'We would have taken Will Levis': Jim Irsay says Colts were drafting a QB at No. 4

Entering the 2023 NFL draft, the need for the Indianapolis Colts to draft a quarterback was more than apparent.

Even after the team used their first-round selection, No. 4 overall, on quarterback Anthony Richardson, owner Jim Irsay confirmed that the Colts almost surely would have gone quarterback inside the top five. And it would have been Will Levis, who ended up going 33rd overall to the Tennessee Titans.

“I think we would have taken Will Levis,” Irsay said, according to the Indianapolis Star. “We liked him.”

There was also the possibility of trading down, Irsay said. By the time the Colts picked, both Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud — the top two picks by the Carolina Panthers and the Houston Texans, respectively — were off the board. But Irsay told NFL Network that Richardson was the top signal-caller on their board.

Irsay said they zeroed in on Richardson "early in the process," back in February. He also told NFL Network that Richardson would start, but later said it would be first-year head coach Shane Steichen's decision.

"Even if we had the first pick in the draft, we would've probably taken Anthony," he said.

All the picks: Team-by-team look at all 259 NFL draft selections

Through five completed rounds, the Colts have drafted:

• Round 2: Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State

• Round 3: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina

• Round 4: Blake Freeland, OT, BYU

• Round 4: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT, Northwestern

• Round 5: Daniel Scott, S, California

• Round 5: Will Mallory, TE, Miami (Fla.)

• Round 5: Evan Hull, RB, Nortwestern

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colts drafted Anthony Richardson, but might taken Will Levis at No. 4