As Indianapolis Colts rookie safety A.J. Haulcy puts himself in contention for a significant role on defense, ESPN is buying into his potential ahead of his first NFL season.
In ESPN’s 2026 NFL rookie guide, draft analyst Matt Bowen included Haulcy at No. 5 among his five under-the-radar rookies to watch.
"On his college tape at LSU, the third-rounder displayed the top-down speed and ball skills to impact the middle of the field (10 career interceptions). And he is an urgent run defender," Miller wrote.
That assessment tracks with Haulcy’s college production.
The Colts selected Haulcy with the No. 78 overall pick in April following a well-traveled college career that included stops at New Mexico and Houston before LSU.
Haulcy earned first-team All-SEC
honors in 2025 after totaling 88 tackles, three interceptions, four passes defensed and a forced fumble in 12 games. He recorded eight interceptions over his final two college seasons.
Haulcy also wasted no time vying for the Colts’ starting strong safety job. ESPN reported during the preseason that Indianapolis had been impressed by the rookie’s football acumen and that he was in line to fill the vacancy at the position.
The Colts will be relying on several young defenders in 2026, and the rookie’s knack for creating turnovers could make him one of the more consequential members of that group.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts' A.J. Haulcy among under-the-radar rookies to watch
