The Beast, Dane Brugler’s expansive guide to the NFL Draft, is here.
The NFL Draft is almost here and with it comes big decisions for the Indianapolis Colts. Indy has been conservative this offseason, focusing primarily on retaining its in-house free agents. That may not be the sexiest approach by general manager Chris Ballard, but it could still be effective if quarterback Anthony Richardson delivers a breakout sophomore campaign and his team adds a couple of game-changers in the draft.
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Excluding Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., whom Colts owner Jim Irsay would surely love to have follow in his father’s footsteps, and Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, a no-brainer pick for Indianapolis if he slips to the Colts’ scheduled No. 15 pick, here are 15 more players Indianapolis should consider in the first three rounds.
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Note: This Colts-centric big board, my second of draft season, was compiled using The Athletic’s latest consensus big board and features analysis from draft expert Dane Brugler. Players are listed in order of their overall rank. For what it’s worth, Harrison and Bowers are ranked Nos. 2 and 6.
Day 1 (Round 1)
Dallas Turner, edge, Alabama, rank: No. 8
Turner is an athletic freak who led the SEC with 10 sacks last season en route to being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. His presence would instantly boost the Colts’ pass rush, which features good players like Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo but still lacks an elite playmaker. Turner doesn’t have the “ideal bulk” for someone playing his position, according to Brugler, but his tireless motor and violent hands make him the top edge rusher in this year’s class.
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Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo, rank: No. 15
There’s a good chance Mitchell could be No. 1 on the Colts’ big board considering cornerback is one of the team’s weakest positions. Ballard has spoken highly of 2023 second-round pick JuJu Brents, 2023 seventh-round pick Jaylon Jones and Dallis Flowers, who went undrafted in 2022 and is recovering from a torn Achilles. However, none of them were as polished as Mitchell is entering the NFL. Mitchell is a physical cornerback with the ability to thrive in both man and zone coverage. He also has elite ball skills, evidenced by the 45 pass breakups he tallied across his four college seasons.
lol yall stay where yall at…. pic.twitter.com/Uksjf6yEj8
— Dallis “Dallo” Flowers🥷🏾 (@21degrees21) April 5, 2024
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU, rank: No. 20
I spoke to Thomas at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he’s not a man of many words. He won’t win a news conference with witty answers or jokes, but he will help whatever team he joins win games. Thomas believes his best trait is his ability to quickly decipher coverages, and that is probably music to the ears of Colts coach Shane Steichen. If a player as explosive and dynamic as Thomas, who racked up an FBS-high 17 receiving TDs last year, is also a fast learner and decoder, I could see him emerging as the Colts’ No. 2 receiver even as a rookie. He’s that special.
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Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson, rank: No. 22
The biggest knock on Wiggins is his slender frame. He stands 6 foot 2 and weighed in at just 173 pounds at the combine. However, he possesses blazing speed, evidenced by his 4.28-second 40-yard dash, and a never-quit attitude that helped him pull off one of the most impressive TD-saving tackles you’ll ever see.
I’m always curious to know how Ballard and other GMs balance a player’s physical traits versus their intangibles in their evaluations because Wiggins has the stuff that can’t be taught. He seems like a Ballard guy from a mindset standpoint, but his weight is a valid question mark. Wiggins allowed just one catch of 20-plus yards last season on 41 targets, per Brugler.
— The Beast is coming! Keep your eyes peeled for Dane Brugler’s annual guide to the NFL Draft, publishing Wednesday.
Chop Robinson, edge, Penn State, rank: No. 26
Robinson’s stats aren’t going to wow anyone; he tallied just four sacks in 10 games last year while missing two games due to a head injury and opting out of the Nittany Lions’ bowl game. However, Robinson’s ability to go from “0-to-60 in a blink,” according to Brugler, is a big reason why he’s projected by many to have an impactful pro career. Robinson employs a variety of pass-rush moves and is also a stout run defender. He’ll likely need to bulk up at the next level, though there must be some wiggle room so he doesn’t sacrifice the explosiveness that sets him apart.
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama, rank: No. 27
Before anyone starts yelling at me, yes, the Colts should seriously consider drafting Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold, who is ranked as the No. 1 cornerback (No. 13 overall prospect) on our consensus big board. But since Arnold may not be around long when the draft begins, I decided to look at his talented teammate, McKinstry. Aside from having the best nickname in the draft, McKinstry was a big-time player at Alabama. He doesn’t possess the same level of athleticism Arnold has, but his length and ball skills give him the potential to be a Day 1 starter in the NFL and an impact player for years to come.
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Day 2 (Rounds 2 and 3)
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon, rank: 36
Franklin had a breakout season in 2023 with a career-high 81 receptions for 1,383 yards and 14 TDs. Simply put: He was electric. Franklin has game-changing speed that will always command the attention of opposing defenses, which would make life a lot easier on Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs and Alec Pierce if he were to join the Colts’ wide receiver room. He has also shown the ability to thrive outside or in the slot, so his versatility would be another toy for Steichen to play with. Franklin has a slim build and will need to improve his blocking, but at the right place in the draft, it’s never a bad idea to give Richardson another explosive target.
