With the 2017 through 2022 classes already reviewed, the next stop in the Chris Ballard draft review series is 2023. This one is difficult to evaluate because it is still fairly recent, but enough time has passed to start making some firm judgments.
Unfortunately for the Colts, most of those judgments are not flattering.
This class is defined by Anthony Richardson, and when the fourth overall pick fails to become the franchise quarterback, the entire draft takes a major hit. The Colts also missed badly
on Julius Brents, another premium pick in the top 50. That is a brutal start to any class.
Josh Downs and Jaylon Jones keep this from becoming a complete disaster. Downs has become a tremendous slot receiver and one of the best picks of the Ballard era relative to where he was taken. Jones has given the Colts strong seventh-round return as a depth corner and spot starter. Adebawore has also developed into a useful rotational piece.
But when the first two picks are misses, especially at quarterback and cornerback, there is only so much the rest of the class can do to save the grade.
Round 1, Pick 4: Anthony Richardson, QB
Richardson is the most complicated pick to grade, but the final answer is still pretty clear.
For a fourth overall pick, he has been a bust. There is no other way about it.
The occasional flashes keep him from being an F. There were moments where the athletic tools looked special, and you could see why the Colts took the swing. His size, arm strength and mobility created plays that very few quarterbacks can make.
But those moments were not enough. His play on the field has mostly been poor. The accuracy has not been consistent. The processing and decision-making have not developed enough. He has struggled to make reads, struggled to stay healthy, and has not shown the maturity or command needed from a franchise quarterback.
You can make excuses for the development plan, the injuries, the supporting cast, or the coaching. Some of those excuses may even be fair, but the bottom line is that Richardson has not become a quarterback the Colts can trust.
When you take someone fourth overall, the expectation is franchise-altering impact. Richardson did not provide that or even come close to providing that.
Grade: D
Round 2, Pick 44: Julius Brents, CB
Brents was another major miss.
The Colts bet on size and athleticism, which has been a recurring theme with Ballard. Brents had the long frame and physical traits teams like in outside cornerbacks, but the pick never came close to working out.
Injuries crushed his time in Indianapolis. He appeared in only 11 games, which is a terrible return for a top-50 pick. When he was on the field, the play was okay in flashes, but nowhere close to good enough to justify the draft slot.
Availability is a big part of the evaluation. Brents simply was not available enough to help the team, and when he did play, the impact was limited. For a second-round pick, this was a clear failure.
Grade: F
Round 3, Pick 79: Josh Downs, WR
Downs saves this draft from completely falling apart.
He has become a tremendous slot receiver, and I think he can be more than just that. Downs runs routes at a high level, separates with quickness, works efficiently in and out of breaks, and has become a reliable third-down option. He gives the offense consistency, timing and trust.
He is the type of player quarterbacks love because he gets open when the offense needs it most.
The Colts found an excellent receiver in the third round, and that is one of the better picks from this entire stretch of Ballard drafts. Downs has already become a key offensive piece and still has room to grow.
If Richardson and Brents had worked out, Downs would be viewed as the finishing touch to a strong class. Instead, he is the player keeping the class from being ugly.
Grade: A-
Round 4, Pick 106: Blake Freeland, OT
Freeland has been a backup swing tackle, but the results have not been very encouraging.
He has not been asked to do a ton, which is probably for the best. When he has been on the field, the play has been poor. He does not consistently show the strength to hold up against power or the foot speed to handle better edge rushers.
As a backup, there are worse players to have and he can give you emergency depth and has enough size and experience to stick around. But when he is in the game, you are holding your breath.
For a fourth-round pick, it is not a complete zero, but it has not been a strong return.
Grade: D+
Round 4, Pick 110: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL
Adebawore has turned into a useful rotational piece.
He had a nice mini-breakout in 2025, finishing with four sacks and showing more impact in a limited role. His versatility is still his best trait. He can move around the defensive front, provide depth in multiple spots, and give the Colts some athletic juice inside.
For a fourth-round pick, that is respectable. He is not a star and probably will not become one, but he looks like the type of defensive lineman who can play meaningful rotational snaps for several years. That is a solid outcome in this range.
Grade: B-
Round 5, Pick 138: Darius Rush, CB
Rush did not make it to the regular season with the Colts.
That makes this an easy grade. Fifth-round picks do not need to become long-term starters, but they should at least have a chance to make the roster and contribute somewhere. Rush did nothing for the team.
Grade: F
Round 5, Pick 158: Daniel Scott, S
Scott is another unfortunate one.
An ACL injury and torn Achilles in back-to-back years essentially wiped out his early career. He has played only a handful of games and had a very limited impact, although he is still on the roster.
There may still be a small chance he turns into something, but based on what he has done so far, there is not much to grade positively.
I’ll be a bit generous because of the fact that he is still around, but the return has been zero.
Grade: D
Round 5, Pick 162: Will Mallory, TE
Mallory has had some moments, but not enough of them.
He is good for an occasional play and has shown enough receiving ability to stick around, but he is also buried at a deep position and does not do anything special enough to separate himself. At this point, he is quality depth and a special teams contributor.
For a fifth-round pick, that is not awful. It is just not anything especially exciting.
Grade: C-
Round 5, Pick 176: Evan Hull, RB
Hull had a lot of hype for a fifth-round pick.
Many (including myself) saw him as a natural successor to Nyheim Hines because of his receiving ability and third-down profile. That role never materialized. He never made an impact with the Colts and became a disappointment, even with the lower expectations that come with being a Day 3 pick.
He was not drafted high enough to be a massive miss, but the payoff was still poor.
Grade: D-
Round 6, Pick 211: Titus Leo, LB
Leo never played a game for the Colts.
An injury and practice squad stint prevented him from providing any on-field contribution. Sixth-round picks miss all the time, but the Colts got no return here.
Grade: F
Round 7, Pick 221: Jaylon Jones, CB
Jones was a very strong seventh-round pick.
He is similar to Rodney Thomas in the sense that he gave the Colts far more than most players taken in this range. Jones started for about a season and a half, and while there were some very rough games, he also had good moments.
Overall, he has been a slight net positive, which is excellent for a seventh-round pick. He is still on the roster, provides quality depth at cornerback, and can help on special teams.
This is exactly the kind of late-round pick that keeps a draft class from completely sinking. He may not be a long-term starter, but he has already outperformed his draft slot by a lot.
Grade: A-
Round 7, Pick 236: Jake Witt, OT
Witt never gave the Colts anything.
He dealt with injuries, was eventually cut, and then retired. There is not much else to say. As a seventh-round pick, expectations are low, but the outcome was still no contribution.
Grade: F
Overall Grade: D+
The 2023 draft class is a bad one.
Josh Downs and Jaylon Jones save it from being an F. Downs has become a tremendous receiver and one of the best players in this class. Jones has given the Colts excellent seventh-round return as a depth corner and spot starter. Adebawore also looks like a useful rotational defensive lineman.
However, the top of the class is what defines it.The Colts used the fourth overall pick on Anthony Richardson, and he has not become the franchise quarterback (putting it nicely). They used the 44th pick on Julius Brents, and he barely played before moving on. Missing on a quarterback at No. 4 and a cornerback in the top 50 is devastating.
You cannot completely miss on your first two picks and come away with a strong draft grade.
There were some good finds later, but not enough to overcome the damage at the top. Downs and Jones keep this class from being a disaster, but the Richardson and Brents misses drag it down heavily. Tough one here for Chris Ballard.
