The Indianapolis Colts have named Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen as the team’s next head coach. What should Indy do to reverse course and get back to playoff football? The latest 7-round mock draft has your answer!
Shane Steichen is a 37-year-old who began his coaching career with the Louisville Cardinals as an assistant in 2010. The following season would see Steichen enter the NFL ranks, taking on the role of defensive assistant with the Chargers.
He remained with the Chargers through 2020, outside of one lone season with the Cleveland Browns in 2013. In his decade on the west coast, Steichen developed positive relationships throughout the league.
Steichen crossed paths with a former Colts head coach during his stint with the Bolts, serving as an assistant under then-Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Going further, Steichen spent four seasons in the same locker room as current Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
Another selling point outside his strong connections around the league is his track record with quarterbacks. From Philip Rivers to Justin Herbert to Jalen Hurts, Steichen played a crucial role in developing the latter two names.
With the Colts at No. 4 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, they are in a prime position to add a rookie signal-caller. If Steichen’s track record is any indication, expect some impressive staff hires and a home run swing for a franchise quarterback.
7- Round Colts Mock Draft: Anthony Richardson Joins Shane Steichen in Indy
After years of trying to fix other teams’ damaged goods at quarterback, general manager Chris Ballard knows it is time for a change. The Steichen signing is step one; giving him the personnel to build his system on offense is the next step of the process.
Without further ado, let’s get a 7-round mock draft rolling. Can the Colts throw together an offseason that puts them back in contention for the AFC South title?
Round 1, No. 4: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
I have pushed the Richardson-Colts pairing for a month or two now, but the hiring of Shane Steichen further amplifies this thought. Richardson is a moldable ball of clay, much like Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts as they entered the league.
Steichen turned both guys into superstars by taking what they do well and building an entire scheme around it. With Richardson, this commitment is what it will take to reach his true potential.
Even after an underwhelming 2022 season, the Colts are not devoid of talent on the offensive side of the ball. The offensive line needs some help, no doubt, but it is better than it showed last season. The weaponry is impressive; Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Jelani Woods, etc.
Slot Richardson into the QB1 role and trust the new head coach to put him in a position to succeed as a rookie. A run-heavy approach allowing Richardson to make reads in the run game makes for a safer floor than you might expect.
Growing pains will be present, as Richardson has some work to do with his mechanics and overall feel for the game. After watching the playoffs this season, the Colts need to bet on high-end talent at the position if they want to bridge the gap between the bottom and top of the AFC. This mock draft is a start.
Round 2, No. 35: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
As much hype as Jalen Hurts receives (and rightfully so), the offensive line is the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles offense. As stated, the Colts have talent on the front lines with Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith. However, the holes at left tackle and right guard caused issues weekly for Indy.
Drafting Darnell Wright in this mock draft kills two birds with one stone. Bernhard Raimann improved considerably throughout his rookie season after being named the starter on the blind side. Still, his play was not up to snuff overall, and I believe he projects best as an interior lineman.
Moving Raimann inside to the guard position re-opens the hole at left tackle. Tennessee’s Darnell Wright started on the right side of the line the past two seasons but has a full campaign of experience under his belt on the opposite side, too.
Wright’s pass protection is top-tier and rivals any lineman in this class. The former five-star recruit is athletic and displays incredible footwork and hand usage when blocking in a phone booth. He is also an above-average contributor in the run game, creating holes for his running backs and leaking out to the second level to terrorize the middle of the defense.
A franchise quarterback and left tackle with the first two picks of the 2023 NFL Draft would be a dream come true for the front office. Finally, the fan base can move on from Andrew Luck and Anthony Castonzo.
Round 3, No. 79: Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M
Jaylon Jones *looks* like a Chris Ballard cornerback. The A&M star is tall, wiry, and possesses the frame to be a physically-imposing player on the outside and in the run game.
Jones is another former five-star recruit who never quite lived up to that billing in college but has the potential to be a much better NFL player. While he is guilty of being stiff in coverage, most of these issues are alleviated when he sits back in zone coverage.
Gus Bradley’s scheme relies heavily on zone, so this pairing makes for a hand-in-glove fit. The most intriguing part about Jones is his age, as the Aggie cornerback won’t turn 21 until draft month. All signs point to the Colts targeting a player like Jones in April.
Round 4, No. 109: Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton
Chris Ballard has a long history of adding impact players on day three of the NFL Draft. In this mock draft, Indy starts day three with a jolt to the receiving crops.
Princeton’s Andrei Iosivas boasts legitimate track speed with the ball in his hands. He is a shade under 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 212 pounds, meeting the requirements that Ballard looks for in a receiver.
Iosivas’ hands are elite, he consistently separates from the slot, and with an improved route tree, he could be a long-time starter in the league. Hopefully, the Princeton wideout can stay on the field and fill the role that is likely to be vacated by Parris Campbell this offseason.
Round 5, No. 140: Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State
The Colts employ arguably the best running back in the NFL in Jonathan Taylor. However, following an injury-riddled season that saw the All-Pro miss extended time, the team must add some depth behind him.
Nyheim Hines went to Buffalo at the trade deadline, and although Deon Jackson played well in the aftermath, the offense was clearly lacking a game-breaking wrinkle out of the backfield. Enter Kansas State sparkplug, Deuce Vaughn.
Vaughn is incredibly short and will require the front office to make an exception to its own rules. It would be wise to look deeper than the measurables. The Wildcat ball carrier is an explosive running back who is nearly impossible to bring down in space and is an incredible pass catcher out of the backfield.
Using resources on a running back looks silly on paper, but with a rookie quarterback likely on the way, there are worse moves than adding a player who can take any snap to the end zone. A high ceiling check-down specialist makes for the ideal 1-2 punch with Taylor. Vaughn can chip in for the special teams unit, too.
Round 5, No. 164: Chandler Zavala, OG, NC State
Even with moving Raimann to the right guard position, there is nothing wrong with added competition on the offensive line. If Steichen truly wants to replicate what he built with the Eagles, he needs as many capable bodies in the trenches as possible.
Chandler Zavala is a bruiser in the run game and brings the intensity that becomes infectious to the entire unit. He sets one of the strongest anchors in this draft class, using his vice grip hands to lock up the assignment. Competition is preached by Indy… let the best man win the job in training camp!
Round 7, No. 223: Dillon Doyle, LB, Baylor
Dillon Doyle passes the eye test with flying colors, but some off-the-field rumblings have negatively impacted his draft stock. In this mock draft, the Colts take a chance on a linebacker with above-average athleticism and a hunger to improve. Indy could lose Bobby Okereke this offseason, so depth at linebacker is vital.
Round 7, No. 238: Juice Scruggs, C, Penn State
Another offensive lineman? Can you tell that the unit had a down season in 2022? Ryan Kelly did not play to the level we are accustomed to seeing from the former Alabama first-round pick. The Colts could cut or trade Kelly in mere months.
Juice Scruggs will never be the best center in the NFL, but he brings a stable floor to the league. Scruggs made 25 starts over the past two seasons for the Nittany Lions and plays with enough agility to be an impact blocker in zone-run packages. Worth the flier with the final selection of this mock draft.