The Indianapolis Colts had eight draft picks in this extended weekend’s 2026 NFL Draft.
With no first round draft pick as a result of last year’s trade deadline Sauce Gardner blockbuster deal, the Colts weren’t initially slated to pick until the 47th overall pick in Round 2.
However, with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis traded down six spots from the 47th pick to the 53rd pick, while acquiring an additional 4th round pick in the process (and swapping 7ths).
The Colts then addressed their defense
on ‘Day 2’ with two projected immediate starters and their overall depth in ‘Day 3’ collectively, including the addition of two edge rushers.
Let’s recap the latest Colts rookie draft class now that it’s officially in the books:
53rd Pick: LB C.J. Allen, Georgia
It’s not surprising Indianapolis ended up with a linebacker here given how desperate that position was. However, it is surprising that Allen, who was considered a late first/early second round pick, slid all the way to the Colts.
A torn meniscus that Allen suffered this past November may have been the culprit, as he held his Pro Day late in the draft evaluation process, but only participated in positional drills due to knee swelling.
That could work to the Colts benefit in time. Allen was a 2x SEC Champion, First-Team All-SEC member, and consensus All-American for the Bulldogs defense. He features speed, athleticism, and instincts with sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability and is a plus asset in run defense. He’s also been lauded for his overall leadership.
Allen will need to improve in pass coverage at the next level, but some of his deficiencies last season were overblown. With the proper coaching, it’s correctable, and he can be much improved at the next level.
He projects as a ‘plug-and-play’ immediate impact starter for the Colts defense at MIKE linebacker.
78th Pick: SAF AJ Haulcy, LSU
Safety was a sneaky need for the Colts entering this year’s draft.
It was arguably a position that could be improved, but after letting Nick Cross (Commanders) depart in free agency, there was some thought that the tandem of 2nd-year safety Hunter Wohler, who missed all of his rookie year with a Lisfranc injury, but impressed during 2025 training camp, and signed toolsy safety Juanyeh Thomas could hold the fort down next to Cam Bynum in the backend of their secondary.
Enter Haulcy, who can be both an in-the-box thumper and ballhawk in coverage when called upon. While he can deliver big hits, Colts GM Chris Ballard didn’t want to limit him to just an ‘enforcer’ against the run though, as he believes Haulcy can play all over at safety. While he lacks long speed, he makes up for it with his elite instincts.
Someone mentioned former Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Safety LeRoy Butler as a pro comparison, and while I’ll stop well short of saying Haulcy is Canton-bound before his pro career has even begun, there are some similarities regarding their unique playing style and body types at the same position. I can’t quite unsee it now!
As a consecutive First-Team All-SEC selection by the Colts, Haulcy projects as another immediate impact rookie starter for Indianapolis—only this time at strong safety.
113th Pick: OG Jalen Farmer, Kentucky
Somewhat of a surprise, given that IU wideout Elijah Sarratt was on the board, who went to the Baltimore Ravens two picks later, but not if you know how much Colts general manager Chris Ballard historically believes in reinforcing the trenches, it’s really not at this spot.
The Colts lost backup interior offensive lineman Danny Pinter to free agency, as well as veteran starting right tackle longtime bookend Braden Smith. They needed another impact offensive lineman to be at least 6 players deep to make it through the entire course of the 2026 campaign.
At 6,’4,“ 278 pounds, Farmer is another former SEC standout as a 2-year starter at offensive guard, who’s strong and powerful as a road grader in run blocking—with the ability to physically overwhelm defenders one-on-one.
However, he’ll need to continue to improve and refine his pass blocking techniques. That being said, he should push and compete for the starting right guard job as soon as this year’s training camp. It may very well depend on where and how the Colts envision incumbent starting right guard Matt Goncalves long-term, who arguably looked more natural at right tackle during his rookie season back in 2024.
135th Pick: LB Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
The 6,1’ 1/8”, 230 pound safety, who was a two-sport athlete (also in baseball, having been selected in the 2024 MLB Draft), led the Big Ten in total tackles (136) last season. He features athleticism, instincts, with the ability to play downhill and a knack for finding the football. He was a First-Team All-American and 2nd-Team All-Big Ten.
