The Colts were well represented in ESPN’s ranking of the best draft picks at every draft slot.
ESPN’s Ben Solak recently compiled his list of the best NFL draft picks from every draft slot, and well represented was the Indianapolis Colts.
From pick No. 1 through 262, Solak selected who he believes is the best player selected at each of those draft slots. As Solak highlighted, “best” in this exercise is a combination of “most talented and most successful.”
In total, seven former Colts‘ draft picks made Solak’s list.
1.1: Peyton Manning, QB
The best No. 1 overall pick ever. Manning played 13 years with the Colts, which included winning a Super Bowl, making 11 Pro Bowls, five first-team All-Pros, and being named the league MVP four times. He played four more seasons with the Broncos, winning another Super Bowl, making three more Pro Bowls, and two more All-Pro teams. Manning is in the Hall of Fame.
1.19: Marvin Harrison, WR
Harrison played all 13 seasons with the Colts. He is a Hall of Famer, an eight-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro, and a Super Bowl Champion. He finished his career with 14,580 receiving yards and 128 touchdowns.
4.138: Robert Mathis, DE
Mathis also played all 13 of his NFL seasons with the Colts, appearing in 192 games while recording 54 forced fumbles, 108 tackles for loss, and 123 sacks. He is a Super Bowl champion, a five-time Pro Bowler, and a one-time All-Pro.
5.174: Freddie Scott, WR
Scott was drafted by the Colts in 1974. He played four seasons with the then-Baltimore Colts, catching 39 passes for 619 yards. Over the next six seasons with Detroit, Scott caught 223 passes for 3,651 yards. He caught 20 touchdowns over his 10 NFL seasons.
6.205: Eugene Daniel, CB
Daniel was selected by the Colts in 1984 and played 13 of his 14 NFL seasons with Indianapolis. Daniel appeared in 207 career games, which included 192 starts. He made 38 interceptions and 762 total tackles.
7.243: Jeff Herrod, LB
Taken in the 1988 draft by the Colts, Herrod played 11 seasons in the NFL, 10 of which were with Indianapolis. He played in 153 games over his career with 125 starts, while coming away with five interceptions, 14.5 sacks, and 1,156 tackles.
7.245: Dave Studdard, OT
Studdard was drafted by the Colts in 1978, but didn’t ever actually play for the team. He joined the Broncos in 1979 and went on to have a 10-year NFL career, which included appearing in 145 games with 133 starts.