Here are 5 prospects for the Colts to watch closely at the NFL Scouting Combine
The Colts are joining the rest of the NFL at the scouting combine this week, though they are the one team that doesn't have to travel. And unlike last season, this year's event is about everything except for quarterbacks.
Indianapolis has a young quarterback to build around in Anthony Richardson, who dominated this event last year prior to becoming the No. 4 pick in the draft. Now, the Colts are tasked with finding the complementary pieces around him to elevate a team that fell just short of the playoffs at 9-8.
They have seven draft picks to work with, including the No. 15 overall selection.
Here are five prospects they'll have a close eye on this week:
Brock Bowers, Georgia TE
The name generating the most buzz locally is not a sneaky one. Eyes from just about every team will be on Brock Bowers, who is the top tight end in this year's class after ripping through the Southeastern Conference for 175 catches, 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns in three seasons of leading Georgia in receiving yards and winning two national championships.
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Listed on Georgia's website at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Bowers will get to showcase his route running and athleticism, which are drawing comparisons to some of the best tight ends in the league. He won't get to answer as much about his run blocking, which is a knock on him. But he'll get to show the football IQ and feel he's developed in a premier program, which will indicate his readiness, which is always the biggest concern with tight ends making this transition.
It's unclear whether Bowers will be available to the Colts without a trade up. Tight ends don't often go in the top 10, but he could become an exception. Or perhaps just enough questions persist to make him available at their pick.
Jared Verse, Florida State EDGE
The Colts are coming off their best pass rushing season in Indianapolis history, but all teams could use more options on the edge, and that's especially true for a team like Indianapolis that lacks the speed to threaten teams on obvious passing downs.
Florida State's Jared Verse is a consensus first-round prospect at this point, thanks to two strong seasons with nine sacks each, to go along with 29.5 tackles for loss. He was a first-team All-American in 2022, and he seems to be scratching the surface after just two seasons of play in college.
Verse's weigh-in will be worth monitoring, as he's considered on the slim side for teams that operate in a base four-man front. However, that can also make him a fit for the Colts' LEO position, which lines up in the wide-nine stance and attacks the quarterback like it's always third-and-long. The Colts want elite athletes in this role, so how Verse tests in the different athletic drills will tell them about his ceiling.
Bralen Trice, Washington EDGE
Bralen Trice will be a player the Colts are zeroed in on. He fits much of what they look for in early picks, with production in a major conference. The past two seasons, he's racked up 16 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss, leading Washington to this year's National Championship Game.
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Trice has an impressive collection of tools already, but the on-field drills and testing will show how much upside he could add down the line. The bench press and weigh-in will also illustrate his functional strength, which is his biggest concern heading into the event. As of now, he appears to be a candidate for the second round.
Nate Wiggins, Clemson CB
The Colts have a need at outside cornerback as well as a type. They're currently set to bring back lanky second-year players JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones as starters, but Brents has injury concerns and Jones is a spot they could upgrade, which is why cornerback has been a popular mock for their first selection.
Nate Wiggins fits the type in theory, as he's listed at 6-foot-2 on Clemson's website. He has the athleticism to go with it, which he showed with two chase-down forced fumbles last season, including one in which he hit a top speed of 22.1 miles per hour against North Carolina. He also has two pick-sixes.
The focus will be on his weigh-in, as he's listed at just 185 pounds. He has the height to fill in the frame, so the bench press can show how close or far away he is to reaching those goals. It'll all factor into his readiness, but he currently looks like a prospect who will go on Day 2.
Adonai Mitchell, Texas WR
As the Colts decide on whether or not to franchise tag Michael Pittman Jr., they'll keep a close eye on the receivers at this year's combine. Even with Pittman back, they could use a possible upgrade opposite him, or at least a No. 4 option who can factor in either on the inside or the outside or both.
Adonai Mitchell fits the profile of what general manager Chris Ballard tends to draft at this spot. He's listed on Texas' website at 6-foot-4 and 196 pounds, size that allows for a catch radius to help him make the transition to the tighter windows of the NFL and to learning a new quarterback. Following a transfer from Georgia, he broke out last season with 55 catches for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns with the Longhorns.
His weight will be worth monitoring, and the field drills will be of interest to see how pro-ready he is, as not all receivers coming from the Big 12 Conference are. Colts receivers coach Reggie Wayne used these drills to demand his bosses draft Josh Downs last year, so it's an opportunity for someone like Mitchell to secure standing with one of the coaches they'll really lean on in this process.
Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts: Here are 5 prospects to watch closely at the NFL combine
