There are few general managers who are more respected in the league than Chris Ballard. The collection of talent he has placed on Indianapolis’ is impressive, but we're all still waiting for the wins to follow. The sudden retirement of quarterback Andrew Luck sent shockwaves through the entire sports landscape, and the Colts are still trying to recover. They signed long-time veteran Philip Rivers, and Ballard is hoping he can reignite some of the fire that the team had prior to last season via talent acquired from the 2020 NFL Draft.

Indianapolis' 2020 draft picks:

No. 34: Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
No. 41: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
No. 85: Julian Blackmon, S, Utah
No. 122: Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
No. 149: Danny Pinter, OL, Ball State
No. 193: Robert Windsor, DT, Penn State
No. 211: Isaiah Rodgers, CB, UMass
No. 212: Dezmon Patmon, WR, Washington State
No. 213: Jordan Glasgow, S, Michigan

Best Pick, X-Factor: Michael Pittman Jr.

Pittman fills two categories here.

Outside of T.Y. Hilton, there weren't any proven wide receiver options on the Colts’ roster. Getting a mature prospect in Pittman, who has the NFL DNA and experience in a multitude of areas, is exactly what Indianapolis needed. He’s a perfect complement to work in the underneath and intermediate areas and can go on to outproduce his draft slot.

Biggest Surprise: Jonathan Taylor

The running back class was stack and rightfully so. In the middle of that cluster was Taylor, who wasn't the most flashy of the bunch but was one of the most productive rushers. However, his landing spot came as a huge surprise because of Marlon Mack’s recent success. Ballard, who comes from Andy Reid’s coaching tree, often waits on Day 3 running back. Here, he went against his philosophies. Taylor projects to be a bell cow early on.

Day 3 Sleeper: Jacob Eason

Eason’s value was too great for the Colts to pass on. He can become the heir apparent to Rivers if Rivers is only with the franchise for one season. Eason is very raw, but he possesses plenty of upside. This is a perfect situation for him; he can be the understudy to one of the best quarterbacks in this era while sharpening his skill set.

Summary

Indianapolis had another impressive offseason and will generate some buzz. The Colts are set up to cash in on what is always one of the more interesting divisions. After a blockbuster trade for DeForest Buckner as well as their newest additions through the draft, this roster is set up to have immediate success next season.