Dueling Mock Drafts: Should the Colts trade up or down?

The Colts are officially picking at the 14th overall draft spot after a 8-9 season. Could they make a move in Round 1 to try to gain more draft capital or find a blue chip prospect earlier? For the 1st Mock Draft Monday of the offseason: we give you not 1, but 2 Mocks in one article to explore both paths!

The Colts are in a no-man land in their draft spot. In 3 of the last 4 years, they have finished just underneath playoff qualification, with 2024 likely being a 3rd finish similar to this.

The Colts need to return to the playoffs, thus a talent infusion in this roster is needed. But to do so, should the Colts chase a potential blue chip prospect at a need position early or should they trade back and address as many positions as possible with as many dart throws to try to raise the overall roster talent level?

Trade Up Scenario

Colts Give Up:

• Round 1, 14th Overall Pick in 2025 Draft
• Round 2, 45th Overall Pick in 2025 Draft
• Round 2 Pick in 2026 Draft

Colts Get (from New York Jets):

• Round 1, 7th Overall Pick in 2025 Draft
• Round 6, 185th Overall Pick in 2025 Draft

The Colts take an opportunity to be aggressive and go after one of the few potential blue chip prospects at a premium position in this draft class. The chance to get a true game changing player is too tempting. After 2024 trade-up attempts to get either Malik Nabers or Brock Bowers didn’t come to fruition, we at least know the Colts have been interested recently to acquire top playmakers on their board by moving up.

Round 1, Pick 7: Abdul Carter, Edge/LB, Penn State

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There is a scenario where the top of the draft has 2 QBs taken as despite only being 2 QBs who have potential Round 1 grades in this draft class. There is no shortage of teams with QB needs, and desperation could cause these teams to take a QB and kick one of the top players in this draft outside of the Top 7.

For the Colts, Abdul Carter makes a ton of sense. The Colts pass rush has only gotten 167 pressures on 578 dropbacks for opposing passers, which is just a 28.9% Pressure Rate alongside their 9th lowest 34 sacks. While Defensive Tackle DeForest Buckner has been a star since returning from injury, but the edge rush has not been consistent in complimenting him. They also need an offball linebacker who has range, can stop the run, and has strong coverage skills.

A freak athlete with a good variety of moves and counters to pair with his versatility, Carter projects as the top Edge Rusher as well as Linebacker in the 2025 Draft.

Why not address both needs in one pick with Carter?

Who knows how the top of the draft could go, but if 2 QBs go early, 2 of the consensus top 6 prospects in Cornerback Will Johnson, DT Mason Graham, Carter, WR Tetairoa McMillan, RB Ashton Jeanty, CB/WR Travis Hunter could fall outside of the Top 6. If Johnson or Carter at premium need positions start falling, the Colts could be tempted to make a move up to secure a top playmaker.

Whether or not they can find a trade partner and agree on trade compensation is another matter.

Round 3, Pick 80: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

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Taylor, son of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, combines fluid high twitch short area athleticism with strong size. The 6’5 255lb Tight End has a lot of strength at the catch point, consistently winning in contested catches and having the lowest drop % in the draft class at his position (1.8%).

Taylor is alignment versatile, lining up everywhere for the Tigers from the slot, inline, or as an H back. He has really fluid movement skills, but needs to get a bit better at separating with his route running and needs a bit more power against bigger defenders on inline blocks. He might not be the most vertical threat at Tight end, but he has shown ability to win in all 3 areas of the field with his impressive catch radius.

The Colts could find a versatile player at Tight End who brings a sense of reliability to the room.

Round 4, Pick 116: Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State

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The Nittany Lions offense has benefitted from 2 really good backs, and Singleton could be the top one taken in the 2025 Draft. He has a patient run style, but has elite acceleration to explode through the holes and strong short area quickness, especially in his 6’0 223 lb frame. He can run with power and constantly keeps his legs churning. His vision is next level, finding the tiniest slivers and is an expert at manipulating Defender’s angles and blockers to find space.

Singleton has experienced with a variety of gap and zone schemes, and is a natural hand catcher. His pass catching has shown a lot of growth in 2024, displaying smooth strong hands and a bigger role out of the backfield.

He still needs to work on blocking consistency and open field making defenders miss, but he has a high floor from his skillset and a fascinating athletic profile.

The Colts only have Jonathan Taylor under contract at RB for 2025, and after backup Trey Sermon averaged just 2.8 Yards Per Carry in 2024, it is clear change is needed behind their star RB. Taylor has also dealt with a variety of injuries in recent years, so with how run heavy the Colts Offense has been, getting a strong backup to Taylor is a higher priority need than most realize. In one of the deepest RB draft classes in recent memory (likely since the 2020 class that featured Taylor himself), the Colts snatching at least 1 up feels like a certainty.

Round 5, Pick 150: Jalen Catalan, S, UNLV

Round 6, Pick 185: Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech

Round 6, Pick 188: Francisco Mauigoa, LB, Miami

Round 7, Round 232: Thor Griffith, DT, Louisville

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Trade Down Scenario

Colts Give Up:

• Round 1, 14th Overall Pick in 2025 Draft
• Round 3, 80th Overall Pick in 2025 Draft

Colts Get (From Denver Broncos):

• Round 1, 21st Overall Pick in 2025 Draft
• Round 2, 52nd Overall Pick in 2025 Draft
• Round 2 Pick in 2026 Draft

The Colts decide to address as many needs as possible in the 2025 NFL Draft to try to increase the talent level at more spots on the team rather than investing in a blue chip prospect.

