With the transition from Gus Bradley to Lou Anarumo as defensive coordinator last fall, the Colts moved from a predictable Cover 3 shell to an adjustment-based, scheme versatile approach. Anarumo’s scheme thrives on multiplicity and simulated pressures, requiring defenders who are technically sound and positionally flexible.
And now, as they enter the 2026 draft, general manager Chris Ballard is hunting for players who fit Anarumo’s philosophy: aggressive, adaptable, and disciplined.
Anarumo’s system relies on linebackers who can stack-and-shed with heavy hands and defensive ends who win through leverage rather than just raw speed. It is a defense that rewards football intelligence over combine highlights.
How the Indianapolis Colts can change the identity of their defense
- Name at LB to know: Jake Golday (Cincinnati). A massive riser after a 100-tackle season in 2025, Golday is the prototype for an Anarumo linebacker. At 6-foot-4, 240 lbs, Golday is a blue-collar enforcer who, unlike traditional chase-and-hit backers, Golday excels at the dirty work -- taking on climbing linemen and squeezing run gaps. In a scheme that often asks 'backers to play into the teeth of the offense, Golday’s ability to anchor and finish makes him a perfect mid-round target to stabilize the middle of the field.
- EDGE Sleeper: Max Llewellyn (Iowa). In a system that values heavy-handed ends who can slide inside on third downs, Llewellyn is a surgical fit. Coming from the disciplined Iowa defensive pipeline, he recorded 6.5 sacks and 9.5 TFLs in 2025 by winning with technique and a relentless motor. He isn't the most explosive pass-rusher in the class; rather, he is a 263-lb technician who could thrive in multiple looks Anarumo loves. His ability to hold the point of attack in the run game while providing a reliable bull-rush makes him an ideal rotational piece up front.
The bottom line
By targeting high-IQ, physical prospects like Golday and Llewellyn, Indianapolis could provide Anarumo the specific tools he needs to keep opposing quarterbacks guessing. It's a strategic pivot that moves the Colts away from static coverages and more toward a flexible defensive structure that morphs based on the opponent.
Llewellyn’s hand technique and Golday’s gap discipline allow for complex simulated pressures that appear chaotic but remain fundamentally sound. In a division featuring young, mobile signal-callers, scheme-first selections ensure the Colts' defense is built on cerebral execution rather than just raw athleticism.