Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Draft Superlatives: Anthony Richardson is the Best Value Pick

Episode Date: May 1, 2023

The 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and the Indianapolis Colts came away with quite a haul. Anthony Richardson is clearly the crown jewel, but which other value picks did the Colts make?Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms:🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOColts?sid=YouTube📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQLocked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNFLFollow Jake and Zach's written work on HorseshoeHuddle.com, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, @LockedOnColts, and @ColtsOnFN!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is wide receiver Josh Downs the best value pick in the entire 2023 NFL draft? We dive into that all today here on the Locked on Colts. Let's get to it. You are locked on Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your of the day. This is your daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. I'm Zach Hicks.

I am missing my counterpart here, Jake Arthur. He had a really long week, you guys. Barely got any sleep. You guys saw him living in his car basically last week. So I'm giving him a couple of days off, but you guys still know me and love me from horseshoehull.com. I am the film guy over there. Jake, when he is here, is the credentialed Colts media guy for the site and for our lovely podcast.

Guys, the 2023 NFL draft is officially complete. So now it's time to rattle off some superlatives. Gosh, that is a difficult word for me. Rattle off some superlatives. Go through some of our best immediate value picks that the Colts made in this class, some of the surprise picks that the Colts made. There are quite a few surprises that definitely popped up. And then also talk about some players that are currently on the Colts roster that kind of are biggest losers because of who the Colts ended up taking. So we're going to dive

into all that today. But first, let's talk about the immediate value picks in this draft. And obviously, you could talk about the first couple of day picks here, and we are. But first, let's talk about the immediate value picks in this draft. And obviously, you could talk about the first couple of day picks here, and we are, but I do want to start off with Anthony Richardson, our quarterback, our franchise passer that we took fourth overall out of the University of Florida. Look, you guys know it's no secret whatsoever to all of you listening to this podcast that Anthony Richardson was my QB1 throughout this entire process. He's a player where the film doesn't lie. Again, the accuracy is not where it needs to be. There are some mechanical things to be cleaned up, but what this player can do

and what he can be is better than any quarterback prospect, not only in this class, but in the last couple of classes. He has sky high potential sky high upside and getting him with an offensive play caller like Shane Steichen. It's just a phenomenal, phenomenal fit. And I'm actually putting him here in this, the best immediate value section of this, this episode, because I think Anthony Richardson is going to play a lot earlier than expected. Shane Steichen did say the other day, you know, we're not going to rush him out there, but the best way to learn is on the job, you know, learning on the field and getting out there early on. Owner Jim Ursae did say, ultimately, it's going to be up to Shane Steichen, depending on like when Anthony Richardson is going to see the field. But Jim

Ursae also reiterated, you know, the best way for these guys to learn is to get them out there early. So I would not be shocked whatsoever. Anthony Richardson is the week one starter. Obviously it depends on who they're facing week one. You don't want to throw them out there against like, you know, a game in Foxborough against the Patriots. We saw what happened with Sam Ellinger last year when one of his first starts was, was in Foxborough. But I think Anthony Richardson is going to be an immediate value pick, not only for just his own stock, but also for the Colts offensive stock in general. This is an offense that lacked a lot of playmaking at the quarterback position last year. And now you're adding one of the craziest, freakiest athletes we've ever seen at the position.

The running game is going to take off because of him. And just the, just the fear of Anthony Richardson, what he's going to strike in those defenses is going to add so much value to this offense. So from day one, even if it is a little bit slow balling and he doesn't play immediately, Anthony Richson is the best value pick in this entire 2023 NFL draft, in my opinion, especially in this Colts draft, because this is your franchise quarterback. This is your franchise passer. He will be that one day, and I ultimately think that he's on the road to stardom. Obviously, I'm getting a little bit ahead of myself there, but I love Anthony Richardson. I'm super happy that he is an Indianapolis Colt. And I think that is the best value pick in this

draft. Getting to our next player here, I think Josh Downs at pick 79 in the third round is a phenomenal value pick for the Colts. Like, look, this is a player where I wasn't super, super high on him. I didn't have him in the first or second round like a lot of analysts did. But to get a player that is going to be an every down player for you in year one, you know, you're going to get slot production for him. You're going to get 50, 60 catches, probably a good chunk of yards. He's going to be that quick win wide receiver in this offense to get that in round three at pick 79.

