JUST IN:Colts top three 2024 NFL draft prospects

The Indianapolis Colts are set to be a focal point of discussion this month, particularly as the NFL Draft approaches in late April. Few teams in the league boast as many picks as the Colts, who currently hold seven selections. What’s more, three of these picks fall within the Top 100, providing General Manager Chris Ballard and Head Coach Shane Stiechen with a golden opportunity to significantly bolster their roster as they enter the second year of the Anthony Richardson era.

While possessing seven picks offers ample potential to make a tangible impact in 2024, it’s always intriguing to consider the possibility of making bold moves to shake up draft weekend. While much of the Colts’ roster appears relatively settled, there are three notable players who could potentially be trade candidates as the draft approaches.

One such candidate is Quenton Nelson, the team’s guard. Admittedly, the notion of trading away Nelson, who stands as one of the longest-serving players on the Colts’ roster and also serves as a team captain, is a significant proposition — and realistically unlikely to occur.

However, it’s worth noting that the Colts’ offensive line boasts other notable talents, including Bernhard Raimann, Braden Smith, and Ryan Kelly, all of whom ranked among the top 10 at their respective positions according to Pro Football Focus last season.

While Nelson continues to perform well, he hasn’t quite reached the pinnacle of his earlier career, during which he earned multiple First Team All-Pro honors. Additionally, Nelson’s contract commands over eight percent of the Colts’ salary cap for each of the next three seasons. Although trading him this year would come as a surprise, it presents an intriguing possibility for the Colts to maximize the value they could obtain in a potential deal.

Kenny Moore II, Cornerback
Another notable Colts player who could potentially fetch the team a Day 2 or Day 3 draft pick is Kenny Moore II. Having spent his entire seven-year career in Indianapolis, Moore has experienced his fair share of ups and downs in the NFL, typical of many solid but not elite cornerbacks.

However, his trade value has never been higher following a stellar 2023 season. Moore boasted the highest coverage grade of any player on the team according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), logged the second-highest defensive snap count, and secured at least three interceptions for the fourth time in seven years.

Despite his impressive performance, the Colts are widely anticipated to address their secondary in the upcoming draft. Additionally, Moore is set to turn 31 at the end of the next season. Thus, if the Colts receive an attractive trade offer, leveraging Moore’s standout season could be a strategic move to acquire additional draft assets.

Tyquan Lewis, Edge Rusher
Similar to Moore, Tyquan Lewis is a veteran of seven seasons with the Colts and is coming off the best year of his career. Lewis matched his career-high in sacks with four in the 2023 season and recorded the second-best pass rush grade among Indianapolis’ defensive players.

However, injuries have hindered his progress, and while he managed to play in all 17 games last season, it was the first time in three years that he did not start a single game. Given the Colts’ impressive depth on the defensive line, with players like Samson Ebukam, Grover Stewart, DeForest Buckner, and Kwity Paye ahead of him on the depth chart, exploring the market for Lewis makes sense.