Breaking: Colts set sign top ranked CB to who will make an immediate impact

Indianapolis selects a talented cornerback in another Pro Football Focus mock draft.

With the offseason in full swing, the Indianapolis Colts have had several big-time names mocked to them with the No. 15 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. The most popular names appear on the offensive side of the ball, including Georgia’s star tight end Brock Bowers.

In their latest mock draft, however, Pro Football Focus has the Colts selecting Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold in the first round.

A strong case can be made for Arnold, who stands at 6’0” and was a ballhawk for the Crimson Tide during the 2023 season, recording five interceptions to go along with 12 pass breakups, 40 solo tackles and one forced fumble.

Arnold may very well be regarded as this class’s top cornerback, and some could make an argument Indianapolis has a need for a true No. 1 corner to pair alongside second-year starter JuJu Brents.

Although Indianapolis rightfully came away impressed with two of their rookie defensive backs, Brents and Jaylon Jones, their secondary also dealt with a number of injuries, resulting in a quicker youth movement and an inexperienced cornerback room that led to some late season struggles defensively.

Arnold would no doubt be an interesting addition to an already young cornerback room. He could slide next to Brents from Day 1 while providing Indianapolis with a top-ranked cornerback who can make an immediate impact.

Let’s also remember that Kenny Moore II is slated to become a free agent in March, and Dallis Flowers is coming off a torn Achilles and may not be ready to play right away. Indianapolis’ depth, not including their aforementioned rookies, has more questions than answers. Yes, Moore II could very well re-sign with Indianapolis this offseason, but the case can still be made that cornerback is a top need for this team.

For some, cornerback may not be as big of a need for the Colts as other positions, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. But it’s hard to argue with Arnold’s resume, and the draft is filled with plenty of talented wide receivers and other offensive playmakers that Indianapolis could take past the first round.

Anthony Richardson And Jonathan Taylor – An Explosive Duo

Both Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor dealt with injuries last season. Richardson ended up undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery and Taylor ended up missing seven games due to ankle pain and a torn thumb. Even though these two playmakers did not have the seasons that they were hoping for, it is safe to say they are the two most talented players on the offense. Therefore, if they can remain healthy, the explosive capability within this unit is limitless.

Richardson and  Taylor can be explosive as a duo because they are explosive on their own. They both can take over the offense and put up big numbers. In head coach Shane Steichen’s philosophy, the goal is to “throw to score points” and “run to win”. This kind of production can only be achieved with a dynamic quarterback and a dynamic running back. The Indianapolis Colts have just that in Richardson and Taylor.

A Look Into the Explosive Capability of Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor

Anthony Richardson

Anthony Richardson’s promising rookie season was cut short due to injuries. He only finished one game out of the four that he started because he would end up coming out of three games due to injury. Nonetheless, the sample size given has been enough for people to see what Richardson is capable of. He showcased exceptional athletic ability, throwing velocity, and arm strength. While his mechanics and accuracy still need work, he far and away overachieved any expectations the league had for him in his rookie year.

Richardson totaled seven touchdowns on the ground and through the air, including 557 passing yards and 136 rushing yards. He also averaged 2.5 deep ball attempts with a 30% deep ball percentage completion and a 40% deep ball catchable rate. The fact that these numbers can be calculated indicates that Richardson is not afraid to let the ball air out. The Colts offense operates with RPOs and play-action, so having a quarterback who can burn defenders with his arm and legs will lead to monumental production. On 25 rushing attempts, Richardson managed 5.4 yards per attempt and eight first downs. He also had a 64% rushing success rate. On top of a comeback year, Richardson is primed for a breakout 2024 season

Jonathan Taylor

Superstar running back Jonathan Taylor made a name for himself as a rookie in 2020. He finished the year with 1169 yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, and 5.5 rush yards per attempt. Taylor was also a key contributor to the Colts winning 11 games in 2020 with Philip Rivers at quarterback. Since his rookie season, he continued to produce and be a key playmaker on this offense. In 2021, he would shatter franchise records with 18 rushing touchdowns. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl and was a First-Team All-Pro in that same year. Unfortunately, injuries plagued Taylor’s the last two seasons, but after signing a three-year extension in 2023, he is primed and ready to get back to his 2021 form.

Even within the seasons where injuries were present, Taylor was still relatively productive when healthy. He managed 861 yards in 11 game appearances with a 4.5 rush per attempt in 2022. In 2023, he appeared in 10 games and rushed for 741 yards with a 4.4 rush per attempt. Needless to say, Taylor is up there with the elite running backs in this league and when he is healthy, he is lethal. Coupling his ability with Anthony Richardson, the sky will be the limit for this team. The league will have one explosive duo to watch out for every week.