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Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M, rank: 39
I don’t think the Colts will draft a linebacker in the first three rounds unless they trade back and gain another pick. If that’s the case, it would be fitting for Ballard to potentially take a swing on a linebacker. Cooper is probably still too talented to fall into Indianapolis’ lap, regardless of what moves they make, but he’s likely on their board. Cooper was a menace last year for one of college football’s top-ranked defenses, highlighted by his “outstanding closing burst and aggressive tackling,” according to Brugler. Indianapolis would obviously welcome both of those traits. It’s also worth noting that the last time the Colts picked a player named “Edgerrin,” it worked out pretty well.
One of the best plays I saw on Saturday:
Texas A&M LB Edgerrin Cooper keys the screen and beats not one, not two, but three blockers to make the 3rd-down stop. His awareness, athleticism and 34-inch arms on display.
What an NFL Draft riser looks like 📈📈📈 pic.twitter.com/7ckPo0e1ZS
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) October 30, 2023
Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas, rank: No. 41
Speed, speed and more speed. That’s the first thing that comes to mind when discussing Worthy, who set the combine record by running a 4.21-second 40-yard dash. Those are the kinds of wheels that can bend a defense to your will, especially if Worthy joins an offense like the Colts’ and doesn’t need to be the No. 1 option. Steichen and wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne were at Texas’ pro day, presumably to get a closer look at Worthy and fellow Longhorns wideout Adonai Mitchell. Mitchell is a big-bodied receiver with the ability to win contested catches, while Worthy’s prowess is more geared toward making big plays in space. I also think he’s an underrated route runner.
Payton Wilson, LB, NC State, rank: No. 42
Wilson made Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks List” as one of the most athletic and productive linebackers in the country. The former state champion wrestler was named the 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 138 tackles, six sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. Wilson plays with a relentless edge and ferocity as a tackler but still has the IQ to be trusted in coverage on passing downs. The biggest drawback on Wilson is his lengthy injury history, which Ballard would surely vet if he were to pull the trigger on drafting him. Wilson has had “double-digit surgeries,” according to Brugler, yet is still the second-highest-ranked linebacker on the consensus big board.
Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota, rank: No. 45
The Colts’ safety room looks exactly the same as last year after they retained Julian Blackmon in free agency. Blackmon shined at strong safety in 2023 and is poised for another big season in 2024, but who will start alongside him? Rodney Thomas II and Nick Cross are the top candidates, though Thomas regressed significantly in 2023, and Cross was used sparingly. It’s not completely unrealistic for the Colts to draft a safety as a potential starter, and Nubin is the highest-ranked safety on the consensus big board. Nubin has a “four-down skill set with playmaking instincts,” according to Brugler, which usually keeps him in the right place at the right time.
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Javon Bullard, S, Georgia, rank: No. 55
Sticking with the Colts’ potential need for a safety, Bullard is another player who may be able to fill that void. He isn’t on the same level as Nubin athletically, but he has a high IQ that helps him see a lot of plays a tick before they unfold, and he’s unafraid to lower the boom when tackling. Bullard still needs to improve his tackling in space, though his desire to play fast and fearless is undeniable. Another mark in Bullard’s favor is that he worked his way up the ladder at Georgia as a former three-star recruit, so work ethic won’t be a question after making a name for himself at one of the best programs in the country.
Bralen Trice, DE, Washington, rank: No. 61
Traits and production, that’s what stands out to me about Trice. He led the FBS in total pressures last year (78) and in 2022 (70), per Brugler. Trice’s impressive size and explosiveness give him the upside to become a big-time player in the NFL. He also has the heavy hands edge rushers need to be consistently productive, and that should help him keep wreaking havoc in the backfield. Trice isn’t as bendy as perhaps Ballard and some other GMs would like, and he struggles to change directions at times in the open field. However, he’s good at getting off blocks and still making a play.
Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State, rank: No. 68
Hicks’ calling card is his versatility. He has the potential to play either safety spot thanks to his speed and toughness. Hicks also has the ball skills to make QBs pay if they test him, but he’s still a sound tackler in the open field and when he’s asked to bring someone down near the line of scrimmage. Hicks appears to have all of the necessary traits to become a reliable safety early at the next level. Brugler describes Hicks’ playing style as “confident and free.”
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Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon, rank: No. 99
Jackson is a bit of a wild-card selection here, but standing at 6-4 and weighing 194 pounds, he’s another candidate with the physical traits I could see Ballard liking. Jackson really came on during his last season at Oregon with three interceptions and seven pass breakups. He didn’t previously have a spot on the consensus big board but recently broke through after the combine and his pro day. Jackson is a fluid athlete, though he can be overaggressive and handsy, which leads to penalties. I wouldn’t expect Jackson to be a Day 1 starter in the NFL. However, he could be a player who blossoms after taking his lumps and adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NFL.
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(Photo of Quinyon Mitchell: Lon Horwedel / USA Today)
