The Indianapolis Colts secured a game changer in this new 2025 mock.
While the Indianapolis Colts still have a quarter of the 2024 regular season to go, some have already begun to speculate on what the future of this offseason may hold and how an intriguing NFL draft cycle may unfold for this roster, which has a few notable holes to fill on both sides of the ball.
As a result, numerous mock drafts have begun to circulate in the national media, speculating on how the first round would play out next spring. This year’s class isn’t expected to be as prominent as 2024’s, but there are still plenty of impact players available for the Colts to sign.
The Ringer and Danny Kelly are the latest to share their predictions for the Colts and the rest of the league in the 2025 draft. In their mock, Indianapolis ended up in the same location as last year, 15th overall, when they took edge rusher Laiatu Latu. This time, they brought another person to assist the defensive unit: Georgia safety Malaki Starks.
“The Colts pass defense has been middling (or worse) in just about every critical category this season, and the team’s back seven needs an injection of talent,” Kelly told reporters. “Starks has the ability to have an impact at all three levels of defense. The versatile safety may play deep, off the ball, or around the line of scrimmage as a blitzer and strong run defender. He also possesses strong coverage instincts and good ball skills.”
The Colts’ secondary has been a consistent issue for the team’s defense this season, and the acquisition of Starks’ youth and versatility might be a game changer for the Indianapolis defense.
Starks has been a key member of Georgia’s defense in his third year, totaling 65 tackles, three passes defended, and one interception. At six-foot-one and with excellent versatility for his position, he’d be a valuable addition to this team’s defensive backfield, which is starved for playmakers.
Of course, the Colts may benefit more from a good boundary cornerback than a safety, especially this early in the draft. However, with an elite-level safety prospect like Starks on the board, it raises the age-old draft dilemma of prioritizing talent over positional value. In this scenario, Indianapolis chose to rely on raw skill, which is far from a bad decision given the effect Starks brings to the table.
There is still a long way to go before this offseason’s draft, which means that a lot can change between now and when the Colts are back on the clock. However, if this is how Indianapolis’ day one goes, it will be difficult to be disappointed with the results.