That is just phenomenal value. Like, yes, Julius Brents might be your starting corner from day one. And I love that pick there in round two. But Josh Downs, what he's going to bring to this Colts offense, the level of explosion, the level of just winning underneath and getting open, what Shane Sagan is going to be able to do with him in the mesh game. I really, really love the value of Josh Downs there in round three. And it's just hard

to find production at any position, you know, at round three or round four, wherever you take these guys outside of round one. So to get a guy at pick 79, that again, from day one is going to have a role on this offense. I really, really love that value for the Colts. And, and I think that he's going to be a player where again, if Anthony Richardson is starting week one, this is going to be your quick win wide receiver. This can be your wide receiver. In three by one sets, you might put him on the backside to get that quick win against an outside corner. You might have him as the innermost receiver on empty personnel, just so he can beat those linebackers with his quick route running ability. Josh Downs is going to have a massive role in this offense. And it might not be a thousand

yard wide receiver in year one, but I would put good money on him having more than 50 catches this first season, which is again, just great value to add to your team there in round three. So I love the Josh Downs pick there in round three. And I think he's going to just have that immediate impact that the Colts are looking for. The next guy we're looking at is Evan Hull, fifth round running back out of Northwestern. Yes, again, I could have gone with any of these cornerbacks of the Colts taken because those guys are going to have an immediate role just because of the lack

of depth of the position. But Evan Hull is a player where if you're looking for the Kenneth Gainwell in this Colts offense next season, that's going to be Evan Hull. This is a guy where, yes, he can add some impact in the rushing game, but he's a pass catcher. Last year at Northwestern, he caught 55 passes. I think that's the most in college football among running backs last year. A lot of short underneath stuff, a lot of Texas routes out of the backfield. He was heavy in the screen game. And again, if you're looking at this quarterback like Anthony Richardson, who struggled in the short passing game and struggled kind of just getting any kind of rhythm underneath, you're adding players like Josh Downs, adding players

like Evan Hull, who can get that rhythm going for their quarterback. They are good on-time players. They're players that are reliable with the ball in their hands. I think both of these players are going to have immediate impact for the team. And for everything I just said about Josh Downs in round three, being a guy who's going to be a 50 catch player, you know, Evan Hull getting in that guy in round five, who might be a 20 to 30 catch running back in year one, again, just great value pick right there for the Colts. Again, he's, he still has kind of some, some road to go there to make the roster. He needs to show that he could play out special teams. He needs to beat out Dion Jackson and Jake Funk for sure. But I think Evan Hull is a player where year one,

we're going to be looking at him as one of the best overall values in the entire draft, because I think he's going to make this team. I think he's going to be a valuable player for this team, not only on special teams, but also on offense as a pass catcher. So Evan Hull, Josh Downs, Anthony Richardson, I think those are my three best value picks for the Colts because I think all three of those guys are just going to be immediate impact players for this Colts offense. But coming up, guys, we're going to talk about the surprise picks in this draft.

You know, which players did the Colts take that kind of strayed away from the norm or, you know, not even just strayed away from the norm. Just we were just shocked that those guys were available where they were. We're going to talk about that here in just a second. But first, if you're looking for a delicious snack, but don't want all the sugar and calories, then you need the best tasting protein bar ever. That's built. You've got to try this. If you're like me and you want to make healthier snack choices, but you don't want to want to compromise on taste, then I've got just the thing for you. It's built bars and built puffs. Built bars are healthy and taste amazing. Seriously, they taste so amazing, you won't even think that they're good for you. You've got to try this. What makes Built Bars so

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were even available when the Colts took them. So first off, I need to talk about the man of the hour, Josh Downs. I mean, Josh Downs, round three. This is a player where before the draft, if you told me that the Colts were going to take him, I would look at you like you had three heads. There is no chance that Chris Ballard would take a 5'9", 179-pound or 171-pound, whatever weight he comes into at Colts camp, 170-pound wide receiver there in round three. That's a valuable pick. That's a pick that the Colts like, 170 pound wide receiver there in round three. That's a valuable pick. That's a pick that the Colts like to have. And to take such a small wide receiver when Chris Ballard's

wide receivers average 6'3", 215 pounds. I will say before this draft, you know, again, we kind of knew a lot last year that Chris Ballard was really in on Sky Moore. I knew going into this draft, they liked Tyler Scott quite a bit as well. So you could kind of feel that the mold of the Chris Ballard wide receiver was breaking a little bit. He wanted kind of that scat guy, that slot guy, that smaller wide receiver to complement his two behemoths on the outside in Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr. I just wouldn't have expected him in any mindset whatsoever to go this small at the wide receiver position. This is not me saying Josh Downs is a bad player. Josh Downs, despite his size, is a phenomenal contested catch guy.

