To be expected, quarterbacks have dominated trade-up reporting and speculation about the impending selection.
Teams that are not in need of a rookie quarterback, such as the Colts, may still be looking to move up the draft board.
Indianapolis is presently poised to choose 15th overall, but a trade could be in the works. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the Colts are considering a trade to acquire a receiver. Similarly, ESPN’s Matt Miller says that the team has been mentioned several times as a possible bidder for Texas wideout Xavier Worthy. Miller’s last mock selection sends the speedster to Indianapolis, albeit no trade is involved. Owner Jim Irsay expressed the team’s “great interest” in Marvin Harrison Jr. (via FOX59’s Mike Chappel), but he will undoubtedly be out of reach.
Worthy drew a lot of attention after breaking the all-time 40-yard sprint record at the NFL Combine, demonstrating his abilities as a vertical threat at the NFL level. The Colts have had Michael Pittman Jr. at the top of the WR depth chart for years, and he signed a three-year deal this summer that replaces his franchise tag. The Dolphins, who own the No. 21 pick, are also considering Worthy.
Indianapolis will have plenty of non-QB options to examine on Day 1, regardless of whether the team moves up or down the draft board. General manager Chris Ballard discussed the team’s issue at a pre-draft press conference, stating that all options are being evaluated. This time of year, many clubs give smokescreens, but Ballard pointed out that the Colts have a history of moving up and down the rankings.
“History, I just go off history,” Ballard said (via NFL.com). “And you know, the more picks you have, the better chance you have to hit. Now, of course, you’re not going to hit on all of them, but it gives you more of a chance to hit. Look, we’ve moved up, we moved up for Jonathan Taylor. When we see one that’s in striking distance that we think we can go get, we’ll do it. But it’s got to work out. And then you’ve got to have… somebody that wants to make the trade.”
The Colts have seven picks in the 2024 draft, one in each round. The squad will thus have the necessary capital to move up the board slightly in round one, but the prospect of adding later selections may attract Ballard. This year’s class is noted for its depth at the receiver position, and there will be plenty of notable possibilities on Friday and Saturday. Still, Indianapolis will be a squad to keep an eye on in terms of wideout interest.
