The Indianapolis Colts spent their first-round pick on the quarterback position, as expected. Then, Indianapolis went out and addressed another important need in the second-round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Indianapolis drafted Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents at No. 44 overall to fill a void that was created in the secondary earlier this offseason. The Colts traded veteran Pro Bowl defensive back Stephon Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys in March.

It's never easy to trade away a player of Gilmore's caliber; however, it was the smart move by Indianapolis. Gilmore played well in 2022, but he is an aging corner that doesn't fit the team's timeline. 

Therefore, it was a no-brainer for general manager Chris Ballard to flip the veteran defender for a draft pick. Dallas sent Indianapolis a fifth-round pick in exchange for Gilmore, and the Colts were able to save some money against the cap.

"He's just at a point in his career that, he's at the end of his career. I thought he was a decent fit for the defense," Ballard said of the trade. "But a chance to get a pick for him in the last year of his deal. Shed a little bit of the contract money off."

Now, Brents provides the Colts with a fresh face in the secondary. He is a big, athletic corner that fits what the Colts want to do in the draft: acquire plus-athletes. 

He grabbed four interceptions during his final season on the collegiate level and should carve out a role sooner than later in Indy. Additionally, he is hometown kid as he was born and raised in Indianapolis. There's no doubt that he'll be wearing the uniform with pride.

The Indianapolis Colts are off to a hot start in the NFL Draft. They have their quarterback of the future and a homegrown defensive back that should be a building block moving forward.