Colts GM Chris Ballard’s Drafting Philosophy has Officially Evolved

Although the draft selections served as a shock themselves, the willingness to go further proves that Chris Ballard is changing his ways.

Prior to the 2023 NFL Draft, the most pivotal draft for Chris Ballard during his tenure in Indianapolis, uncertainty remained. It was unsure if Ballard would not only secure the team’s franchise QB of the future but also pair a Head Coach that would bring the team to forgotten heights. Fast forward a bit and it appears the Colts have their HC-QB tandem for the future.

Although the draft selection of Anthony Richardson was step one in the rebuild process, what happened later that weekend in the 3rd round was the beginning of a new philosophy for Chris Ballard and company. The Day 2 pick in question is that of WR Josh Downs at pick 79.

At first, it was shocking. A 5-foot-9, 170 lb receiver was the last thing fans and analysts alike thought the Colts’ scouting department would be interested in. After diving deeper into Downs’ prospect profile, it was quickly revealed why the Colts would be so intrigued. Despite a smaller and otherwise outlier type of frame for Indy, Ballard and Co. fell in love with Downs’ athleticism, reliability, and versatility. This was only the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, Downs was an outlier in a physical build sense, but as mentioned, the player himself was everything the team was looking for. The caveat? This was the first draft cycle with Shane Steichen sitting passenger next to Chris Ballard. It could’ve just been and was likely chalked up to Steichen lobbying for a player he envisioned for his new-look offense, but if you analyze what has ensued even after the 2023 Draft, a pattern starts to unveil itself.

Shane Steichen certainly wasn’t an overbearing dictator once he became the Colts’ Head Coach, but it’s probably not too farfetched to believe he’s become the driving force. It’s no secret Chris Ballard’s seat was at the least warm following the disastrous 2022 season, and although that likely plays a part in one’s philosophy changing, I think Steichen’s no-nonsense mentality has rubbed off on the rest of the organization.

Something that had seemingly been lost in the years before Steichen’s arrival, accountability, is now full-fledged in Indianapolis on a weekly basis. How does that exactly trickle into a general manager of seven seasons changing his philosophy? A mix of both understanding what you’ve done thus far isn’t getting the job done and realizing the game has changed and therefore, you have to change with it.

The philosophical change in question wasn’t an overnight reversal though it might feel like one. Chris Ballard has remained himself when it comes to free agency and the addition of veteran talents, but his drafting philosophy has no doubt evolved.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

As alluded to, the Josh Downs selection was the tip of the iceberg. It proved a willingness to stray from the trends that have been established over the past several seasons while implementing a new trust-based factor. This isn’t to say there was zero trust between Chris Ballard and his previous coaching regime, but there has certainly been a change in tune since bringing Steichen in which has ultimately resulted in the aforementioned change in draft philosophy.

The reason I’ve chosen to portray this change as an evolution is because I believe it is just that. Indy’s front office under Chris Ballard has maintained its core belief in prioritizing athleticism but has since shown a willingness to deviate from the norm.

Before, and even during, the selections of Josh Downs, Laiatu Latu, and Adonai Mitchell were shocking. Not in a bad way, but because Ballard’s philosophy had become so predictable in a sense, those draft picks were the first curveballs of what was a fastball-only pitch mix.

Downs broke the mold of drafting athletic wide receivers who are 6 feet and taller. Latu broke the mold of drafting athletic and traitsy pass rushers who had average to below-average college production (not to mention the medical concerns tacked on). Mitchell broke the mold of drafting a player who was widely known to have non-football, or in this case effort, concerns.

The changing of the guard didn’t stop with those three picks either. In round five of the 2024 NFL Draft, Chris Ballard chose Marshall CB Micah Abraham. Taking a Day 3 flier on a small-school guy is the most Chris Ballard you can achieve, but his athletic makeup is the polar opposite of anything he’s ever taken a shot on.

When it comes to understanding the shock that followed this recent slew of draft selections, it may help to compare who the Colts have picked previously. In back-to-back drafts (2021-2022), the Colts selected two players that fit their brand whereas they could’ve gone with prospects more like Laiatu Latu and Adonai Mitchell.

In 2021, Chris Ballard elected to go with DE Kwity Paye in the 1st round as opposed to say Jaelan Phillips, who went a few picks earlier and had a prospect profile eerily similar to that of Laiatu Latu’s. The very next year, the Colts had their choice of Alec Pierce, who they ended up drafting, or Georgia WR George Pickens in the second round. Adonai Mitchell and George Pickens also shared similar prospect makeups by having immense upside but what’s between the ears is/was the biggest concern.

The Colts could’ve traded up for Phillips or remained at pick 42 to select Pickens but they had other plans. Nowadays, if Ballard and his team could do it all again, I wouldn’t be shocked to hear they’d be willing to change the timeline.

One might question the hypothetical of Ballard trading up for a preferred talent in the first round, which is fair, but for the first time, he tried to do so. It has been reported that Chris Ballard attempted to trade up into the top 10 of the 2024 Draft for a pass catcher, and while a deal did not get done, the willingness to move up in the 1st round is eye-opening as it is something that had not been done or likely even discussed over the past seven seasons in Indianapolis.

The perception may have changed once Chris Ballard added some lettuce to his dome but as mentioned, I believe it’s deeper than that. It seemed as if the past several years, especially those following The Retirement, the band-aided plug-and-play method was what Ballard and Co. truly believed this team needed to get back to its title aspirations.

It now feels like the proverbial changing of the guard has fully implemented itself into the Colts’ everyday managerial philosophy and the organization will ride the Steichen wave for as far as it’ll take them — and it appears they believe it will lead to bigger aspirations than just the division.