2025 NFL Draft: Indianapolis Colts’ Potential Star Picks

As we inch closer to the 2025 NFL Draft only weeks away, speculation and preparedness meet in a flurry of mock drafts. At A to Z Sports, our team of analysts has engagingly executed a four-round exercise that simulates the draft scenario, using the combined insight of our eight NFL draft specialists. Personally, I walked the path of the Indianapolis Colts, creating a selection strategy spanning four rounds, which arguably resulted in an impressive, if not perfect, draft for the Colts.

The highlight of this exercise was certainly the first round, Pick 14, where Pittsburg State’s towering tight end, Tyler Warren, became our envisioned pick for the Colts. Warren’s name is already resonating in the potential tight-end fillers for the Colts, aligning well with Shane Steichen’s offensive strategies. As quarterback Anthony Richardson embarks upon a pivotal season, it fortifies the argument that recruiting Warren could maximize Richardson’s performance.

When tackling the second round, Pick 45, we hit a jackpot with Alabama’s interior offensive lineman, Tyler Booker. His continued availability past the early picks was unexpected and feels like the burst of sunshine on a cloudy day. It’s hard to deny the urgency for the Colts to seize this opportunity, given Booker’s dominant performance in his 2024 season, showcasing his potential as one of the key offensive linemen of the draft class.

The departure of Will Fries in the off-season has opened up a spot for a starting right guard in the Colts line-up. The idea of pairing Quenton Nelson with Booker paints a menacing picture for any defense, crafting a path for Jonathan Taylor and Richardson to exploit the grounded opposition to their favor.

The third round, Pick 80, ushered in UCLA linebacker, Carson Schwesinger. The selection of Schwesinger can be classified as a dream sequence – the best possible outcome from the first three rounds for the Colts. His play style meshes well with the Colts’ needs, and it’s conceivable that he could be the second-round choice if the team skips over a linebacker in the beginning.

Schwesinger’s availability in the third round, coupled with the delayed linebacker pick in this simulation, marks him as the most strategic choice the Colts can make under these conditions.

In the concluding fourth round, Pick 117, Colts return to the offensive court by picking star running back Devin Neal from Kansas. The Colts’ roster needs a steady deputy to Jonathan Taylor to share the snap count responsibly. However, it’s equally essential to have someone competent in pass protection, given the identified lacuna in Taylor’s skillset.

Neal, one of the sturdiest of the class, has established his skill as a blocker with commendable tenacity. This makes him a perfect pick for the Colts, offering a player who has the capabilities to be a rotational asset initially and holds the potential to evolve into a versatile three-down starter if required.

Selecting Tyler Warren in round one might be more of an expectation than a surprise, attributed to his consistent popularity as the Colts’ top recommendation this off-season. He’s indeed a prime choice for the Colts, given Warren’s suitability to the team’s offensive requirements particularly in the tight-end position for this year’s class. It is sensible to anticipate his pick if the Colts get the chance when the 14th selection comes around.

The real excitement lies in the fortunate selections following the first round for the Colts. Bagging Tyler Booker, arguably the best guard of the draft from Alabama, in the second round would compensate for the loss of Will Fries. Continued alignment of the best fits saw linebacker Carson Schwesinger added to the Colt’s haul on the third day.

Despite being a common second-round preference, Schwesinger’s health-related uncertainty could potentially push him down the draft board. However, should the Colts stumble upon him in the third round, failing to recruit him would be a missed opportunity.

Concluding the mock exercise, Devin Neal, the running back from Kansas, joined the Colts’ ranks. Neal’s addition would bring the much-needed relief to Jonathan Taylor, shouldering some of the workload. What makes Neal a catch is his demonstrated proficiency as a pass protector. These four potential procurements would address glaring gaps in the Colts’ current line-up.

Time will tell whether these projections manifest into reality, but in theory, this draft strategy could offer the Colts one of their most advantageous hauls to date. While Devin Neal may not debut as a starter like the others, his potential to be particularly impactful in the future provides promising depth to the team.