Indianapolis Colts: Focus On Depth Or Reach For Potential Starters?
The Colts were on track for the one seed in the AFC prior to injuries ravaging the team and ruining the season. They had 20 players spend time on injured reserve throughout the season, including cornerback Charvarius Ward, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, and quarterback Anthony Richardson. Without several key players, the team noticeably struggled, making depth an area of need for Indianapolis.
The Colts do not own their first-round pick due to making a trade for former All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets. Indianapolis won’t pick until 47, and only have one other pick in the top 100. Finding quality starters with little draft capital, the Colts may be better served taking the best player available, even if the position isn’t a need. Taking quality players to build depth could prevent a repeat of last season where the team struggles to compete if starters miss time.
Luckily for Indianapolis, a number of the positions they need most are among the deepest in the class, including edge, linebacker, and receiver. The Colts will not need to feel pressured to take these positions early, knowing value may still be on the board later.
The strategy for the Colts should be to draft for need in the second and third rounds, choosing the position based on who is available. With their remaining picks, focusing on the best player available to build depth ensures injuries cannot derail another season. After investing both money and draft capital into the roster, Indianapolis is looking to compete, and wasting another season means those resources went to waste.
