No team is perfect when it comes to the NFL Draft. Jeff George, Trev Alberts, Art Schlichter — all examples of draft-day mishaps from the Indianapolis Colts.
But what about the opposite? Like most teams, the Colts have been able to find some great talent deep into the draft and unearth some hidden gems along the way.
5. Antoine Bethea
Playing at small-school Howard University, it makes sense as to why Bethea wasn't seen as an elite NFL prospect despite his obvious talents. Taken by Indianapolis with the 207th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2003 draft, Bethea would quickly become one of the league's best young safeties.
Still in the league, Bethea played eight years for the Colts where he racked up 805 tackles, 47 passes defended, 16 tackles for a loss and 14 interceptions.
4. Bobby Boyd
No one believed in the 5-foot-11, 195-pound defensive back out of Oklahoma. That is why Boyd slipped to the 10th round (119th overall) during the 1960 draft. However, despite being undervalued, the Baltimore Colts had a gem on their hands and Boyd would become one of the best cornerbacks of the 60s.
Boyd was named an All-Pro (both first and second team) a total of five times in nine NFL seasons. Moreover, his 57 career interceptions are 20 more than anyone else in franchise history.
3. T.Y. Hilton
The most recent draft pick on this list, Hilton has been the Colts' best receiver since his second season. Drafted out of FIU with the 92nd overall pick in 2012, the undersized pass-catcher was the 13th wideout drafted that year.
However, Hilton has played much better than his draft position, recording five 1,000-yard receiving seasons to his name and even leading the league in receiving yards in 2016 with 1,448.
2. Robert Mathis
Mathis and Dwight Freeney created one hell of a pass-rush duo during the 2000s and early 2010s. But while Freeney was an early first-round pick, Mathis wouldn't be selected in 2003 until pick No. 138 in the fifth round.
Mathis played 14 incredible seasons in Indianapolis, and by the time he retired in 2013, he was the franchise's all-time career sacks leader with 123. The defensive end out of Alabama A&M was named to five Pro Bowls during his storied career.
1. Raymond Berry
Not only is Berry the biggest draft steal in Colts history, but the Hall of Fame wideout is also one of the biggest steals in league history. Berry wouldn't be selected until pick No. 232 in the 20th round of the 1954 draft and was seen as a longshot to even make the roster.
But Berry did much more than that. While his statistics don't match up with today's wide receivers, the 6-foot-2 pass-catcher was one of the best receivers of the 50s and 60s.
The 20th round selection was named to six Pro Bowls, was a First-Team All-Pro three times, led the league in receiving yards three times and receiving touchdowns twice. In fact, Berry was so dominant that his 1,298 yards in 1960 were over 300 yards more than the league's second-leading receiver.
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