PFF suggests early, late-round draft fits for Colts

Though the 2023 NFL draft is still months away, the Indianapolis Colts will have a hand in shaping how the class turns out considering they hold the No. 4 overall pick at the moment.

Whether they trade up, stay put or (as Chris Ballard said in jest) trade back, is a mystery. What we know with pretty strong certainty is that they will be targeting a quarterback prospect with their first-round pick.

So it’s no surprise that when Pro Football Focus suggested early and late-round draft fits for each team, the Colts had a quarterback. Next up on the needs list is the interior offensive line, which PFF also included as a late-round option.

“Early Pick: QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Late Pick: IOL Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame

The first step in the Colts’ draft plan has to be securing a young franchise quarterback — whether that’s Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis or Anthony Richardson. The next will be adding an experienced and versatile offensive lineman. Young and Patterson would be an ideal one-two punch.”

Young will be a hot topic of debate even after the draft is concluded at the end of April. The team that drafts him will be betting on an outlier due to his size, but he’s the best quarterback prospect in the class right now.

Patterson is an interesting prospect considering the Colts need to beef up their interior offensive line. The right guard position likely needs a new starter while center Ryan Kelly could be nearing the end of his tenure with the team if they need salary-cap space.

It’s far too early to tell who the Colts will favor at the quarterback position, but Patterson could be someone to watch after Day 1 of the draft has concluded.

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