Colts Hit Miss Or Meh

A look back at every Colts first-round pick and if they are a Hit, a Miss, or a Meh

Kayshon Boutte: WR: 5th overall pick of 2023

Meh. Boutte has been one of the best WR2s in the league and has had some explosive games and was a deinite huge boost to the Colts offense. But a top 5 pick spent on a wide reciever better be a WR1 and he just isn’t. From being normal dev and not anything especially athletic outside his 96 speed this pick could have been used on a true wide receiver 1 or a different position of value.

Jalen Carter: DT/DE: 8th overall pick of 2023

Hit. This would have been just a meh a season ago and while passing on an edge rusher like Trenton Simpson may have hurt for two seasons with Carter’s lack of pass rush, his move to DT has lead him to be one of the best run stuffers in the league and has still been apart of the front leading the league in sacks. His 99 strength but high athleticism for a defensive tackle really lets him swallow up blocks and helps the defensive line function as a unit.

Brock Bowers: TE: 6th overall pick of 2024

Hit. The best prospect in the draft class and beyond the best tight end, Bowers has become “WR1” on this team with his sharp route running and elite speed. Made the offense more dynamic and turned the Colts tight ends from an afterthought to the fore front of defensive gameplans. The Colts had to trade up for him and while the Bears got a good return for the pick, this is one of the best trades this cycle in my opinion.

Donovan Jackson: RG: 23rd overall pick of 2024

Hit. Tied for the highest overall offensive lineman to come out of his draft but the other two were taken at 8 and 10 compared to him at 23. He’s also the only superstar lineman from this class and has solidifed the Colts offensive line as the veterans age. Was a big upgrade over the 72 overall normal dev Raimann that the Colts had.

Quinn Ewers: QB: 25th overall pick of 2024

Hit. While DJ Uiagalelei and Jayden Daniels have had more success to start their careers, Ewers has still been much better than Levis was and he is seen as a franchise quarterback. He has a tendency to make some dumb turnovers but he has transformed this offense into a true passing threat that can take the top off of defenses instead of dinking and dunking with RPOs only. He may not have abilities but a franchise quarterback for 2 late second rounders and a late 3rd looks great to me.

Shemar Stewart: DE: 22nd overall pick of 2025

Hit. There are some better edge rushers on paper that they passed on that are faster or had a better dev but Shemar has outplayed them all as of now. He leads the league in TFL and has 7 sacks in 9 games. Stewart actually earned the Colts first dev game in 2 seasons and got to superstar but the Colts will have to remove it from him or another superstar player as we now have 9. Doesn’t change the fact that Shemar has been absolutely lethal in creating pressure and stuffing the run even when Kwity Paye was out with injury.

Overall

I’ve picked 6 times in the first round in 3 drafts and have had a lot of success building my team through the draft instead of free agency and trades. All of the first rounders are essential starters with Boutte being the one exception of a “Hit” purely based on how early he was picked and not because he hasn’t performed.