INDIANAPOLIS – The dominoes soon will start tipping over, one into the next.
The roster-building process is multi-phased: retaining your own valued free agents, the veteran free-agent market, the April 24-26 NFL Draft, the flurry of post-draft signings.
Owner Jim Irsay brought general manager Chris Ballard back for a ninth season despite an unsatisfactory eight-year run – two playoff appearances, none since 2020, and just won postseason win – which amplifies the need for Ballard and his personnel staff to get it right in the coming months.
That likely means a more active role in free agency. We’re in favor of Ballard adding three or four veterans and projecting them into starting or significant roles. A tight end. A cornerback. A safety. A quarterback who’ll legitimately push Anthony Richardson in training camp.
“We’re going to be open to making sure we do what is best going forward to build a competitive roster,’’ Ballard said. “ . . . we have to do a better job identifying the free agents that we want to sign and then being able to close the deal on them. And that’s up to me. It really is. It’s not Mr. Irsay. He’ll let me do what I need to do.
“We have to be able to do that.’’
Ballard stated the obvious: The Colts are not close to being at the required competitive level after a 8-9 finish that included an abysmal road loss to the New York Giants.
“We are not good enough,’’ he said, “and we’ve got to be able to address and identify the right avenues to acquire the right players that can move the needle, and (we) have not done that in the last four years.’’
As much as a handful of free-agent signings will move the needle and could prove critical in addressing a few deficient positions, the foundation of Ballard’s roster building remains the draft.
One thing to keep in mind is that while free-agent acquisitions generally are short-term fixes, they often impact subsequent decisions. Signing a veteran tight end or cornerback might lessen that need in the draft, especially in the early rounds.
That in mind, here’s an early look at how several mock drafts expect Ballard and the Colts to invest the 14th overall pick:
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN
The pick: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State.
The reason: If the Colts want to maximize quarterback Anthony Richardson, they should be adding to his supporting case this offseason. Warren catches everything, hauling in 104 of his 135 targets this season for 1,233 yards and eight scores. Penn State used him all over the place – the slot, out wide, in-line, in the backfield – and he produced no matter the alignment. He could slide right into the Colts’ lineup with Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox both set for free agency.
I also considered going cornerback or safety here. Indy needs both. If (Georgia safety Malaki) Starks is still available, I like that fit. (South Carolina safety) Nick Emmanwori works his way into the conservation as well. But Warren could be awesome in this offense, and the value is much better.
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
The pick: CB Jahdae Barron, Texas.
The reason: I think you’ll see the buzz around Barron continue to grow. He possesses great quickness, instincts and ball skills.
Scott Dochterman, The Athletic
The pick: Warren.
The reason: After completing just 56.3% of their passes this season with 20 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, the Colts need something to elevate their passing game. A tight end is a great friend to a young quarterback such as Anthony Richardson, and there’s none better this year than Warren (6-6, 261). This fall, he caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. He also was a short-yardage quarterback (218 rushing yards, four more scores plus a passing touchdown). In an overtime win at USC, Warren had 17 receptions for 224 yards.
Max Chadwick, Pro Football Focus
The pick: Warren.
The reason: Next year seems pivotal for Anthony Richardson to show he can be the Colts’ long-term answer at quarterback. It only makes sense to provide him with as many weapons as possible to get a definitive answer. Warren was easily the best Power Four tight end this season, as the John Mackey Award winner led the position in PFF overall grade 91.2), receiving yards (1,233), receiving touchdowns (eight) and yards after the catch (693).
Keith Sanchez, the Draft Network
The pick: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan.
The reason: The Indianapolis Colts have drafted well at every skill position, except tight end. With this pick, they take a swing at addressing that need . . . I believe that Loveland is one of the blue-chip prospects in this draft, and getting one of the best players at pick 14 is a win. Loveland, combined with the skill-position group already in place, creates a fantastic situation for young quarterback Anthony Richardson to take the next steps forward.
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
The pick: WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State.
The reason: Emeka Egbuka can win down the field with speed and . . . ball-tracking, and his blocking prowess would mesh well with the Colts’ offensive identity.
WalterFootball.com
The pick: CB Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State.
The reason: The Colts could use more cornerback talent. Thomas (6-2, 198) is a big cornerback who played well for the Seminoles in 2024. His strong play went under the radar with Florida State having a rough reason, but Thomas provided tight coverage on receivers all season. He totaled 53 tackles with an interception and four passes broken up. In 2023, he had 29 tackles with 10 passes batted.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.