With just two weeks left until the 2023 NFL draft, it’s still unclear what the Indianapolis Colts will do with the No. 4 overall pick.
In his latest mock draft for ESPN, Mel Kiper projected the first two rounds of the offseason’s biggest event. While the Colts have been the subject of trade rumors recently, they stayed put in Kiper’s latest projections.
After Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud went with the first two picks, respectively, the Tennessee Titans jumped up eight spots in a trade for the No. 3 overall pick. In doing so, they selected Anthony Richardson.
That left the Colts to select the final quarterback available among the top-four prospects in Kentucky’s Will Levis, meaning four quarterbacks went with the first four selections.
I’m sticking with Levis to Indianapolis here. General manager Chris Ballard could get lucky with my second-ranked quarterback still on the board. Why do I like Levis over Stroud and Richardson? Because of his ability both in and out of the pocket. In 2021, when Levis was really on, he made “wow” throws to every part of the field and also ran for nine scores. Last season, while dealing with injuries and after losing a lot of talent around him, he forced too many throws and was inconsistent. I think Levis’ floor is high, and he’ll be able to start immediately for the Colts.
By the way, if you’re wondering how often quarterbacks have been taken with the first four picks in a single draft, well, I can tell you this would be the first time ever. Passers have gone with the first three picks three other times — 2021, 1999 and 1971 — but this would be history.
Levis is a polarizing evaluation throughout the industry. He has the size, arm strength, leadership and work ethic traits that teams will covet. He also has concerns with decision-making, turnovers and lower-body mechanics leading to inconsistent accuracy.
If owner Jim Irsay really wants a rookie quarterback to mold under new head coach Shane Steichen, this very well could be the choice.
With their second-round pick, the Colts added to the secondary in the form of Alabama defensive back Brian Branch.
Nick Saban used Branch primarily as a slot corner, but Branch is my top-ranked safety in this class. The versatility to play in the nickel or as a center fielder sets him apart. His 4.58-second 40-yard dash at the combine was below average, but I didn’t see him get beat often on tape; I’m not worried about his timed speed. Branch would have the chance to be an instant starter in the Colts’ secondary.
Most analysts have Branch projected as a first-round pick. His testing and measurables leave a lot to be desired, but he’s a sure-tackler who can play several roles in the secondary. Similarly to how Julian Blackmon was used in the slot late in 2022, Branch could seemingly step into that role, which would kick Kenny Moore II to the outside.
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