CBS Sports has declared who they think the Indianapolis Colts' best and worst draft picks of this century are.
NFL teams conduct endless research leading up to each year's draft, trying to identify players who could have the greatest positive impact on their team.
No matter how much preparation goes into it, though, the draft is a crapshoot. Educated risks can still come back to bite teams, but they can also reward them by hitting the jackpot.
With the 2026 NFL Draft just days away, Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports determined each team's best and worst draft pick of the 21st Century (2000 to now). Here's what he listed for the Indianapolis Colts.
Best pick: DE Dwight Freeney (No. 11 overall, 2002)
Freeney was the defensive force the Colts needed to break through and win a Super Bowl during the Peyton Manning era. Freeney was the pick, but shout-outs are also in order for the selections of receiver Reggie Wayne, Bob Sanders and defensive end Robert Mathis for their roles in helping Indianapolis get over the hump in 2006.
The Colts took a chance on Freeney with the 11th pick in the 2002 draft, a pass rusher who was just barely over six feet tall in comparison to 6'7" Julius Peppers, who went No. 2 that same year.
The Colts liked Freeney, but they probably didn't know they were getting an eventual Hall-of-Fame player.
Freeney was someone that opposing offenses had to worry about each week, and his presence helped the Colts be the winningest team of the 2000s while he and Peyton Manning were in town. Freeney won Super Bowl XLI with the Colts and was in another with them in Super Bowl XLIV.
When Freeney left the Colts after 2012, he was the franchise's all-time sack leader (107.5), a record since surpassed by Robert Mathis. Freeney also spent time with the Chargers, Cardinals, Falcons, Seahawks, and Lions. His 125.5 sacks rank 20th in NFL history.
Worst pick: QB Anthony Richardson (No. 4 overall, 2023)
Richardson was projected as a first-round pick despite completing fewer than 55% of his pass attempts at Florida. Richardson quickly went to the bench after the signing of Daniel Jones. His future is uncertain, with Indianapolis likely hopeful to find a trade partner.
Richardson's career got off to a brief, promising start in 2023 after being the fourth overall pick. He was named the starter during the preseason, but he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury after just four games.
He returned in 2024 as the starter, but the first half of his season was a mess, which resulted in a two-game benching. Colts general manager Chris Ballard described the benching as an observation of Richardson "drowning" on the field.
Richardson had some performances in the back half of the season that lent optimism for the future. However, he lost his starting job to Daniel Jones last offseason and then suffered a season-ending eye injury during a freak pregame incident.
Ultimately, Richardson was available for only 29 of 51 career games, and he is now on the trade block.
The 2026 NFL Draft begins on Thurs., April 23 and runs through Sat., April 25.