Indianapolis Colts primed to select franchise QB in 2023 NFL Draft

The Indianapolis Colts have been able to select legitimate franchise quarterbacks in past drafts, and the 2023 class could very well be the same.

Selecting Peyton Manning in 1998 and Andrew Luck in 2012 helped steer the Indianapolis Colts in positive directions, and this year’s draft could see them land a player that could become a genuine franchise-caliber player when all is said and done.

Holding the fourth overall pick, the Colts sit in the perfect spot to determine their own future. They could sit tight, see one of the top three players go before their name is called, and could still land someone who is ready to take the reins from day one.

Indianapolis Colts Future At QB Lies Ahead

In the 2023 NFL Draft, there are three quarterbacks that the Colts could conceivably land when it is time to turn in their card. If they stick with their original pick, no more than two of them are expected to be off the board, and that will largely hinge on what the Chicago Bears do at first overall.

The Colts could of course decide to make a deal with the Bears if they are desperate to land a particular player and aren’t willing to take the risk of seeing whether or not they will still be available three picks later.

But regardless of them trading or staying where they are, the Colts could have any of Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, or Will Levis under center next season no matter what. The choice, then, really boils down to which of the highly coveted passers the team believes can help them take the next step toward being a playoff contender once again.

Young and Stroud arguably should be the frontrunners for the Colts to consider, with both coming from top-tier college programs in Alabama and Ohio State respectively, while Levis performed well for Kentucky in the ever-difficult SEC East.

For stats comparison, Young threw 3328 yards, 32 touchdowns, and five interceptions with a pass accuracy of 64.5% in 12 games. Stroud had slightly better accuracy (66.8%) while also throwing 3688 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions in one more game. Levis, meanwhile, completed 65.4% of passes for 2406 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 11 games.

From a pure statistics standpoint, there is a significant difference between the three candidates. However, Levis shows traits that may appeal to Colts general manager Chris Ballard and led the Wildcats to a 7-4 record in his 11 games, with the team ultimately losing 0-2 in his absence and finishing the season with a 7-6 record overall, putting them above Florida and Missouri in the East.

Stature-wise, Young is the smallest of the trio, standing at 6-foot, 194lbs and there will undoubtedly be questions over his ability to ‘stand tall’ in an NFL pocket. Stroud and Levis are both 6-foot-3, with Levis slightly heavier at 232 pounds compared to 218.

Stroud’s performance against Georgia in the national championship semi-finals will no doubt put him firmly in the mind of scouts and front offices, and having led a strong program such as the Buckeyes shows that he is capable of leading a top team.

There will be many questions the Indianapolis Colts will want to be answered before they make a final decision ahead of the upcoming draft, but they are primed to take a quarterback who could genuine make a difference for the franchise after a painful transition period in 2022, where not even Matt Ryan or Nick Foles could provide answers at the position.