Round 1, Pick 21: Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina

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The Colts could invest in Revel, a long and fiery competitor at Corner who can impact the game in numerous ways. The former Pirate has flashed shutdown ability in 2023 and early 2024 tape, with just 28 catches in 65 targets in the last 2 seasons (43%) and winning against bigger competition when asked to.

Revel uses his length at 6’3 190 lbs to constantly disrupt plays in man and zone schemes. He can be a physical presser to knock smaller WRs off their routes, while having quickness to mirror very well. Very strong vs the run and can crash plays at full speed on a blitz. He has 2 blocked punts as well, showing strong speed and length. He is a highly reliable tackler as well, wrapping up very well.

The biggest concern for Revel is his September ACL tear, which cost him most of 2024. His predraft medicals will be key, but the early injury means he will likely be able to return early in the 2025 season at worst or even for organized team activities at best. What form will he be in 2025 coming off said injury?

If Revel is healthy in 2025, he could compete for the Colts outside cornerback job with returning Jaylon Jones and Samuel Womack III. 2023 2nd round pick JuJu Brents could return in 2025 for further competition, but the injury concerns mounting for him and good yet inconsistent play out of his replacements could mean a decreased role in 2025. Revel could give the Colts one of their best shots at a shutdown corner, marking the first time the Colts take a Cornerback in Round 1 since Marlin Jackson in 2005.

Round 2, Pick 45: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green

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Harold Fannin Jr is another smaller school player (out of the MAC) who could be an explosive playmaker for the Colts in this draft. Both him and Revel were 0 star unranked recruits, but have evolved into top tier prospects for the 2025 Draft.

Fannin Jr. is a sudden athlete, leaving defenders grasping air with his amazing athleticism and speed at the position. He is the best after the catch tight end in this draft class, with an elite miss tackle rate (Most in a season in PFF history) and 7.5 Yards After Catch per reception.

He had the best base receiving stats in College Football for a Tight End, as the Bowling Green Offense featured him as their top weapon often. He dominated even against top competition as well, showing that his high end traits should translate well to the next level. He only had a 2.5% drop rate as well despite the high usage rate, showing a reliability at the catch point. Simply put: Fannin Jr WAS the Bowling Green Offense in 2024.

The 6’3 or 6’4 and 230 lb Tight End is a great slot weapon, but can also lineup everywhere. He was seen out wide as a single side WR, in the backfield, inline as a tight end, and as an H-back as well, and used cerebral route running to gain separation at all areas. He still needs to bulk up a bit to handle bigger linemen in blocking, but he shows good aggression and sound technique. Fannin Jr. blocks bigger than his size would indicate, but just a bit more power would do him some good there. He does excel blocking in space however.

The Colts have Mo Alie Cox and Kylen Granson as unrestricted free agents, with only Andrew Ogletree, Will Mallory (TE4 so far in his career), and Jelani Woods (IR last 2 seasons) returning. The Tight End group is coming off of the least productive season in the NFL for any unit in the league, and needs a boost in playmaking to help balance the offensive passing attack. Why not get the Tight End who caught 78% of his targets for 1,555 yards and 10 TDs to solve those woes?

Round 2, Pick 52: Kyle Kennard, Edge, South Carolina

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Kyle Kennard is an exciting edge for a defensive coordinator to work with. He has an incredibly quick 1st step, a very strong motor, and uses strong length for some devastating speed to power and inside rip moves. He doesn’t need a wide alignment to beat a tackle to the edge with his 1st step, as he is so quick in his wins and can change up his tempo on an instant to confuse tackles in the SEC.

Kennard has also aligned inside in prior years, doing especially well in run defense to penetrate backfields quickly. The physical traits Kennard possess is really fun to watch on tape, as he can be used to attack so many different gaps with them.

He does need to work on run play diagnosis as he takes himself out of the play at times on the edge, and develop more counters in pass rush. He has still shown to be high impact initial rusher, but if he develops his moveset further he could get a lot more pressures later on in rushes.

The Colts have Kwity Paye on his 5th year option, Dayo Odeyingbo as a Free Agent, Tyquan Lewis and Samson Ebukam with 1 year remaining on their deals coming off of injury plagued 2024 seasons, and 2024 rookie Laiatu Latu at Edge. The long-term outlook of this Edge rotation has big question marks, and they need more consistency in their pass rush on the outside. Adding Kennard could help in both areas, potentially adding instant impact and long term stability at the position that has a lot of questions after 2025.

Round 4, Pick 116: Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia

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Smael Mondon Jr has a lot of traits that can be built upon for the Colts as a new Linebacker addition. He has very sound tackling technique, incredible speed and range, strong coverage instincts in man or zone, and is a strong gap shooter as a blitzer with effective eyes on the QB vs option and QB run plays in shallow zones or spys.

Smael is only 6’3 and 230lbs at LB, so he is a bit lighter than most LBs. This shows on tape with issues disengaging blocks as a blitzer or vs the run. He needs more tools as a rusher, with better move variety and base. He can be late to the football due to motions, jet sweeps, and play action, so ID speed needs to improve as well.

Starting Linebacker EJ Speed is a free agent, and captain Zaire Franklin has clear limitations in tackling and coverage ability, while also having some questions on his leadership. The Colts likely will make changes at the position, as linebacker was frequently the target of opposing offenses passing games to strong effectiveness.

Mondon’s tackling prowess (5.2% miss tackle rate) and coverage ability should help in these areas and provide another player to add the rotation or starting lineup at Linebacker.

Round 5, Pick 151: Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina,

Round 6, Pick 189: Chase Lundt, RT, Connecticut

Round 7, Pick 231: Jonah Monheim, OL, USC

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Should the Colts Trade Up or Trade Down?

Is there anyone you see as a trade up/down target in this draft?

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