As the leaves change color and Spirit Halloweens pop up, the midway point of the NFL season is fast approaching. By now nearly a quarter of the league’s fans are longing for the spring after starting the season with
2 or less wins, when hope can be renewed with the offseason’s changes. Most are looking to the collegiate ranks and starting to pine after whichever prospect they want to solve their biggest team’s weaknesses.
The Colts are not one of those teams, far from it actually. A 5-1 record makes a fanbase look more towards January rather than March-April, as one single elimination tournament is firmly on their minds. In the immortal words of Jim Mora:
Playoffs?!
Still, while interest in the draft might not be at an all time high for Colts fans, the mock draft machine of NFL media doesn’t just stop their predictions at the top 10 of the draft. The Colts may be in for a successful season, but another first round hit could be the push the Colts need to go even farther in 2026. What does the national media believe this next piece is for the Colts?
ESPN’s Jordan Reid: Damon Wilson II, DE, Missouri
“Wilson has shined since transferring from Georgia in the offseason, as his 19.8% edge pressure percentage is sixth best in the FBS.
Wilson is tied for 10th in the country with 5.5 sacks after a two-sack performance this past weekend against Alabama. He has surged near the top of a deep edge class, and with Kwity Paye set to be an unrestricted free agent after the season,
Wilson could be a nice fit in Indianapolis.“
Reid has the Colts take Wilson II 31st Overall in his 1 round mock, noting his strong performance versus Alabama. This was the third straight high pressure rate game by the former Georgia Bulldog, as he has 18 in the past 3 weeks, going against UMass and South Carolina as well during that span. In 2025 Wilson ranked 11th among Power 4 Edge Rushers in Pass Rush Grade at 89.5 and has the 7th most pressures with 27. The former 5th ranked Edge Rusher Nationally by 24/7 Sports is finally breaking out in his third season, displaying a blend of length, burst, and bend that should be tantalizing to pro scouts.
If he chooses to declare (still has a year of eligibility) he could go somewhere in Round 1-2 after a very productive season. He still needs to work on his hands and pass rush plan, but his natural gifts make him a ball of clay worthwhile to invest in.
PFF’s Trevor Sikkema: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
“Allen has been a standout player for the Bulldogs’ defense this season. He’s recorded an 85.9 overall defensive grade thanks to a 92.1 run-defense grade. His coverage grades are on the lower side, but he is a commanding presence in the middle of the box who rarely misses tackles with a 5.7% missed tackle rate.”
Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema has the Colts take CJ Allen 32nd overall, as the 3rd linebacker off the board after Ohio State’s duo of Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles went 8th and 31st respectively. Scouts have had plenty of tape on Allen for years, as he has gotten significant snaps on the vaunted Georgia Defense all three years.
Allen plays with a blend of vicious intensity and high IQ instincts that is prized at MIKE LB, delivering both powerful hits and reading plays quickly and disciplined. His eyes don’t lie, and he trust them. Pair this with sideline to sideline speed, powerful block disengagement, reliable tackling, and a high motor; its clear to see why he is likely going pretty early.
Allen’s biggest flaw is pass coverage. He has the intelligence and ability to read QBs eyes to do well in Zone coverage, but he struggles against the most athletic Tight Ends or shifty Running Backs in Man. This might hurt his fit with the Colts, as they desperately need more coverage ability in the middle of the field and Lou Anarumo likes to mix in a lot more man coverage than previous Colts Defensive Coordinators. Zaire Franklin is still under contract for the Colts in 2026 (though there is an out in his contract to save cap space) and he holds the MIKE spot while also having issues in coverage. Perhaps Allen could be a replacement from Zaire if they want to move on from the veteran, but pairing the two together likely wouldn’t solve the Colts coverage issues in the middle of the field.
CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Charvarius Ward ‘s return to graces has been a pleasant development considering the adversity he has overcome. Kenny Moore II will be 31 years old and Ward will be 30 before next season commences. The team is still trying out possibilities to start opposite Ward. There is an opportunity for a youthful invigoration in that room.
CBS has the Colts picking a bit earlier at 22nd Overall, and with the higher pick they are able to nab Avieon Terrell out of Clemson. The younger brother of Falcons CB AJ Terrell, Avieon lacks size at 5’11 and 180 lb. frame, but more than makes up for it with tons of athleticism, quick fluid hips, smart route diagnosing, and physicality that punches well above his weight.
Corner size is less emphasized in Lou Anarumo’s scheme anyways, and Terrell has all the makings of a CB1. With top Colts CB Charvarius Ward suffering his 2nd concussion already in 2025 and Justin Walley, Jaylon Jones, Kenny Moore II, and Mike Hilton all missing several weeks to the entire season due to injuries, adding another Corner to the room makes a lot of sense.
DynastyNerds’ Bobby Bishop: David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
The Indianapolis Colts are the surprise, breakout team of the year. Daniel Jones has been excellent, and the offense has been humming. For this selection, I’m taking the best speed rusher in the draft. David Bailey has a lightning quick burst off the line. He already has 10.5 sacks and 48 pressures (the most in FBS). He’s winning almost a fourth of his pass rush reps (24.8% win rate). Every team in the NFL would love to add a pass rush specialist of Bailey’s caliber.
Bishop opts for a different pass rusher to the Colts in his mock draft, with the Colts taking the lightning quick David Bailey 25th Overall. Bailey leads College Football in Pressures and sacks as Bishop mentioned but also Tackles For Loss (12.5).
He is the highest graded edge in pass rushing among Power 4 schools, displaying a blazing fast get off and an advanced pass rush plan. His bend is phenomenal, and he uses his length well in speed to power rushes at 6’5 250 lbs. But perhaps his best move is one Colts fans already adore: the Spin move. With his physical gifts and pass rush prowess, Bailey would be a very fun addition to a Colts DE room that has just Laiatu Latu and JT Tuimoloau under contract after 2025.
The Draft Networks’ Keith Sanchez: Matayo Uiagalelei, DE, Oregon
The Colts’ offense may be the biggest surprise of any team this year, and that unit is a big reason why the Colts have one of the best records in the entire NFL. The side of the football that needs improvement is the defense. A couple of years ago, they drafted edge rusher Laiatu Latu, but they need another addition to rush opposite Latu. Matayo Uiagalelei is a different-style rusher who can use speed or power and should make a great complementary piece, giving the Colts a strong one-two punch of young edge rushers.
Another mock, another pass rusher. Sanchez proposes the Colts take Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei, a power rusher who at 6’5 272 lbs. could offer a very different style to Laiatu Latu. Uiagalelei has solid burst for his size and a lot of length and power, and can execute a few moves that rely on said power well (bullrush, club, and chop moves most notably, though he has shown a fun spin too). He can move from Edge to Defensive Tackle as well.
He provides strong run defense and has shown the ability to drop back effectively in coverage, a new wrinkle Lou Anarumo has introduced more frequently to the Colts Defense. He even has had 3 passes broken up or batted and an INT over the last 2 seasons. His 10.5 sack season in 2024 was very impressive.
While he still needs to develop more counters to his game and get a bit quicker to win off his first step, Uiagalelei is a high floor Defensive End who has been a steady presence all 3 years at Oregon. I’m sure DeForest Buckner wouldn’t mind having another Samoan former Oregon player in the Defensive Line room. After being forced to wear Hoosier candy cane pants, he’d probably appreciate some reinforcements from a fellow Duck.
