indianapolis should also look to give their young signal caller another target to help further his development after coming back from injury.

They should look to a player with NFL DNA like Luke McCaffrey to fill that spot.

McCaffrey is one of the most prolific route runners in the draft, and would provide Richardson with a sense of security as a target. He combines good size, speed and technique in a prototype package. McCaffrey makes grabs look easy with his tacky hands, and has the IQ to expose zone coverages on the regular. Adding McCaffrey to a room that already has two very good route runners in it would bolster Shane Steichen’s offense for years to come.

Round three could go either way for Indy, but adding some defensive depth is the smart move for the franchise.

The Colts need to look to build their pass rushing rotation, and getting a young versatile edge like Cedric Johnson would be an ideal move.

Johnson isn’t your prototype edge rusher, sporting a more compact build. Despite that he plays with good leverage and shows the ability to set up blockers for counter moves. He shows the strength and dexterity to rush form either side and play inside against guards. He could carve out a role as a situational pass rusher early and develop into a solid starter as his career progresses.

In a wide open AFC South, the Colts could solidify themselves as the team to beat with a solid draft in April.