Stampede Blue
After going year by year through the Chris Ballard draft era, it feels right to finish with a bigger-picture look at the entire run.
The 2025 class is still too early to fully grade, but it is worth mentioning briefly. Tyler Warren was fantastic as a rookie and already looks like a major hit. JT Tuimoloau, on the other hand, was basically non-existent in Year 1. Justin Walley lost valuable time after tearing his ACL, but the talent and long-term potential are still there. Jalen Travis has a chance to prove himself as a starter this season, while Riley Leonard showed enough in one excellent game to make you wonder if he could become a strong backup, or maybe even something more down the road. The rest of the class has not made much of an impact yet.
So the early 2025 returns are promising because of Warren, with some potential still sitting in the middle of the class. But for now, it is too soon to include that group in the final grading.
For the rest of Ballard’s draft history, there is enough information to evaluate the major hits, the biggest misses, and what the full draft record says about his time in Indianapolis.
The result is about what you would expect…
Raimann belongs near the top because of position value and draft slot.
Finding a quality starting left tackle in the third round is one of the best outcomes a general manager can have. Raimann has developed into a high-level starter on the left side and has become one of the most reliable players on the Colts’ offensive line. He rarely misses time, rarely gives you bad games, and has provided stability at one of the most important positions in football.
He may not be a top-three left tackle in the league, but he has played like a top-10 player at the position. For a third-round pick, that is an outstanding return.
Grade: A
Taylor was a home run.
The Colts traded up for him in the second round, and he quickly became the engine of the offense. At his best, Taylor has been one of the best running backs in football and one of the few players on the roster capable of taking over a game by himself.
He has given the Colts multiple great seasons, including superstar-level production at his peak. Injuries have limited him at times, but the overall return is excellent. Any time you land an offensive centerpiece in the second round, that is a major win.
Grade: A+
Nelson was the safest pick Ballard ever made, and it worked exactly as expected.
The Colts traded back from No. 3 to No. 6 in 2018 and still landed, in my opinion, the best player in the draft. At the time, Andrew Luck was still on the roster after taking years of punishment,...
