5 players the Colts would target if they traded up in the 2024 NFL Draft

Targets if the Colts trade into the top 10

Edge Rusher: Dallas Turner, Alabama 

The only defender in the draft that I could see the Colts trading up for in this year's draft is Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner. Turner ended up as my top-edge rusher, and I feel confident that he is also the top-edge rusher on the Colts board. His combo of length and athleticism, along with his tape at Alabama, seems like the perfect edge rusher for what the Colts have prioritized at the position. And if they take an edge rusher early in this year's draft, I could see them being aggressive to move up for their number one guy in the class. 

WR: Rome Odunze, Washington & Malik Nabers, LSU

I've gone back and forth quite a bit during the draft cycle of who the Colts would prefer between Washington's Rome Odunze and LSU's Malik Nabers. For a while, I went with Odunze due to his combo of size and traits being a better match for how the Colts typically address WR in the draft. But I'll admit I wasn't including an important factor when I would say Odunze over Nabers. That fact that this would be the Colts drafting a WR in the first round, something Ballard has yet to do as the GM with the Colts. So this led me to look at the bigger picture, and if, for some reason, both were on the board after the Colts traded up, I now lean towards Nabers being the WR they'd prefer to add. 

Nabers would slide into the starting Z WR role immediately, and I think his skill set as a route runner and big play ability would be an incredible addition to their current WR room. Odunze's speed and ability to make contested catches would offer the Colts the ability to slide him into the X WR role at times when needed if Michael Pittman Jr. needed a breather or had to miss time with an injury, which is also an enticing fit and he is equally special as a WR prospect to Nabers, to also warrant the Colts trading up for him. Nabers is the better fit as a Z WR, though, and that is clearly the role the Colts are looking to improve this offseason. 

TE: Brock Bowers, Georiga 

Last but not least, I saved the player linked to the Colts, maybe more than any prospect this draft cycle, Georiga TE Brock Bowers. Many fans and even some top decision-makers across the NFL would object to their teams drafting a TE in the top 10 or even at the Colts' current position at 15. The thing that helps Bowers stand above the typical TE is that he is much more than just a TE. He projects as the type of offensive weapon at TE that we've seen become a massive advantage for teams that have them. 

Think Travis Kelce with the Kansas City Chiefs or George Kittle with the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams were competing in this year's Super Bowl, and both players are more valuable than the TE position suggests. If the Colts chose to draft or trade up for Bowers, the hope would be that head coach Shane Steichen's innovative offensive mind would help Bowers become the type of weapon we've seen Kittle and Kelce be for so long. And if Bowers can reach those heights, the Colts' offensive ceiling would rise tremendously. And if defenses have to send extra attention to a TE like Bowers, it only opens up more opportunities for Pittman Jr. and the rest of the Colts WR room.