I think he only had like three drops last year. Really reliable player. Like he really plays much bigger than his size. But again, there is no way I could have envisioned going into the draft, the Colts taking a player of Josh Downs' size at wide receiver with such a high valuable pick. Undrafted free agent, I see it. Late round pick flyer, I see it. But there in the third round at pick 79, wow, I did not see that coming. And maybe this speaks to Chris Ballard being a little bit more

malleable with his new head coach hire coming in and Shane Steichen. I'm sure Shane Steichen was pounding the table saying, get me Josh Downs because this is the player I need for my offense. And it wouldn't shock me. Again, Reggie Wayne, we've heard a lot of things about him saying how much you want to Josh Downs. So again, kudos to Chris Ballard for being very open to a lot of these different types of players, different molds of players while still attacking the high level athlete. But yeah, Josh Downs was the biggest surprise pick for me because I really would have figured a guy like Jonathan Mingo or Michael Wilson or someone like that would have been more of his mold than a Josh Downs. But I love Josh Downs pick. I think it really fits this offense. And I was shocked, but I'm happy shocked, very happy shocked.

Speaking of some more happy shocked players I'm going to rattle off some two names here that I'm really just surprised that they were even available when the Colts took them number one is obviously Adi Adi from Northwestern the pass rusher one day I will get his full name right but Adi Adi is just one it's so much more fun to say and two no I just no I think it's just one yeah it's just way more fun to say. And two, no, I think it's just one. Yeah, it's just way more fun to say. I'm just going to stick with the Adi Adi for now. And eventually I'll get around to saying his full name. But Adi Adi, the pass rusher from Northwestern, 285-pound player that ran a 4-4-9 at the NFL

Combine. Just a fantastic freak of an athlete. A lot of sites, a lot of mock draft simulators, a lot of big boards. Had this guy going, you know, maybe being available at pick 35 for the Colts you know maybe being a guy and pick 35 that they would have to take if they wanted him he slipped all the way to pick 110 there in the fourth round and this is just a high value upside pick that the Colts are making here Adi Adi is far away from being contributor, far away from being the high level pass rusher that his athleticism kind of says he is. But again, this is on day three,

you are taking shots on athletes. And this is one of the best shots you can take on an athlete. Again, 285 pounds, 449 in the 40 yard dash, the fastest 40 time for someone weighing over 280 pounds in combine history. I really think the upside is there with this player. And if you can just unlock just a smidge of that athleticism on the field,

we're looking at one of the best value picks in the entire draft. So Adi Adi has a way to go, but I'm really just surprised that he was even available there at the fourth round, because I know round four, round five and stuff, you're betting on traits, but with those traits, you bet on those traits a little bit higher. You know, I'm shocked that a team, you know, mid to late round three was not saying like, okay, let's just get this freaky pass rusher and see what we can do with him. Nope, he slips to the early fourth round, and the Colts were able to get a player that really can be an impact guy in his NFL career.

So Adi Adi, Northwestern pass rusher, big surprise for me just because I did not expect him there in round four. And then another player that I just did not expect to be there. And this is our final surprise pick in this section is Darius Rush, the cornerback from South Carolina. Darius Rush is a player where I think honestly on film, it depends what game I'm watching, obviously. But I think on film, there are a lot of games where I come away thinking Darius Rush is a better corner than Julius Brents. You know, I think they're both similar molds of guys, long athletic corners that need some more development in their technique and just need more refinement before they are really good NFL corners. But Darius Rush, he has the long speed that Julius Brents lacks. He has some more ball skills that Julius Brents doesn't necessarily have. I think Brents is a little more physical and a little bit quicker, but Darius Rush, former wide receiver, convert over to defensive back.