However, his calling card at the next level may be playing in space for pass coverage purposes.
Boettcher projects as a subpackage coverage linebacker who should be able to really help the Colts in that regard immediately as a rookie. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him deployed situationally in place of Davis-Gaither, even as as a rookie, on obvious passing downs at nickel linebacker—and wherever else he can help.
156th Pick: DE George Gumbs Jr., Florida
The 6,’4,“ 238 pound edge (with 33 5/8” arms) from Florida, who transferred from Northern Illinois and is a former converted wide receiver and tight end, has impressive physical tools to continue to develop as a pass rusher at the pro level, as well as a high motor to further complement them. Still a team could do worse than taking a flyer on this type of raw pass rushing prospect at a premium position of need with a 5th round pick.
Do I trust the current Colts regime that has drafted Kemoko Turay, Ben Banogu, and Kwity Paye as raw pass rushing projects to get this one right? Not exactly, but at worse, Gumbs Jr. projects to be a developmental rotational backup, who can provide immediate special teams contributions with effort, energy, and length.
214th Pick: DE Caden Curry, Ohio State
The 6,2 3/4”, 257 pound senior edge rusher (with 30 1/8” arms), who is a Greenwood Indiana native, recorded a career-high 11.0 total sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss for the Ohio State Buckeyes defense last season—earning 1st-Team All-Big Ten honors.
He was a 2024 CFP National Champion teammate of current Colts defensive end Jaylahn Tuimoloau, who was a 2nd round pick of Indianapolis last year, meaning it’s a consecutive NFL Draft in which the Horseshoe has taken a former Buckeyes standout edge under longtime general manager Chris Ballard.
While he lacks initial explosiveness off the edge and length, Curry plays with instincts, motor, and physicality, and it’s not as though he’s doesn’t possess underrated athleticism, with even the ability to drop back in coverage occasionally.
He makes sense as a late ‘Day 3’ pick as an Energizer bunny off the bench, who can immediately be a core special teamer and bring all gas off the Colts bench.
237th Pick: RB Seth McGowan, Kentucky
The 6,’0 1/4”, 223 pound (with 31 3/8” arms) running back projects as a between-the-tackles/short yardage rusher, with limited explosiveness and pass blocking/catching experience. He rushed for 12 rushing touchdowns with the Wildcats last year, and the Colts have to be hoping that he becomes the next Tyler Allgeier ( at 5,‘11”, 220 pounds), who just signed a 2-year, $12.25 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency.
The Colts backfield depth behind star workhorse Jonathan Taylor has yet to be determined, as backup running back Tyler Goodson departed in free agency and veteran Ameer Abdullah remains unsigned.
Last year’s 5th round pick DJ Giddens had some clear developmental rookie growing pains to work through in 2025 and didn’t firmly entrench himself behind Taylor on the depth chart going forward. Otherwise, former UDFA Ulysses Bentley IV is also in the competition mix, who appeared in 1 game for 1 carry last year. McGowan is a little older for a rookie, at 24-years-old, but looks like he could be an eventual contributor at running back. If nothing else, he has a pretty good opportunity to make the Colts active 53-man roster entering rookie camp.
254th Pick: WR Deion Burks, Oklahoma
Only 5,’9 3/4”, and 180 pounds, Burks somewhat makes up for it with a blazing fast 4.30 forty time speed and should provide a dynamic explosive speed option for Colts head coach Shane Steichen rotationally in the Indy receiving corps—with the ability to be utilized downfield, within the slot, and on wide receiver screens or jet sweeps situationally. However, he’s limited at the pro level by his lack of size and also with shorter arms.
The former Purdue transfer had 11 touchdowns for the Oklahoma Sooners over the past two seasons and previously earned 2nd-Team All-Big Ten honors back in 2023 for the Boilermakers. He had some prior punt return experience for Purdue back in 2022, but he hasn’t been a special teams return man in recent years.
Burks has some clear size and wingspan limitations, but he’s definitely worth a dart throw at this laaaate point.