Not a ton of production in college, but the flashes are so good. He's a high energy guy, super athletic, can go up and get the ball. This is just another shot at the flashes are so good. There's a high energy guy, super athletic. I can go up and get the ball. This is just another shot at the Marvell Tell mold. And I love it. Take all the shots on super long athletic corners because eventually these guys are going to hit. And one of my favorite follows on Twitter at Honest NFL said this is just another shot at the Richard Sherman mold.

You know, this is what Gus Bradley did in Seattle, you know, taking shots on the Richard Sherman types. And that's what Darius Rush could be. I'm not saying he's going to be Richard Sherman, but you take, take shots on the wide receiver converts that are super long, super athletic, and really can be good corners with the proper development. So Darius Rush, again, another player where I am just shocked that he was available in round five. This is a player where I would have taken him in round two and been very happy just thinking like you know I can turn this guy into a good corner with the right coaching to get him not only you know if you would have gotten around three I would have been pumped you got around four I've been pumped but to get him in round five wow I am I am so happy to get Darius

Rush and I you know when we're talking steals and stuff you know these are 32 teams that are passing on him multiple times there's probably something there for why they slipped but you know the NFL doesn't always hit the NFL misses quite a bit to get a talent like Darius Rush there in round five I'm just happy to see the Colts addressing that cornerback position and getting quality players in there in the draft. So Darius Rush, huge surprise for me because I did not expect him there. Adi Adi the same way. And then Josh Downs is also surprised because I can't believe Chris Ballard went so small at wide receiver.

But I'm happy for it. I'm happy for all three of these guys. Excited to have all three of them here in Indy. And they're my happy surprises of the 2023 NFL draft. But coming up, guys, we're going to talk about some players currently on the Colts roster that kind of lost out with this draft. You know, lost some playing time, maybe have to compete a little bit harder in camp,

which isn't a bad thing, but these guys are the biggest losers on the Colts roster following the 2023 NFL Draft. We're going to talk about that here in just a second. Every dayers, we'll be back with you guys on Tuesday to keep talking about the implications of this draft class and what it means for the Colts moving forward. So make sure you set those alarms early in the morning

and tune in every single day. We love you, every dayers. If you guys are an every dayer of Locked on Colts, add us on Twitter at Locked on Colts or at Zach Hicks too. You guys can see my at right there if you're on YouTube at Zach Hicks too or at Locked on Coltsts or at ZachHicks2. You guys can see my at right there if you're on YouTube. At ZachHicks2 or at LockedOnColts. And just give a shout out to us.

You know, proudly call yourself an everydayer. I would love to see it. I'll give you guys a retweet or a heart on there or whatever it takes to get you guys to call yourselves everydayers. We love our everydayers here on LockedOn. But guys, we're going to talk about some of the biggest losers of the NFL draft. And you know, you guys knew I had to switch in. I just had to put a little bit of a negative aspect of this podcast. I don't want to just talk about all the positive things all the time.

And honestly, when I'm looking at this overall class, I really can't find negative picks. I would have done a whole section here on the biggest reaches or the biggest flubs or the worst picks, but I really like all the picks. I can't really say too much about the draft class itself. So we're going to say the biggest losers currently on the Indianapolis Colts roster from this draft. And I think the biggest one, obviously, is Isaiah McKenzie, the wide receiver that the Colts signed from Buffalo this offseason. He was in line to be the starting slot wide receiver, but with this selection of Josh Downs there in round three, he certainly loses out on some playing time. I think this is a good thing overall for both him and for the Colts. They needed just a better player there

or just a higher upside younger player there in the slot. And Isaiah McKenzie can kind of settle into that typical role that he's always been his career, just the vertical guy, just the sub player that comes in, can win vertically, maybe get some underneath catches and make something happen after the catch but Isaiah McKenzie's at his best when he's a 20 to 30 catch guy not when he's asked to be a 40 to 50 catch guy that's where you see the drops come in that's where you see the inconsistencies let him kind of settle into that role be the punt returner as the wide receiver for and do a lot of good things so yes I think Isaiah McKenzie loses out because he's going to lose some overall snaps and, and obviously every player wants to play, but I think ultimately this will be good for him and

for the Indianapolis Colts, but that's our biggest loser, obviously not in a negative way. I just, you know, he's going to lose out on some playing time some other biggest losers is Dallas Flowers or the Colts chances at signing a veteran corner the Colts added three new cornerbacks through draft picks in this class you know Julius Julius Brents Darius Rush and Jalen Jalen Jones there in round seven so a guy like Dallas Flowers who before the draft was in line to start is kind of going to kick down the depth chart a little bit you know Julius Brents is obviously going to get more chances than Dallas Flowers. And you can honestly say the same about the other two guys who are younger and also coming in off of being draft picks when Dallas Flowers was an undrafted free agent last year. Dallas Flowers did a lot of good things last season. And I still think he absolutely has a role in this team as a special teamer.

But obviously his kind of chance to get on the field on actual defensive snaps next year does go down with these selections. He can still win. He can still win a spot. You know, we love Dallas Flowers. We love his athletic upside. He did a lot of good things last year. So if he comes into camp next year and has a really, really good training camp, he can absolutely win a spot on this team. It's just, it's not a spot that's going to be given to him now because of all this competition coming in. A lot of young competition coming in. You know, if you look at Julius Francis, 23, Darius Rush is 23. Jalen Jones, I think is 21. A guy like Dallas Flowers, I think is 24. So it's, you know, younger talent coming in.

It always hurts a guy's chances at making the roster, earning playing time, but he's going to have a chance to compete. And if he beats out a guy like Jalen Jones or even a guy like Darius Rush, he will make the team. So he still has a great chance. It's just, it's not really going to be given to him like it was prior to the draft. But our other two biggest losers here of the Colts roster in this NFL draft is Kylan Granson and Mo Alley-Cox. Yes, the Colts added yet another tight end in the NFL draft. That brings their total in the roster to like 12. They have so many tight ends. And honestly, all we can really say right now is Jelani Woods is a lock to make the roster. Outside of that, it is open competition, baby is kyle and granson versus mo alley cox versus will mallory versus

drew ogletree versus pharaoh brown you five guys are competing for three to four spots you know have fun or for two to three spots because johnny woods we all assume is definitely gonna make the roster so yeah you five guys are competing for two to three spots uh so i'm not saying kyle and granson and molly cox are now going to get cut because of a guy like Will Mallory, but it just adds more depth and it muddies the waters there at tight end, which is a great thing. You know, again, if you're a GM or if you're a fan watching, you want competition in training camp, especially from a position where we saw flashes last year, but at tight end, it just wasn't good enough. You know, it just wasn't where you need it to be to be in a really effective group for an NFL offense. So you want competition for these guys. And if the best three guys are Drew Ogletree, Farrell Brown, and Jelani Woods, those three should make the roster and cut Kylan Granson,

cut Moelle Cox, and cut Will Mallory. I do expect Kylan Granson and Moelle Cox to have good camps. They are good players. And I do think they both have a good chance of making the roster. But, you know, it's more competition, more competition, you know, and that's always a great thing. But these players are obviously not going to have anything handed to them. And, you know, you could see them on the trade block or see them get cut on cut down day because it is such a big competition, a tight end group. So our biggest losers, unfortunately, from the

2023 NFL draft that are currently on the Colts roster, Isaiah McKenzie, Dallas Flowers, other corners, Kylan Granson and Moelle Cox, plus all the other tight ends in that room. But these guys all have a great chance to compete in camp. And if they all come out and have phenomenal training camps, they will earn their spots on the roster. This doesn't mean that these guys are guaranteed to be cut or anything or all guaranteed to be benched. It just means that nothing is going to be handed to them because the Colts added so much young, cheap labor to this roster

and a lot of talented young players to this roster. So I think that's all we have for today, guys. Make sure all you beautiful everydayers there, you hit me up on Twitter and social medias and let me know that you are a wonderful every day. We'll be back with you guys on Tuesday to talk more about this draft class and talk about what the Colts are doing going forward. I'm going to try to get a really special guest for you guys.

Cause Jake is going to be out tomorrow as well. So we're going to try to get a really fun guest and just have a blast talking about this Colts draft class. But if you guys don't already follow us on social medias at lockdown Colts at Jake Arthur, NFL and at Zach kicks too on Twitter. Also subscribe to lockdown Colts podcast class. But if you guys don't already follow us on social medias at locked on Colts at Jake Arthur, NFL and at Zach kicks too on Twitter. Also subscribe to locked on Colts podcast on YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcast.

We love your guys ratings and reviews, and we will see you guys bright and early tomorrow.